Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain will bring a night of music in various genres at Shenzhen Concert Hall.
Founded in 1985, the orchestra has since performed in many venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall and Glastonbury Festival. It was formed “to challenge people’s expectations of the ukulele,” according to orchestra member Richie Williams.
A typical concert comprises songs and instrumental pieces from a variety of musical genres, including swinging jazz numbers, movie scores, classical music and pop songs. Comedic elements are incorporated with the musicianship, including up to five members playing a single ukulele and times when the group each goes its own way on a piece of music.
In 2008, the group performed “Dreamspiel,” a ukulele opera, composed by George Hinchliffe and Michelle Carter for the Grimeborn Festival at London’s Arcola Theater. They have also, in 2010 and 2011, played music to accompany silent movies from the British Film Institute archives.
In 2009, the orchestra performed in the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. The performance received much critical acclaim. As well as this, the concert hosted what was then thought to be the world record for the largest number of ukulele players playing with each other at once, with at least 992 players participating in a version of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”
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Time: 8 p.m., Oct. 25
Tickets: 180-580 yuan
Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (福田区深圳音乐厅)
Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit D