It’s claimed to be the first of its kind
Online electricals retailer AO.com has teamed up with musical maestros to create what they claim is the world’s first dedicated mobile phone section in an orchestra. The online seller partnered with the renowned Manchester Camerata to put a modern twist on some of the world’s most recognisable classical compositions.
From Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and Auld Lang Syne, the specially arranged medley sees a four-piece phone section performing alongside a live orchestra. The ‘SIMphony’ demonstrates how even everyday technology can be used in unexpected ways.
Filmed live at Manchester’s renowned Stoller Hall and created to celebrate the versatility of mobile phones, the retailer challenged the orchestra to transform beloved classical pieces into performances played using nothing more than the keypads.
Conductor Tim Crooks said: “This is unlike anything we’ve ever performed. People use their mobile phones for almost every aspect of daily life, but creating orchestral music with them probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.
“That’s what made this project so enjoyable. It challenged the musicians in completely new ways and demonstrates how versatile modern technology can be when creativity is involved. We hope audiences are as entertained and surprised by the result as we were.”
The medley is now available to stream on Spotify, with the full performance available to watch at https://ao.com/mobile-phones/simphony
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