Just over 100 years ago, George Gershwin composed Rhapsody in Blue for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, combining elements of classical, jazz and blues. This iconic piece opened up a new era for America’s musical history.

Tim Kliphuis and his Trio have toured for 20 years and celebrate with a brand-new Rhapsody that swings, emotes and dazzles. Tim Kliphuis: “What has always frustrated me about listening to the orchestral Rhapsody is that some of Gershwin’s inspired melodies get so little space. And his trademark syncopation is something that large classical ensembles don’t tend to do well. Our Trio, with its background in jazz and classical, feels like the perfect group to do the piece justice. Our version is longer and more improvised, but at the same time instantly recognizable.”

Paired with the Rhapsody is the Trio’s popular arrangement Hoedown for the Common Man, as performed with orchestras across the world, celebrating the music of yet another legendary American composer: Aaron Copland.

To top this exciting programme off, the Trio play some Gershwin gems: It Ain’t Necessarily So, I Got Rhythm and They Can’t Take That Away from Me in a solo guitar version.

Recent Trio highlights were a Royal state visit to Sweden, a command performance at the UN, collaborations with the Netherlands and Tallin Chamber Orchestras and Cape Town Philharmonic. Their Sony album ‘Reflecting the Seasons’ hit i-Tunes number one with an innovative new version of Vivaldi’s masterpiece.