HOTA’s Concert for the Planet to be hosted by international musical adventurer, ABC Radio National’s Eddie Ayres
After a spectacular start to HOTA’s Outdoor Program on Saturday evening with Tim Minchin bringing the capacity crowd to their feet time and again, the good news continues – internationally acclaimed musical adventurer, teacher, writer and host of ABC Radio National’s The Hub on Art Eddie Ayres will host this coming Saturday’s CONCERT FOR THE PLANET!
In celebration of Earth Hour this Saturday March 24, HOTA presents an evening of discovery and symphonic experience – CONCERT FOR THE PLANET – a free musical event that will transform the parkland into a music soundscape, with musicians from all over the world taking part via a worldwide livestream.
The Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra, extended to include over 100 local musicians, will perform Holst’s The Planets under the baton of conductor Lachlan Snow. Fittingly, the Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra is the first full orchestra to perform on the recently launched state-of-the-art outdoor stage. The concert will be live-streamed globally, enabling musicians and communities to play together.
Eddie Ayres joined the crowd at HOTA on Saturday evening for the inaugural concert where Tim Minchin wowed and wooed, and said he was flattered and excited to be named as the host for the second major event in the 2018 Outdoor Program.
Eddie was born on the White Cliffs of Dover and began playing music when he was six years old. He studied viola in Manchester, Berlin and London, and played professionally in the UK and Hong Kong. After a decade of performances throughout Asia, including for the Hong Kong Handover in 1997, Ed decided on a new path, literally, and travelled by bicycle from England to Hong Kong, with only a violin for company. The journey took him a year and went through Europe, Iran, Pakistan, India and China. The trip was eventually chronicled in Cadence, Ed’s first book and a national bestseller. He can be heard across the country on ABC Radio National each week.
This Saturday’s CONCERT FOR THE PLANET is the second-ever, following the first in 2015 in Sydney.
“This is going to be a brilliant moment in musical time, with an extraordinary repertoire in Holst’s The Planets in one of the region’s biggest cause-related music events,” said HOTA CEO Criena Gehrke. “We’re inviting music lovers of all ages to bring a picnic to enjoy a truly memorable evening under the stars!”
“On the evening of the event the HOTA precinct will be brought alive with music. From 5pm you can discover an array of sustainable and environmentally focused art and community stalls. See beautiful visual art installations by Gold Coast favourites Clayton Blake and Guy Cooper. And join in performance and interactive art activities including dancing, drumming, children’s activities and more.”
HOTA has partnered with the Global Orchestra Foundation, in a commitment to make positive change for the future. In response to Earth Hour you are asked to bring your reusable water bottle and make use of the free water stations around the venue, carpool or use public transport to get to the event and to use the recycling services available on-site or take your rubbish home with you for appropriate disposal.
The performance will conclude at the start of Earth Hour 2018 in Queensland. The lights will be turned down so bring a torch to assist in exiting the venue safely.
