Rob van Weelde on BBC Radio –
Another Seven Symphonies
“It’s like dismantling a car — taking off the doors, the wheels, the engine — and putting it back together in a completely new way.”
In a special feature on BBC Radio, Rob van Weelde spoke about the creation of Another Seven Symphonies — a bold and imaginative reworking of 39 Beatles songs, arranged into seven full symphonies. No vocals. No rhythm section. Just the colours, textures and rhythms of a full classical orchestra.
“We deliberately avoided the biggest hits. We looked for Beatles songs that naturally lend themselves to a symphonic transformation.”
Unlike previous orchestral tributes, this project doesn’t simply layer strings onto pop songs. Instead, themes are taken apart, fragments reimagined, and melodies woven into entirely new symphonic structures.
“You don’t need to use the whole song — sometimes one phrase is enough to build something entirely new.”
Performed by the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded with over 70 musicians, the premiere promises to be a unique sonic experience. Every rhythm is created from within the orchestra — a deliberate departure from adding drums or choirs.
The world premiere takes place on Saturday 19 July 2025 at the Tung Auditorium in Liverpool — part of the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre, right in the heart of Beatles history.