The Global Orchestra has launched an ambitious project for this year's Earth Hour with the inaugural 'Concert For The Planet'.
This unique event will be a mass-participation, multi-location, first of its kind performance of Holst’s 'The Planets'. Musicians and communities around the world will come together via innovative technology to mark their commitment to listen to each other and our planet's needs during Earth Hour 2015.
Global Orchestra's 'Conductor-Cam' will capture and live stream the Sydney Symphony Orchestra's (SSO) highly acclaimed Chief Conductor and Artistic Director David Robertson as he leads the SSO and multiple musicians across the globe through Holst's 'The Planets'. With help from the SSO, Global Orchestra has also created musical arrangements, instructional videos, lesson plans and information packs for those who want to participate in this one of a kind event. David Robertson will also guide players through the bar numbers and count players in to ensure everyone follows the score and knows when to play their part.
Chair of the Global Orchestra Foundation, Angela Catterns AM explains, “The inaugural Concert for the Planet will be a fitting embellishment to Earth Hour. We hope it’ll spread across the world and become an annual event and a musical movement for environmental awareness and change.”
David Robertson says that the 'Concert For The Planet' will demonstrate the Orchestra's continued commitment to digital education and accessibility. “At the SSO we’re always looking for innovative ways to allow audiences across Australia and overseas to experience our performances,” says David. “We’re thrilled to be joining the Global Orchestra Foundation in this multimedia project which will allow audiences and musicians across the world to connect with the SSO and the music in a new and exciting way.”
Google + will also be live streaming a broadcast quality, multi-camera production of the SSO's performance, via Hangout On Air. The main event will take place at the Sydney Opera House, while other events are being hosted across the globe as community groups come together to perform in unison with SSO via the live streams.
Earth Hour will be supporting the event and encouraging schools to link with the Global Orchestra to help spread the word of this unique event. More than 200 community and school groups have already registered, with thousands of participants rehearsing in the lead up to the 'Concert For The Planet'.
Global Orchestra Founder and Artistic Director, Charlie Chan says “our goal is to have 100,000 participants across 500 locations in Australia and abroad playing in sync to as the soundtrack during Earth Hour. Coming together to play music requires collaboration, listening, creativity and playing your part. This is what we all need to do if we are to find sustainable ways to live on this planet.”
Global Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra plays 'Concert For The Planet', 28 March.
