Nanna Øland - now with an additional symphony orchestra at the SPOT opening.

The SPOT Festival opening-concert will be a two part affair, with music in two different concert halls. All in all, about 200 musicians will be on stage at The Concert Hall, Aarhus, in what appears to be a logistical mega challenge.

The SPOT Festival Opening Night event will be something out of the ordinary. That rock band Ave will perform a brand new symphony with Odense Symphony Orchestra and Herning Boys Choir is nothing new, although still very exiting.

However, the fact that Oh Land aka Nanna Øland Fabricius will bring another symphony orchestra to perform with her on stage is big news. Alongside the 65 m/f strong orchestra from Lyngby-Tårbæk, Oh Land will also be accompanied by her ”regular” band. They will perform music by Oh Land in new arrangements as well as music by Ravel remixed by Oh Land.

Last but not least, closing the night at The Concert Hall, Aarhus, will be When Saints Go Machine  who will perform their electro pop blend accompanied by string players.

Additional symphony orchestra added      
The Opening Night event has been under a constant development. As Nanna Øland Fabricius puts it:
- in the beginning we had hoped to work with musicians from Odense Symphony Orchestra. However, that fell through and we planned to perform with a smaller ensemble of strings and kettledrum. But then co-organiser BandBase came in contact with Lyngby-Tårbæk Symphony Orchestra, and honestly, it's been the most fun I've ever had.

-The symphony orchestra is actually substituting all the electronic elements in my own songs. It's been strange to witness how the songs have change from being very club-like to becoming intense ballad-style songs, says Nanna Øland Fabricius about her collaboration with the classical musicians.

When Saints Go Machine will be closing the Opening Night at The Concert Hall, Aarhus accompanied by strings. Several of When Saints Go Machine's songs have been picked out to be rearranged with strings in collaboration with Per Lykkegaard from the Royal Academy of Music.

When Saints Go Machine will be closing the night at the Concert Hall.

Great demands to the logistics – and flexibility all the way around
It is not every day that you have two symphony orchestras in the same building. The development means that a the Opening Night event will have to be held in two different concert halls – logistically speaking it would not have been possible otherwise.

- Yes, we're probably a bit crazy. Though the positive attitude from our external partners, The Concert Hall, Aarhus and the SPOT staff means that we're able to fulfil the wishes of everyone participating on the night, says SPOT Festival's managing director Gunnar Madsen about the Opening Night.   

Program for the SPOT Festival Opening Night event at The Concert Hall, Aarhus, Thursday 21st of May at 19.00:

Ave with Odense Symphony Orchestra and Herning Boys Choir. Directed by Bo Holten
– The Concert Hall, Store Sal

Break

Oh Land with Lyngby-Tårbæk Symphony Orchestra. Directed by Andreas Vetö
– The Concert Hall, Symfonisk Sal

When Saints Go Machine with strings
– The Concert Hall, Symfonisk Sal