Bath’s musical window into space.

Bath Philharmonia, the city’s professional orchestra, will be paying tribute to the memory of local businessman and philanthropist, Brian Roper, in a Concert for the People of Bath set to take you on a journey into space on Friday, July 8th at 7.30 pm.

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Venus – Credit: NASA/Wyard

 

You’ll be able to gaze in wonder at live choreographed images from NASA spacecraft, photos from Mars Rovers and videos from the European Space Agency as Bath Phil take you on a journey across the solar system with Holst’s The Planets. 

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The planet Uranus – discovered by Herschel while in Bath –  Credit: Ermolli/Wyard

All from the comfort of your seat at The Forum which was, of course, a former art-deco cinema and still has a large projection screen.Bath Phil - The Planets

The Planets was one of Brian Roper’s favourite pieces of music. The orchestra still benefits from the Roper Family Charitable Trust which has been a lifeline for dozens of arts and health charities in Bath.

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Brian and Margaret Roper. Photo ©Holburne Museum

Brian – who died in 2014  – ran a successful bathroom company – now continued by his sons – and had always argued that businesses should put money back into the community which sustains them.

He and his wife Margaret were given the Freedom of Bath shortly before his death. The couple had donated more than six million pounds to charity. A former City Councillor and President of Bath Liberal Democrats, Brian was given the MBE in 2008.

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Piano virtuoso Stephen Hough CBE

Joining Bath Philharmonia is one of the world’s great pianists Stephen Hough who will perform Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (the theme from The South Bank Show). 

This promises to be a concert for young and old alike – full of virtuosic fireworks and breath-taking spectacle.

You can see a short promotional video – made by visual artist Adrian Wyard – by clicking below..

 

Tickets (£20-£35 and £5 for under16s) are available from Bath Box Office Tel: 01225 463362 or www.bathboxoffice.org.uk

 

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