Beatles join Liverpool culture
2007-09-28 15:40
Liverpool - The two surviving members of The Beatles will pay tribute to their native city when Liverpool becomes European Capital of Culture next year, organisers announced on Thursday.
Performances by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are among highlights of the yearlong program of arts events in the northern English port city.
Starr - along with Eurythmics founder Dave Stewart and the Liverpool Symphony Orchestra - will lead the opening ceremony January 12 with "Liverpool The Musical", a tribute to the city's musical heritage from The Beatles to Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
McCartney will headline a concert for more than 30 000 people at Liverpool Football Club's Anfield stadium on June 1.
"I'm very excited about Liverpool being the European Capital of Culture in 2008," McCartney told the launch event in a video message. "We have a fantastic series of events, which are sure to get you excited, too."
Celebrations of the city's rich musical heritage play a big part in the culture-year line-up. Liverpool-born conductor Simon Rattle will lead concerts with the Berlin and Liverpool Philharmonics, and hundreds of bands from around the world are due for Liverpool Music Week in November.
Each year two cities in European Union nations hold the title of culture capital, a designation that provides a boost for jobs and tourism. Britain last had its turn in 1990, when Glasgow was honoured.
Stavanger, Norway, is the other culture capital for 2008.
- AP