Prolific North – the online media magazine for the North-West of England – has just run a piece about the forthcoming Hacienda Classical documentary to be run on Channel 4. Read it here.
C4 to screen Hacienda Classic Concerts documentary
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.
Rob McLoughlin’s Carm Music brings Hacienda Classical to TV and DVD
The Hacienda Classical Tour with Peter Hook (New Order, Joy Division) and the original Hacienda DJs Mike Pickering and Graeme Park as well as the brilliant Manchester Camerata Orchestra is heading to Channel Four Television.
Carm Music’s debut documentary ‘The Hacienda House Orchestra’ follows the people who made Madchester happen as they now attempt to turn the Acid House music of the 1980s into fully orchestrated performances for sell out audiences across the UK.
This unique behind the scenes film charts the project from its first nervous rehearsal to a sell out performance at The Royal Albert Hall in front of more than 5,000 people and then the rousing summer performance back in their home city of Manchester in July 2016 at The Castlefield Bowl.
The programme to be screened by Channel Four in the UK in Mid-October and later on 4 Music celebrates the fusion of these diverse musical ranges and shows how Peter Hook along with Conductor Tim Crooks managed to somehow make this impossible mix succeed.
The film coincides with the release of a special CD by Sony Masterworks. An extended DVD version of the film may be released later.
The film is Produced by Stephen Chapman; Tighe Grainger is Director of Photography and TV Music Guru Chris Cowey (Top Of The Pops; The Tube; The White Room) directs.
The film and DVD are executive produced by Rob McLoughlin.
It reunites Rob and Stephen who revived the iconic music show, The Tube, for C4’s radio experiment in 2008.
‘Its a fascinating insight into how sheer determination, talent and a terrific idea can overcome the odds and really catch fire’ said Rob; ‘Our access has been phenomenal and the performances just electric and raw – its like the Hacienda all over again – bold and unpredictable’.
‘The Hacienda House Orchestra’ is a Carm Music Production for Channel Four; look out for details of transmission times from Four.