A 13-piece chamber orchestra of classical musicians plays rock and heavy metal hits in classical arrangements on a stage lit by candles.
The Rock Orchestra play Sunderland Empire on Sunday 28 February 2027, at 7:30pm. It's a 90-minute concert that puts rock and heavy metal hits through classical arrangements, with a 13-piece chamber orchestra taking the lead.
The setlist covers a fair bit of ground. You'll hear Metallica, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, System Of A Down, The Cranberries, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, Rage Against The Machine, Nirvana and The Rolling Stones, all reworked as classical pieces. The arrangements run from soaring ballads to anthemic sing-a-longs, so it's a mix of the slower, more melodic side of rock and the heavier stuff.
There's a bit of a scene to it as well. The musicians are bathed in a sea of candles, with skeletal players wearing rhinestone masks, crooked lurching towers, floating lanterns and giant headbanging puppets. It's as much about the visuals as the music, and the candlelight is a big part of the draw.
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Behind the name is a rotating collective of classical musicians and vocalists. The project has played to more than a million people worldwide and their first album hit number one on the Rock and Metal charts. Reviewers have called it a soul-stirring experience that blends classical bravado with hard rock.
Tickets start from £37.44, and the show kicks off at 7:30pm at the Empire on High Street.
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