to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first performance of Concerto for Group and Orchestra. Also performed, were pieces from Jon Lord's solo career and a number of Deep Purple songs including an orchestral version of Child In Time. Further performances The score of the concerto having been recreated, groups and orchestras across the world were free to perform it: 2012 studio version In October 2012 a studio version of the Concerto for Group and Orchestra was released. The recording features the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Mann. The soloists are Jon Lord (organ), Darin Vasilev (guitar in the 1st movement), Joe Bonamassa (guitar in the 2nd movement), Steve Morse (guitar in the 3rd movement), Steve Balsamo, Kasia Łaska, and Bruce Dickinson (vocals), Brett Morgan (drums), and Guy Pratt (bass). The orchestral parts were recorded at the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool on 1 and 2 June 2011. The band parts were recorded in August and October 2011 and also in May 2012. The album was mixed at Abbey Road Studios in late May 2012. According to Paul Mann, Jon Lord heard the final master of the recording a few days before his death on 16 July 2012. Reception Malcolm Arnold's views In an interview for hospital radio in Huddersfield in 1970, shortly after the Royal Albert Hall performance, Arnold provided a positive take on the experience: Ritchie Blackmore's views In a 1979 interview with Sounds magazine Blackmore said: Trivia The cover art of the Swedish heavy metal band Opeth's 2010 concert DVD In Live Concert at the Royal Albert Hall is intentionally similar in layout, coulour and motive to that of Deep Purple's Concerto for Group and Orchestra'', "underlining Opeth's longstanding love for their prog-rock roots". Personnel Jon Lord: keyboards Ritchie Blackmore: guitar Ian Gillan: vocals Roger Glover: bass Ian Paice: drums Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: orchestral instruments Malcolm Arnold: conductor Charts Original album (1969) Reunion performance (1999) Jon Lord's studio version (2012) References External links 1969 performance (& recording) 1999 performance (& recording) 1999 performance (& recording) Vincent Budd, The Gemini Man: an Introduction to the Orchestral Works of Jon Lord, 2003, Gnosis Press Compositions by Jon Lord Group and Orchestra, Concerto for Deep Purple video albums Live albums recorded at the Royal Albert Hall 2003 video albums 1969 live albums Live video albums Warner Records live albums Harvest Records live albums Deep Purple live albums Polydor Records live