A FORMER Great British Bake Off star from Brighton is making a very special birthday cake for one of the world’s greatest orchestras.
Jürgen Krauss, who reached the semi-final of the Channel 4 show in 2021, is baking the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) a cake to celebrate its 90th birthday.
The trombone player is a huge fan of the orchestra and enjoys attending LPO concerts at Brighton Dome, where the orchestra has a residency.
The cake will be presented during the concert at Brighton Dome on Saturday, October 22, a few days after the orchestra’s official birthday on October 7.
Principal guest conductor Karina Canellakis will lead a performance of Sibelius’s violin concerto, with soloist Augustin Hadelich, and Beethoven’s symphony no. 3 (eroica).
“I am delighted to be making this cake for the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s 90th birthday,” said Jürgen.
“I feel a really personal connection with this orchestra; some time after moving to England, my wife and I were returning to Brighton very late at night and the musicians of the LPO were on the train.
“We started talking and had a lovely time getting to know each other. Then, whilst I was on Bake Off, LPO trombonist David Whitehouse got in touch with me which resulted in more conversations and concert visits.
“As well as being great performers, the LPO have such an approachable feel in person and also online through their social media which makes me want to wish them a very happy birthday.”
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The two-tiered cake will have five lines made out of dark ganache running through it, imitating a stave; the lines on which musical notes are written. The raspberry flavour pays tribute to the Orchestra’s distinctive pink logo and the outside will be decorated with different instruments.
Jürgen showcased his love for classical music during dessert week where, for the showstopper challenge, he hand-piped music from a 16th-century song by Henry VIII onto a collar which he then wrapped around the outside of the cake. He even sang the tune as Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith judged the bake.
Since it was founded in 1932 by conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, the orchestra has become one of the finest orchestras on the international stage and has even recorded soundtracks for numerous blockbuster films, including The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
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