Bring on star comedian and conductor Rainer Hersch in the company of his Orkestra and guests for the fifth edition of his New Year’s Eve Bash. It’s a concert, Jim, but not as you know it. Simultaneously live on stage and online, this is a fantastic blend of stand-up comedy, great music, hilarious new arrangements and audience interaction. Rainer hosts and conducts his 15-piece Orkestra at London’s delightful Cadogan Hall. Altogether, this is total entertainment and absolutely the best way to welcome the New Year – with a smile on your face and a skip in your step.
This year Rainer will be joined by special guests, the velvet-toned vocal ensemble I Fagiolini. Together their programme will feature a heap of world premieres including Trump: The Opera (final scenes still being written), The Brexit Train (or Goodbye EU), and Rainer’s trademark ‘classics with a twist’ – including the Carmen Overture, Pachelbel’s Canon, and the complete Beethoven symphonies in five minutes.
Naturally, there will also be some cast-iron faves such as the audience conducting competition, seasonal ditties and much, much more. Why not check out the trailer for a wee taster of what’s on offer?
What is Rainer Hersch? Musical maestro? Comedy genius? There’s absolutely no reason why he cannot be both. Having graduated in Economics in the deep, dark past, he quickly saw the error of his ways and embraced the musical life – studying piano and conducting at Blackheath Conservatory, then the Royal College of Music. Unbeknown to his professors, however, he also began to moonlight on London’s stand-up comedy circuit. This developed into one-man comedy/music shows at fringe festivals. From there, the shows and his popularity just grew and grew – culminating in solo tours in over 30 countries and invitations to conduct some of the most famous orchestras of the world.
Whether you are a professor of harmony or couldn’t tell a string quartet from a string vest, a night with Rainer and co is guaranteed to be “the funniest concert you will ever see” (Time Out). And his track record leaves no doubt of his popularity, having performed at every major stage in Britain and abroad – including 13 appearances at the Edinburgh Festival and orchestra engagements with everyone from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to the St Petersburg Philharmonic. And that’s not to mention well over 50M views on his YouTube channel.
Rainer Hersch and his Orkestra re-invent some of the world’s most amazing music, with genuinely laugh-out-loud results. Irresistible fun. What’s the word, infectious? But, thank goodness, nothing to do with Covid-19.
INFORMATION: www.rainerhersch.com
