RICK WAKEMAN’S HAMPTON COURT (ouch!)

The grumpy old man’s next prog-rock extravaganza will be a right royal affair, he tells Tim Jones

Sometime Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman performs The Six Wives Of Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, on 1-2 May, for a filmed outdoor commemoration of 500 years since the ascendancy of Henry.

“It all started in 1972,” says Rick, “when I did the album. The idea was to do a show at Hampton Court, but that was close to treason then. I had about as much chance as having tea with the Queen. But I love stately homes and have been many times to the Palace, and last year I got a call from one of the senior guys at Hampton Court and he asked if I’d like to do Six Wives in front of the main west gate? So I went down and had lunch, played golf – times have changed! - and they suggested a full orchestra, choir, guests, dancers, the biggest stage ever, and a Tudor experience with everyone dressed up in typical prog rock fashion. Well, ...if you insist. So we set up an office and have been working non-stop since. There’ll be two acoustic supports, medieval hog-roasts and groups around the place in costume, then us - a seven-piece band, English Chamber Choir, 72-piece Europa Orchestra, a narrator and big screens with cameras focused on the keyboards. There’ll be 240 people in all, so I’m happy – though the accountants …

by Tim Jones
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