Last night, Saturday 22 October, Great British Bake Off Semi-Finalist 2021 and London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) fan Jürgen Krauss presented the Orchestra with a cake he made for its 90th birthday. The trombone player and Brighton resident cut the cake on stage at Brighton Dome, where the Orchestra has a residency, alongside Co-Principal Horn and Vice-President Mark Vines.
Speaking a few words to the audience, Jürgen explained that he had always enjoyed classical music and his connection with the LPO had been cemented when one night, he and his wife found themselves on the same train to Brighton as the players.
‘We got chatting with the players in our carriage and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them.’
Then, whilst he was on Bake Off, LPO trombone player David Whitehouse got in touch to try and arrange some duets and concert visits. Whilst the duets are yet to take place, Jürgen said ‘it is fantastic that the LPO has a residency in Brighton so we can hear them regularly.’
The Orchestra then played Happy Birthday before LPO Principal Guest Conductor Karina Canellakis conducted the second half of the concert: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (Eroica). The cake was divided up backstage and enjoyed by the musicians after the concert.
The two-tiered cake had five lines made out of dark ganache running through it, imitating a stave; the lines on which musical notes are written. The raspberry flavour pays tribute to the Orchestra’s distinctive pink logo and the outside was decorated with different instruments.
Jürgen showcased his love for classical music during Dessert Week when, for the Showstopper challenge, he hand-piped music from a 16th-century song by Henry VIII onto a collar which he then wrapped around the outside of the cake. He even sang the tune as Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith judged the bake.
The LPO turned 90 on Friday 7 October 2022, having been founded by conductor Sir Thomas Beecham in 1932. Since then it has become one of the finest orchestras on the international stage and has also recorded soundtracks for numerous blockbuster films, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
It has performed at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall since it opened in 1951, becoming Resident Orchestra in 1992. It also has flourishing residencies in Brighton, Eastbourne and Saffron Walden as well as being resident at Glyndebourne Festival Opera for over 50 years, where it performs each summer.
Upcoming concerts at Brighton Dome
| Randall Goosby plays Bruch, Saturday 5 November 2022, 7:30pm Brahms Hungarian Dances Nos. 1, 5 and 6 Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 Brahms Symphony No. 3 Alpesh Chauhan conductor Randall Goosby violin | Poetry and Passion, Saturday 11 February 2023, 7:30pm Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet: Fantasy Overture Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 Gergely Madaras conductor Zlatomir Fung cello |
| Heroes and Heroines, Saturday 1 April 2023, 7:30pm Tania León Stride Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1 Sibelius Lemminkäinen Suite Dima Slobodeniouk conductor Beatrice Rana piano |