Belgium’s leading daily Gazet van Antwerpen has just run a headline feature on the world première of Another Seven Symphonies in Liverpool – and it’s positively glowing.
“If the audience had had its way, the musicians would have carried on playing well past midnight.” — Rob Van Weelde to GVA
“Earning appreciation for our interpretation of Beatles classics in their very birthplace warms the heart.” — Roeland Jacobs in GVA
Take a moment to read the original Dutch article (21 July 2025) here →
Gazet van Antwerpen – Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra krijgt staande ovatie in Liverpool
We couldn’t be prouder of the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Alexandra Arrieche, producers Rob Van Weelde & Jan Vereecke, and arranger Roeland Jacobs for turning Liverpool’s Tung Auditorium into a sea of cheering Beatles fans. Grab a brew and savour every word – or scroll down for an English translation of the full article. Enjoy!
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Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra Receives Standing Ovation in Liverpool:
“It’s heart-warming to get appreciation for our interpretation of Beatles classics in this place.”
LIVERPOOL/ANTWERP — The Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra performed in Liverpool last weekend. Under the baton of conductor Alexandra Arrieche, the 65 musicians presented the symphonic tribute to The Beatles conceived by Schoten resident Rob Van Weelde and Dutch arranger Roeland Jacobs. “If the audience had had its way, the musicians would have played on well past midnight,” says Van Weelde, who has been on cloud nine ever since.
By Jan Auman – 21 July 2025, 13:40
The Antwerp Philharmonic is best known as the resident orchestra for The Night of the Proms in the Sportpaleis. This weekend, however, the orchestra took to the road. Liverpool was no random choice: the northern English city is the cradle of one of the most influential groups in music history – The Beatles.
Rob Van Weelde, together with Jan Vereecke – famed for The Night of the Proms and managing director of the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra – devotes himself to special musical ventures. A few years ago he successfully asked arranger Roeland Jacobs to translate the music of The Beach Boys into symphonic form.
Wrong-footing the Listener
Rob, Roeland and Jan developed a taste for it and decided to tackle another iconic band in the same way: The Beatles. “Many have tried to rework the music of ‘the four from Liverpool’ into classical music,” Van Weelde explains. “We wanted to go one better by surprising the listener and wrong-footing them with those world-famous songs. We deliberately used neither rhythm section nor voices.”
The CD has been on sale for a while, but the crowning glory of this Dutch-Flemish project was to perform ‘Symphony of the Walrus’, ‘Rigby’s Waltz’, ‘Symphony for George’ and four other Beatles-based symphonies in Liverpool itself. For that, the entire Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra travelled to Britain.
Sold Out
Saturday was the big day. “We experienced a hugely successful world première of Another Seven Symphonies, a symphonic tribute to Beatles music,” say Rob Van Weelde and Jan Vereecke.
“Paul McCartney let us know he couldn’t attend because of recording commitments. Sean Lennon, who opened this theatre three years ago, sent his apologies because he’s working on his own Beatles project. Nevertheless, in a sold-out Yoko Ono Lennon Centre our orchestra received five standing ovations! The musicians only returned to their hotel after the third encore.”
A documentary about this musical journey is already planned, featuring extensive footage of the recordings and rehearsals in Capitole Ghent. Notably, renowned Beatles scholar Walter Everett of the University of Michigan flew in specially from the United States to attend the concert.
(Photo caption) Conductor Alexandra Arrieche seized the chance to visit the Beatles Museum. © IF
Forty Years of Night of the Proms
It is already certain that more symphonic tributes to legendary artists will follow. Next up is Focus, the 1970s Dutch prog-rock band centred on Thijs Van Leer. “This year Jan Vereecke – whom I met years ago because our children went to the same school in Schoten – celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Night of the Proms,” Van Weelde reveals. “Thijs was on stage at the very first edition. In the month leading up to this jubilee, the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra will present a musical homage to his work on Saturday 11 October at the Scheldetheater, Terneuzen.”
It was previously announced that Sister Sledge, Vanessa Amorosi, Safri Duo and Joss Stone will spice up the fortieth Proms edition on 21, 22 and 23 November.