Brussels Philharmonic & Vlaams Radio Koor olv. Alexander Hanson

Frank Zappa once said: "Jazz isn't dead, it just smells funny". In spite of this, he composed a large number of works that could be labelled as jazz. The Liège-based quintet The Wrong Object has gained a strong international reputation with this repertoire. Their record label is New York's well-known Moonjune Records. So, in 'Arf! Arf! Arf!' you can expect highly original versions of Zappa compositions! The Brussels Philharmonic already has some experience with Zappa's work: in 1995 it played 'The Purple Cucumber' at deSingel and in 2000 it put on a Zappa concert at De Bijloke. For 'Arf! Arf! Arf!' they will start with 'Octandre' by Edgard Varèse, who had a huge influence on Zappa. He called him 'The Idol of My Youth'. This is followed by '200 Motels' a symphonic album that provides the soundtrack to Tony Palmer's 1971 film of that name. Zappa and his group the Mothers of Invention play the leading parts in this film. The theme is the disorientation of a pop group on tour, when every motel in every town transforms into a whirl of images. Zappa, in his very own way, also raises the 'orchestra issue': what do you do with a burnt-out violinist in the third row of the second violins? Bobby Martin is the MC for the evening and he guides you through the wondrous world of 'Symphonic Zappa'. Rock singers and rock musicians, groupies and several actors, the Flemish Radio Chorus add to the fun.