The Hallé - It's A Livin' Thing: The Music of Jeff Lynne's ELO at the Bridgewater Hall

Experience the legendary Electric Light Orchestra’s unique fusion of rock, pop and classical music as you’ve never heard it before, in this live orchestral celebration of Jeff Lynne’s visionary music.

Formed in 1970 in Birmingham UK, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is a band that fuses pop music with classical overtones. Jeff Lynne, its creator and continuing driving force added violins, cellos, string basses, horns and woodwind to the standard rock line-up to “pick up where the Beatles left off…”

In the 13 years following their arrival on the music scene, they sold over 50 millions records worldwide, accumulated 27 Top 40 songs in the UK singles chart, and 15 in the US charts. In the summer of 2016, they played the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival, and in December, it was announced they had been elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2017.

Richard Balcombe and Graham Bickley have now produced a concert celebrating the unique aura of ELO, expanding the classic sound with a treatment that utilises a full symphony orchestra and band, with six singers.

Think sweeping strings, powerful brass, electrifying guitar riffs and a glorious wall of vocal sound – all celebrating some of ELO’s timeless hits.

The programme includes: Standing in the Rain, Evil Woman, All Over the World, Diary of Horace Wimp, Last Train to London, Sweet Talkin’ Woman, Showdown, Telephone Line, Rockaria, Living Thing, Shine a Little Love, Turn to Stone, When I Was a Boy, Wild West Hero, Xanadu, Mr Blue Sky and more.

Richard Balcombe conductor
Graham Bickley and Patrick Smythe vocalists

Produced in association with Avanti Arts and GRB Productions.

Concert sponsor: Siemens