Bradley: Culture year will put city on world stage

Sep 28 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

David Bartlett reports on yesterday’s unveiling of many of the events planned for Capital of Culture year

LIVERPOOL’S Capital of Culture celebrations will help “return the city to its rightful place on the world stage”, council leader Warren Bradley said last night.

He spoke after the Liverpool Culture Company unveiled its programme for next year, which includes Sir Paul McCartney headlining at a “once-in-a-lifetime” concert at Anfield and Ringo Starr performing during the opening weekend.

Liverpool’s cultural and artistic leaders last night gave a resounding thumbs-up to the programme which the chief executive of the Culture Company, Jason Harborow, said was the most ambitious calendar of any culture city ever.

One of the main highlights will be the Liverpool Sound concert at Anfield, headlined by Sir Paul McCartney, to celebrate Liverpool’s status as the world capital of pop.

It will be the last concert to be broadcast across the world from Liverpool FC’s current ground.

Sir Paul will also attend the performance of his award-winning oratorio Ecce Cor Meum at the Anglican Cathedral in May by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and choir.

Part of the classical oratorio, which translates as “Behold My Heart”, was composed following the death of his wife, Linda.

The opening weekend will also be a major attraction with a spectacular opening ceremony at St George’s Plateau.

As revealed in yesterday’s Daily Post, Ringo Starr will take to the roof of St George’s Hall, and others will be standing on the top of Lime Street Station.

Other surrounding buildings and streets will be used in an amazing aerial and pyrotechnic extravaganza.

The theme will be construction to reflect the pace of development in the city and the rapid change in Liverpool will be reflected by containers and cranes.

The second night of the opening weekend will be the performance of Liverpool the Musical.

Ringo will also appear at the musical that will open the new arena at Kings Dock.

It will see the venue stacked with scaffolding from top to toe upon which the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) will perform, with conductor Vasily Petrenko stationed aboard a scissor lift.

It will feature music composed by Elgar, John Newton, The Real Thing, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Beatles, The La’s, The Wombats, The Farm, The Zutons, Stravinsky, and Space, rearranged by RLPO, in collaboration with No Fakin DJs, conducted by Mr Petrenko.Š

Other highlights of the 08 year include the first comprehensive exhibition of Gustav Klimt’s work ever staged in the UK, which will be put on at Tate Liverpool.

There will be a weekend of Viennese balls with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra playing live at St George’s Hall.

Ken Dodd and the Liverpool Laughter Makers will appear at St George’s Hall, and Vladimir Ashkenazy will conduct the European Union Youth Orchestra at the Philharmonic Hall.

The Clipper Race 2007-08 finishes at the waterfront, and two weeks later the Tall Ships arrive.

The Beat Goes On exhibition will be displayed at World Museum Liverpool providing a journey through 40 years of Liverpool music.

The BBC Electric Proms will be staged outside of Camden, London for the first time. The festival will bring together the best new and established live performers.

Eric’s –The Musical, will world premiere as a tribute to the other famous club in Liverpool performed at the Everyman.

The programme was launched to the nation’s media yesterday.

Although more than 110 events were revealed as part of the 300-plus that will take place in the city next year, director Fiona Gasper said more would be revealed in time.

She said: “This is a year-long programme that is constantly developing and will be constantly changing throughout 2008 as well.”

Sir Paul and Ringo appeared on pre-recorded video messages and key Capital of Culture figures gave speeches.

After deputy chairman of the Culture Company Phil Redmond had compared the year to a typical Scouse wedding, with “plenty of arguments and stresses”, the event concluded with The Farm’s collective anthem, All Together Now.

Sir Paul said: “I’m very excited about Liverpool being the European Capital of Culture in 2008.

“We have a fantastic series of events which are sure to get you excited too. There’s such amazing things going on in the city I still visit regularly.”

He said artists from all over the world who had links with the city and some people whose parents were from the city would be performing at Liverpool Sound.

Council leader Warren Bradley said: “When I was a 17/18-year- old lad, I used to look out of the window and see the grey and murky Liverpool that I lived in.

“Now I can wake up every morning and see the re-birth of the city.

“Culture has allowed us to wake up to the reality that if we want to be a world city we have to be on the world stage, and Capital of Culture will put us back on the stage.”

He later told the Daily Post he felt immensely proud to unveil the programme and show the world how Liverpool had transformed itself from degeneration to regeneration.

“I think the show that has been unveiled today reaches everybody from high arts to community arts events,” he added.

“The music reaches every genre possible. I think the wow factor is there; it’s great news for the city.”

He said the legacy would be lasting economic prosperity and the raising of aspirations.

