Red Bull Symphonic x Metro Boomin preforming in Los Angeles.
© Kirby Gladstein / Red Bull Content Pool
Music

What is Red Bull Symphonic?

Pop meets classical music in the first edition of Red Bull Symphonic in Sweden. Here’s all you need to know about the global concept that’s taken the music world by storm.
Written by Hanna Jonsson
3 min readPublished on
From American rap and hip hop to Austrian drum'n'bass and South African Amapiano, Red Bull Symphonic has created the most unexpected combinations over the years. By merging a contemporary artist with a classical music director, music is transformed into fascinating pieces, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all involved: the artist, the classical music director, and the audience.
As the musical event touches down in Sweden for the first time on April 10th together with pop icon Victor Leksell, let’s take a deeper look at what Red Bull Symphonic actually is.
Red Bull Symphonic in Los Angeles, CA, USA on October 26, 2023

The vibe at Red Bull Symphonic is something else

© Kirby Gladstein / Red Bull Content Pool

01

A collision of two musical worlds

The concept is as innovative as it is simple: merging modern music with the classical world to create something new and exciting. By rearranging the artist’s repertoire into classical pieces, Red Bull Symphonic creates a unique musical collision and sound. On top of that, having a modern-style artist perform together with a full symphonic orchestra doesn’t just create an insane wow-factor - it also brings people together from different musical backgrounds, musicians and audience alike, in the magic that is live music.
In 2024, Marwan Pablo performs with an orchestra at Red Bull Symphonic in Cairo

A musical clash between two worlds to create a new form of magic

© Hesham Marcelo / Red Bull Content Pool

02

What is a symphonic orchestra?

Experiencing the sound of a full symphonic orchestra is very powerful: the physical vibrations of the instruments, its all-surrounding sound. But what actually is the difference between a orchestra and a symphonic orchestra? Well, a symphonic orchestra is the largest type of orchestra and is composed of strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. It’s often defined as an orchestra that has both the number of players and types of instruments required to play a symphony. Seated in their instrumental families, strings being one section and woodwinds another, it allows the conductor to balance the orchestra’s sound better and create a more cohesive overall sound. A must-hear experience for any musical fan.
In 2024, Kabza De Small and Ofentse Pitse perform at Red Bull Symphonic event in Johannesburg

Kabza De Small electrifies Red Bull Symphonic in South Africa

© Mpumelelo Macu / Red Bull Content Pool

Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers leads Orchestra Noir during Red Bull Symphonic at the Atlanta Symphony Hall in Atlanta, Georgia on November 4th, 2022

Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers leads Orchestra Noir in Georgia

© Ian Witlen / Red Bull Content Pool

03

How are modern songs turned into classical music?

However, before the symphonic orchestra can start rehearsing the fresh Red Bull Symphonic repertoire, the artist’s songs have to be rearranged into classical pieces. This is done by one or several music arrangers from the classical world. A music arranger reimagines an existing composition, adapting the instruments, voices, rhythms, and tempo to create a new sound for a piece of music. Or, as in this case, a library of music.
Metro Boomin and John Legend at Red Bull Symphonic on Los Angeles, CA, USA on October 26, 2023

A stand-out performance from John Legend together with Metro Boomin in LA

© Greg Noire / Red Bull Content Pool

04

Red Bull Symphonic around the globe

From Egypt to Australia, from Greece to Jordan, Red Bull Symphonic has left audiences in awe all over the world. Take the iconic show with record producer Metro Boomin, who reimagined his biggest hits together with conductor Anthony Parnther and a full orchestra in Los Angeles, or rapper Rick Ross’s collaboration with Orchestra Noir—the first Red Bull Symphonic on US soil.
The cool thing about this event is that it takes a music genre close to the local audience’s hearts and turns it on its head. Like Austrian drum’n’bass duo Camo & Krooked who teamed up with composer Christian Kolonovits for a journey into the unknown. Who knew that combination would create such a magical clash?
Rick Ross performing at Red Bull Symphonic in Atlanta, GA, USA on November 4, 2022.

When rap meets classical music - an unforgettable experience

© Daniel Zuliani / Red Bull Content Pool

05

Red Bull Symphonic in Sweden

As Red Bull Symphonic takes over Cirkus in Stockholm on the 10th of April, pop artist Victor Leksell is the perfect fit for the concept and local audience. An artist whose music reach every little nook and cranny of the country and has young and old singing along to his emotional lyrics and catchy tunes. Joining forces with a 58-piece symphonic orchestra, The Stockholm Concert Orchestra, and some of the biggest names in the classical world, it will be a spectacular one-night-only performance where the audience get to experience Leksell’s music like it’s never been heard before.
One night only, one chance only to experience it live - grab your tickets now over on ticketmaster.se.
Victor Leksell announcing his

Victor Leksell x Red Bull Symphonic

© Noah Agemo

Part of this story

Red Bull Symphonic

Award-winning artist Victor Leksell unites with Stockholm Concert Orchestra in Sweden’s first-ever Red Bull Symphonic; a two-worlds-collide, unmissable performance at Cirkus in Stockholm on April 10.

SwedenStockholm, Sweden
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