Galas: Cole Kitchenn Concerts, Peter Polycarpou & 1000 Voices

Richard Balcombe, whose credits include The Phantom of the Opera, Carmen Jones, Cats and Top Hat, will create new orchestrations for the concert, and accompany the event conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

What The World Needs Now… The Music of Burt Bacharach‘s line-up will includes “Anyone Who Had a Heart”, “Close To You”, Alfie”, “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head”, “This Guy’s In Love With You” as well as classics written for artists including Dusty Springfield, The Carpenters, Tom Jones and Dionne Warwick.

Speaking about the launch of their new concerts division, Cole Kitchenn founder Guy Kitchenn said in a press statement: “We are thrilled that Ian McLay has invited us to debut our newly created concert programme What The World Needs Now at the beautiful Cadogan Hall, where we have regularly seen some of the most exciting concert work in London over the last few years.

“We are also delighted that Richard Balcombe’s stunning new orchestrations are to be performed by the world renowned RPO. We hope this will be the first of many outings for the concert, which we plan to perform internationally”.

Cole Kitchenn’s previous producing credits include Caroline O’Connor: The Showgirl Within and Frances Ruffelle: Beneath The Dress at the Garrick.

Tickets for What The World Needs Now… The Music of Burt Bacharach are available from the Cadogan Hall website. More information is available at at ColeKitchennConcerts.com

Star of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Oklahoma!, Imagine This, Phantom of the Opera, Love Story and, most recently, Sweeny Todd, Peter Polycarpou will celebrate his life and career in a one-night concert, The Songs of My Life, at the West End’s Garrick Theatre on Sunday 11 December 2011.

Accompanied by a choir and principal ensemble, Polycarpou will also be joined for the event by West End stars including Hannah Waddingham, Emma Williams, Claire Moore, Simon Bowman, Michelle Collins and his television co-star Pauline Quirke.

As well as performances from Polycarpou’s myriad West End musical credits, the evening will also include renditions of songs that have inspired him and are close to his heart.

In addition to being in the original company of Les Miserables, creating the role of John in Miss Saigon and playing Chris Theodopolopodous in the BBC’s Birds of a Feather, Polycarpou was recently seen playing the Beadle in the Chichester production of Sweeney Todd alongside Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton. He will transfer with the show to the West End’s Adelphi Theatre from 20 March 2012 (previews from 10 March).

The Songs of My Life… An Evening with Peter Polycarpou is produced by Stevee Davies and Paulden Productions. Tickets for the one-night event are available online from Nimax Theatres.

The Night of 1000 Voices returns to the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday 6 May 2012, with a “Best of British” line-up which will include songs from Evita, The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables and We Will Rock You.

The 1000 Voices Massed Choir from across the UK join Stephen Disley (organ) and the City of London Philharmonic to accompany star guests from both London and New York. The event will be introduced by Whatsonstage.com Awards host, actor and personality Christopher Biggins.

The Night of 1000 Voices is again held in aid of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research for which the event raised over £140,000 last year. This year’s creative team will again include Stuart Morley and David Firman as music supervisors alongside director Hugh Wooldridge.

Tickets for The Night of 1000 Voices are available from the Royal Albert Hall with more information available from The Night of 1000 Voices website.