Pete Tong and Jules Buckley are celebrating a decade in the Classics business. The English DJ and conductor have announced a 10th anniversary collection featuring tracks from their series of orchestral electronic albums, including 2016’s Classic House, 2017’s Ibiza Classics, and 2019’s Chilled Classics. They’ll also be returning to London’s Royal Albert Hall, the site of their first collaboration, for four more shows this year with the Essential Orchestra.
Tong and Buckley first teamed up in 2015 to perform for BBC Proms, an annual summer series bringing daily classical music to Royal Albert Hall. This year they’ll make their grand return to the venue for four straight nights, from May 29 through June 1. “I’m thrilled and inspired to be going back to where we started Ibiza Classics at the Royal Albert Hall,” Tong says. “That’s where the magic happened. The atmosphere created that first night is why we’re still here ten years on… It’s a very special place.”
Each of the four shows will feature unique programming, including appearances from guest vocalists Becky Hill, Jacob Lusk (Gabriels), Jazzy, Clementine Douglas, and Barbara Tucker and guest DJs including Seth Troxler, Damian Lazarus, David Morales, and Paul Oakenfold. The focus, though, will be on the interplay between Tong’s electronic beats and the symphonic power of the Essential Orchestra as conducted by Buckley. Regarding the infusion of an orchestra into his electronic dance music, Tong enthuses, “It’s like you’ve driven a sports car your whole life, then suddenly you’re in Formula One.”
As for the record, Ibiza Classics 10th Anniversary Collection is out May 23 in 2LP and 2CD format. In addition to hits such as “Pjanoo,” “Lola’s Theme,” “Killer,” “Insomnia,” “9PM (Till I Come),” and “Your Love,” the tracklist includes new Mark Ralph edits of “Finally,” “Man With A Red Face,” “Yeke Yeke,” and “Cafe Del Mar,” as well as new single “Rhythm Of The Night.”
Order the 10th anniversary edition of Ibiza Classics now.
