C4 has teamed up with the legendary Manchester club FAC51 The Haçienda to chart the journey of the club’s move into the classical genre over the past year as it put together Peter Hook, Mike Pickering, Graeme Park, Rowetta and more alongside the Manchester Camerata orchestra for the string of Hacienda Classical live events.
This eagerly-anticipated documentary, entitled ‘Haçienda House Orchestra’, produced by Carm Music and directed by Chris Cowey, will air in late October and ties in with the October release by FAC51 The Haçienda and Sony Classical of ‘Haçienda Classiçal’, a full album version of the live show that follows the huge success of a series of national live events held during the earlier part of the year.
The documentary takes in the first rehearsals, initial Bridgewater Hall concerts, the triumphant Royal Albert Hall show, as well as the recording of the album and the return to Manchester for the Castlefield Arena event in July.
The documentary and the ‘Haçienda Classiçal’ album see Graeme Park and Mike Pickering, the original DJs behind the unique Haçienda sound, spin club classics in full harmony together with a live orchestra – the Manchester Camerata – and vocals by the AMC Gospel Choir alongside a host of special guests.
The resulting happy collision of seminal dance music and orchestral instrumentation breathes new life into club anthems such as ‘Blue Monday’, ‘Voodoo Ray’, ‘Good Life’ and ‘Ride On Time’. Other tracks featured in the live set and on the album include ‘Strings of Life’, ‘Move Your Body’ and Rowetta’s stunning new take on ‘You Got The Love’.
This novel classical-meets-club concept was instantly well received with many thousands snapping up tickets to shows at London’s Royal Albert Hall and Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, both of which sold out in minutes.
With requests from fans for a recorded version of the concert, the studio album has been executive-produced by The Haçienda, Joy Division and New Order co-founder, Peter Hook, together with producer Phil Murphy and features heavily in the new C4 documentary alongside exclusive interview and concert footage.
The release of this innovative album will allow fans to enjoy ‘Haçienda Classiçal’ as a recording for the very first time and alongside the welcome new C4 documentary, provides fans with a unique insight into the show, the music and the characters involved.
This week also saw the announcement of Hacienda Classical’s first overseas concert set to take place at Dublin’s 3Arena Saturday 17th December which goes on sale this Friday 30th September 9am. Details here.
Peter Hook, Executive Producer, said:
“This is one of the most challenging journeys I’ve ever undertaken in my musical career, both the live shows and putting the album together. But now looking back and listening to the recording, all the hard work has paid off.”
Tim Crooks, Musical Director, commented:
“Manchester has amazing musicians, DJs, producers and orchestras but they rarely collaborate. It’s rare that you get to do a project that celebrates this diversity.”
Bob Riley, CEO, Manchester Camerata, added:
“It doesn’t get more Manchester than this. An epic project with visionary artists.”
‘Hacienda Classical -The Album’ is now available to pre-order here.