Tour stop in Halifax for The Burt Bacharach Songbook this October
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Following a sold-out performance at London's Royal Albert Hall, What The World Needs Now – The Burt Bacharach Songbook embarks on a major UK tour this October, with a stop in Halifax.
Led by Burt Bacharach's longtime musical director Rob Shirakbari and performed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, the production will feature special guest performances from Rumer, newly announced Olivier Award-nominated singer and The Lion King star Shaun Escoffery, Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt, bringing together musicians who either worked closely with Burt Bacharach or have been profoundly influenced by his songwriting.
Audiences can expect to hear many of Bacharach's most celebrated compositions, including Walk On By, The Look Of Love, Anyone Who Had A Heart, Make It Easy On Yourself, Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head and What The World Needs Now Is Love.
Few musicians are more closely connected to Burt Bacharach's musical legacy than Rob Shirakbari.
Having spent more than four decades working alongside both Bacharach and Dionne Warwick, first as a pianist before becoming the composer's trusted arranger, orchestrator and musical director, Shirakbari developed an unparalleled understanding of the music, from Bacharach's own intentions to the interpretations that brought his songs to life.
Bacharach himself said of Shirakbari: "A man so instrumental in helping me put this show together... writing the arrangements, writing the orchestrations. I couldn't have done it without him."
For Shirakbari, the tour is about honouring the songs above all else.
Rob Shirakbari said: “It's not about any one person onstage. The goal is to honour the songs, keep the catalogue alive, and serve Burt Bacharach's musical legacy.”
Among the evening's special guests is acclaimed British singer-songwriter Rumer, whose celebrated album This Girl's In Love (A Bacharach & David Songbook) was championed by Bacharach himself, who described her as "a lady with a golden voice". Her long association with his music has included performing at the White House tribute concert honouring the songwriting partnership of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.
Also joining the tour is acclaimed singer and Olivier Award-nominated actor Shaun Escoffery, best known to many audiences for his long-running role as Mufasa in Disney's The Lion King.
The guest line-up also includes Mercury Prize-nominated singer-songwriter, producer and BAFTA-nominated composer Ed Harcourt, whose acclaimed career spans more than two decades across music, film and television.