LSO and Bristol Beacon present second live broadcast for care homes

The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is again pairing with Bristol Beacon to stream live music into UK care homes. The broadcast, hosted by organist and journalist Oliver Condy, will be available for free to care homes across the country.

The concert, performed by the LSO will be broadcast live on YouTube from Bath Forum at 6.45pm on 14 March and will be available on demand for free for one month after broadcast so care homes can host screenings at a time that suits their residents.

Geoff Crocker, chair of Bristol Care Homes, said: ‘The pandemic has been challenging for everyone, particularly care home residents and staff, but the use of technology to share such magical performances in this innovative way is a real legacy that we will continue to support.’

This broadcast is the second of its kind and follows the success of the partnership’s first broadcast in October 2021 which featuring across national TV and press and was well received by care home staff and residents.

Louise Mitchell, chief executive of Bristol Beacon, said: ‘After the really wonderful and emotional response we had to our broadcast in October, we once again look forward to sharing the sheer joy of a London Symphony Orchestra concert with care home residents and staff nationwide.’

First opened in 1867 as Colston Hall, Bristol Beacon is a charity, venue and music education hub. The organisation is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound transformation of its performance spaces and is expected to become the first concert venue in the UK to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Kathryn McDowell, LSO’s managing director, said: ‘We couldn’t be more pleased to be partnering with Bristol Beacon for another concert in the Southwest this spring, and to be able to repeat the feat of sharing it to care homes across the country is thrilling and rewarding for us all.’

Established in 1904, the London Symphony Orchestra has been resident orchestra at London’s Barbican Centre since it opened in 1982. Led by music director Sir Simon Rattle, the orchestra aims to ‘bring the greatest music to the greatest number of people’.

Care homes wishing to access the stream can email Bristol Beacon at hello@bristolbeacon.org for information.

You can find out more about the LSO here.

You can find out more about Bristol Beacon here.