Tue 11 December, 9:00AM
PLANET EARTH II LIVE IN CONCERT
- Second show announced due to popular demand
- New Zealand’s Clarke Gayford revealed as live narrator
Tue 11 December, 9:00AM
Due to popular demand, BBC Studios, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) and Auckland Live have announced a second show for Planet Earth II Live in Concert on Thursday 23 May 2019.
The concerts on 22 and 23 May mark the New Zealand premiere of this spectacular event that brings to life breathtaking footage from the award-winning BBC series Planet Earth II. Accompanying all the action on the big screen at the ASB Theatre, the 70-strong Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra will transport audiences with a full symphonic treatment of the score by Academy Award ® winner Hans Zimmer, and his composers Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe from Bleeding Fingers Music.
Alongside the announcement of a second show, organisers are delighted to reveal that Planet Earth II Live in Concert will be narrated live by broadcast personality and New Zealand’s ‘First Bloke’, Clarke Gayford. Gayford’s recent presenting credentials include his documentary series Fish of the Day, for the National Geographic Channel, which has screened in 83 countries.
In 2018, Planet Earth II Live in Concert has toured more than 28 cities worldwide, and in each city, a guest narrator has appeared alongside the live orchestra to tell the story.
Gayford says he is looking forward to taking on the challenge. “I grew up watching Sir David Attenborough, and I’m a huge admirer of his work and his contribution to natural history,” he says. “Narrating the Planet Earth II concert is an enormous honour, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of this special event. I can’t wait to present some of the breathtaking footage from this iconic series alongside a live accompaniment by the incredible Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.”
Chantal Bindley, Head of Live Entertainment, BBC Studios, Australia and New Zealand, says: “New Zealanders clearly have a real affection for the ground-breaking television series Planet Earth II, and this concert takes that enjoyment to the next level, showcasing all the power and drama of nature in an incredible cinematic experience with a live orchestra.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the popularity of the first show, and tickets have been selling incredibly fast. We’re thrilled to be able to offer a second show in New Zealand, ensuring more people can witness this extraordinary event,” she adds.
Produced by BBC Studios’ acclaimed Natural History Unit, the television series Planet Earth II was filmed over three years using state-of-the-art advanced technology, and in the process, elevated natural history to a whole new level. Now, Planet Earth II Live in Concert will transport audiences to the spectacular landscapes and habitats of some of Earth’s most remarkable wildlife, where they can race alongside wild lions in the remote sandy deserts of Namibia, face stormy Antarctic seas with a family of penguins, and relive the raw drama as a baby iguana tries to escape the clutches of deadly racer snakes.
Tickets for both shows of Planet Earth II Live in Concert are available from Auckland Live aucklandlive.co.nz. Purchase four tickets or more to become an APO subscriber and save at least 10% on public ticket prices plus pay no booking fees at apo.co.nz
Planet Earth II Live in Concert
7.30pm, Wednesday 22 May 2019 | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre
SECOND SHOW ADDED:
7.30pm, Thursday 23 May 2019 | ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre
Presented by BBC Studios, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Auckland Live
Planet Earth II is a BBC Studios Natural History Unit production co-produced with BBC America, ZDF, Tencent and France Télèvisions
Conductor David Kay
Tickets and more information: www.aucklandlive.co.nz
Digital press materials including a fantastic suite of high resolution images: click here
Please refer to photography captions document in this folder for usage rights and all applicable photo credits.
Contact details
Tiana Lyes | Publicist and Communications Manager
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
P: +64 9 638 6266 M: + 64 21 842 629 E: tiana@apo.co.nz
Notes to Editors
About BBC Earth
BBC Earth is a global portfolio brand that invites audiences everywhere to engage with the wonders of our universe. We bring amazing premium content, television and experiences to the world, across multiple platforms including branded channels, live events, digital & social media, AR/VR, theatrical releases for cinema & giant screen films, and consumer products.
We believe that celebrating and connecting with our world is more important than ever, across nature, science, space and the human race. Along with our partners we are continually innovating to find new stories and experiences to bring insight, enlightenment and fresh perspectives to inspire us to think and feel differently about our world. From the epic to the everyday, BBC Earth brings you face to face with heart-pounding action, mind-blowing ideas and the sheer wonder of being part of this amazing planet we call home.
BBC Earth is a commercial and global consumer brand managed by BBC Studios outside of the UK.
About BBC Studios in Australia & New Zealand
The BBC Studios business in Australia and New Zealand is primarily content sales and branded services, with a newly established production arm. It wholly owns seven channels: BBC First, BBC UKTV, BBC Knowledge and CBeebies on Foxtel and Fetch TV in Australia; BBC Living on Fetch TV; and BBC UKTV and BBC Knowledge on Sky TV in New Zealand. It distributes great British content from the BBC and other British producers to free-to-air, subscription channels and SVOD platforms and works with partners to bring BBC Studios DVDs, consumer products and live events to the local market. The new production arm in Sydney will produce BBC formats for the local market and create new IP.
https://www.bbcaustralia.com/events/
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