He said he was most looking forward to the opening weekend that will engage 100,000 “ordinary people” from the city.

Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow said that unlike the Olympics or Commonwealth games, cities awarded Capital of Culture were not given a manual.

“You make it whatever you want the city to have from it,” he said.

“In response to anybody who expected a wow factor, there’s world class in every different genre.

“I don’t think we could have a wow factor that’s bigger.”

Sir Bob Scott, who put the bid document together, said: “If you go back to our bid document, this is a real manifestation of it.

“We are doing what we said we wanted to, I really believe it.”

Arts groups delighted at the opportunity to present their contributions to Capital of Culture Year

LAST night, Liverpool’s arts and cultural groups welcomed the crucial role they will play in making next year a success.

Lewis Biggs, director of Liverpool Biennial, said: “We’re delighted that this programme of new art in the city’s streets, delivered by Liverpool Biennial for Liverpool Culture Company, will be at the very heart of the 2008 cultural programme.”

Alastair Upton, chief executive of Bluecoat, which re-opens next year after a £12.5m refit, said: “The Bluecoat will be a place where you can see creative talent on the cusp of national and international renown – the Turner Prize winners of tomorrow, leading new composers, choreographers, musicians, writers, and artists of all kinds.

“Our 2008 programme, to be announced later this year, will set the bar high, establishing us as a major landmark on the UK map of contemporary culture, and a unique expression of a changing city with a dynamic vision for the arts.”

Gemma Bodinetz, artistic director Everyman and Playhouse Theatres, said: “The Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse are engaged in producing an extra- ordinary year of theatrical excellence for 2008.

“This will be drawn from the astonishing array of local writing and acting talent, as well as partnerships with national and international theatre stars.”

David Fleming, director of National Museums Liverpool, said: “2008 willŠ enable us Što redefine the city of Liverpool in the eyes of a still-sceptical world.Š

“This is a city where the personality of its people shines as brightly as anywhere in the world, andŠ this personality is reflected in the extraordinary quality of its culture.

“It is time to shout that from the rooftops.

“The revival of Liverpool is one of the great urban success stories of recent decades.”

Vasily Petrenko, principal conductor, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, said: “It’s a very exciting time to be in Liverpool and along with our musicians, I am looking forward very much to playing my part in making 2008 an exceptional year, in firing our audiences’ imaginations with new musical discoveries and forgotten musical jewels, and encouraging as many people as possible to join us, and experience at first hand the excitement of live music.”

Christoph Grunenberg,Š directorŠof Tate Liverpool, said: “2008 will be a very special year for Tate Liverpool.

“Not only will the Gallery be celebrating its 20th anniversary in May, Tate Liverpool will also be unveiling an exciting and ambitious events programme to mark the European Capital of Culture year in 2008.”

Mike Stubbs, director of FACT, said: “FACT’s 2008 programme reflects our position as a world-leader in the field of presenting awe-inspiring, stimulating and challenging art by some of the most internationally- respected and admired artists.”

Martin King, director of tourism at The Mersey Partnership, said: “Liverpool has pledged to present the best European Capital of Culture programme for residents and visitors alike to enjoy throughout 2008, and the programme published today sets the destination firmly on course to do just that.”

Ballot begins to ensure fair distribution of tickets for the top shows of 2008

THERE will be a 12% mark-up on tickets for some of the biggest shows in Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year.

A ballot for the tickets which range from £9 to £75 in price for eight key events opened yesterday.

Demand is expected to be so high for events like the Liverpool Sound concert, featuring Sir Paul McCartney, that culture leaders thought a ballot was the fairest way of sharing tickets out.

Along with the 12% booking fee on most of the events, there will be a £1.85 transaction fee which is standard industry charge according to council officials.

The ticketing is being handled by London-based Seetickets, and £300,000 of the money raised through the charges will be donated to Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy charity.

People will be able to register for tickets at www.liverpool08.com until Sunday, October 7.

The balloted shows are:

Emilia di Liverpool at St George’s Concert Room: January 2.

The Opening – Liverpool The Musical at Liverpool Arena: January 12.

The Tavener Requiem at Metropolitan Cathedral: February 28.

Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts the European Union Youth Orchestra: March 30.

Into the Little Hill at Pacific Road Arts Centre: April 18.

The Liverpool Sound at Anfield Stadium: June 1.

Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem at Liverpool Cathedral.

Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker: September 4.

Tickets will be limited to two per household with allocations based on postcode and then the highest price category first.

If unsuccessful in the higher price bracket, people will automatically be entered in to the draw for any lower price brackets they selected.

Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The Liverpool 08 Ballot is central to our aim to ensure people get a fair chance at seeing the very best that Liverpool has to offer.’’