Stage star Joe hails “fantastic” Leeds audiences ahead of new classical concert

TV and stage star Joe McElderry will be back in Leeds later this month for a spectacular new open-air classical concert on Millennium Square.

And the X Factor and Popstar to Opera Star winner said he can’t wait to be back performing in front of his “fantastic” Leeds fans for the Classical Summer's Evening show on July 30.

Joe, who recently finished a run at Leeds Grand Theatre as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, has sold more than two million records including his albums Classic and Classic Christmas, which both went gold within two weeks of release.

He said: “It was great being in Leeds a couple of weeks ago in Joseph and I am very excited to be coming back to perform some of my songs from my classical album at the A Classical Summers Evening on July 30.

“The audiences in Leeds have always been fantastic, and I am very much looking forward to it.”

The singer will be joined by soprano Laura Wright, and violinist Jennifer Pike for this month’s concert, which will see a fully seated auditorium created on Millennium Square and music from the Manchester Camerata, one of the UK’s leading chamber orchestras.

Laura Wright is one of the biggest selling classical artists of the decade, with more than one million album sales.

And Jennifer Pike gained international recognition in 2002, when, aged 12, she became the youngest ever winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Conducted by Tim Redmond, the concert programme for A Classical Summers Evening will include favourites such as Summer from the Four Seasons and Meditation from Thais, operatic classics Habanera from Carmen and Puccini´s O Mio Babbini Caro together with popular sing-alongs from hit musicals including West Side Story, The Sound of Music and a performance of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables by Joe.

Joe and Laura will also be performing a duet of Time to Say Goodbye with a special arrangement of Nessun Dorma for the show finale, which will feature Joe, Laura and Jennifer together.

The new classical concert is set to be one of the major highlights of the Millennium Square Summer Series, which will see concerts and events taking place on the square throughout the summer months.

Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council said:

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming such talented and internationally renowned artists to Millennium Square for this exciting addition to our events programme this summer.

“It will be wonderful to see classical music performed outdoors and in the heart of the city centre and I’m sure the atmosphere on Millennium Square will be amazing.”

Gates for the concert are scheduled to open from 6pm, with the main performance set to begin at approximately 7.30pm. A licensed bar, catering concessions and toilet facilities will also be provided.

Tickets for A Classical Summer's Evening are available to purchase online at www.leeds.gov.uk/classical or in person / by telephone from City Centre Box Office at Leeds Town Hall (0113 3760318)

Tickets are priced at £25 category A, £22 category B and £19.50 category C with discounts available for LEEDSCard / Breezecard holders and other concessions.

A special VIP package is also available. Priced at £75 the package includes reserved seating in a prime location directly facing the stage together with a champagne reception and hot / cold buffet set in the Civic Hall banqueting suite. The package includes the opportunity to meet the artists for photos and autograph signing before the show starts.

For further details visit www.leeds.gov.uk/classical or contact Leeds City Council’s events team on 0113 395 0891 or by email at events@leeds.gov.uk.

For further details on the Millennium Square Summer Series, visit www.leeds.gov.uk/summerseries

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Stuart Robinson

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 224 3937

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk