Dear John

What can a philharmonic orchestra have in common with pop's abiding legend? Plenty, finds Chen Jie.

While Chopin and Schumann are the toast of the classical music world this year, the Beijing Music Festival (BMF) is also including a concert to celebrate the 70th birthday of legendary Beatle John Lennon (1940-1980).

On Oct 19, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will give a concert at the Forbidden City Concert Hall, that will have British actor, Mark McGann, impersonating a drawling Lennon, narrating the punchy and witty life-story script written by veteran British theatrical visionary Bob Eaton, and acclaimed jazz influenced vocalists Curtis Stingers and Claire Martin.