Legendary Rock Band ‘The Scorpions’ Play Open Air Classical Festival

In Gendarmemarkt, some 6,000 people showed up for the “Open Air Classical Festival.”

It was quite an historic day, as Germany’s legendary rock band, The Scorpions, performed their greatest hits accompanied by the prestigious classical symphony orchestra, Deutsches Babelsberg Filmorchester.

The conductor of the show, American Scott Lawton, says this orchestra is well-suited for playing rock music.

“This is a very special orchestra that is extremely active in crossover projects and film music projects- predestined for this kind of work,” Lawson says.

Crossover projects like this can be tricky, and there are fundamental style differences to address.

“The musicians from one side don’t automatically speak the same language as the musicians from the other side. Usually the classical people don’t improvise. Classical musicians are always trained to blend very well with other sections and usually a strong artist in pop-rock tries to do the opposite.”

Lawton says the secret is to have the right arranger and conductor.

“If there is a very clever arranger who writes for the classical musicians so that the rock-pop work people feel at home, then I’d say 60 percent of the work is done. The remaining 40 percent is for the conductor to help the classical people play as rhythmically and with the correct style that the people from the other side see.”

So who is the arranger?

A few years ago, the Scorpions commissioned Austrian born Christian Kolonovits for a TV and CD project with the Berlin Philharmonic. The project proved so successful that The Scorpions have continued to perform these arrangements. Lawson believes this is a testament to the skill of Kolonovits.

“These are without a doubt the finest orchestra arrangements that I’ve encountered in rock music.”

The admiration appears to be mutual; Kolonovits recruited Lawton after seeing him conduct at a TV gala.

“Well, he comes up to me after this TV benefit gala and says, ‘Hey Scott, I was watching you conduct. Sounds great. Listen, I have a big conflict. The Scorpions are doing a Russian tour in three months, and I’m with some other artists. Can you jump in and conduct the tour for me?'”

At the time, Lawton wasn’t familiar with their music.

He conducted several pieces without having heard the original versions. Now that he has, he believes some of the orchestra versions, like “Hurricane” are actually better. Even the Scorpions seem to agree.

“He threw a melody that The Scorpions didn’t even know about into and he wrote a drum solo over.. Ever since they’ve experienced this orchestra version, they use this special new thing. Their song is better from this interlude that the arranger thought of.”

 

In his free time, Lawton listens to music, but not just any music.

He relaxes by getting back to his roots- playing Broadway musicals on the piano.

“I finally performed Rhapsody in Blue while leading from the piano. If there’s a chance to play and conduct in the same concert, I’m looking for that too.”