Hire Symphonic Greatest Hits — A 34-Piece Crossover Orchestra Show for Galas & Corporate Events

United Soloists Orchestra's Symphonic Greatest Hits brings 34 musicians to corporate galas and private celebrations across Switzerland. Built from real performances in Zurich, St.Gallen and Locarno — with a return to Casino Bern on 18 October 2026 — it is a 90-minute, genre-crossing orchestral show designed as an elegant seated evening.

By Arseniy Shkaptsov, Music Director, conductor & arranger.

What is Symphonic Greatest Hits, and what does it sound like?

Symphonic Greatest Hits is a 90-minute journey from cinema scores to classical masterpieces and pop-rock anthems, all arranged for symphony orchestra. Think Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone next to Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi, then Eagles, ABBA and The Beatles — not a cover set, but a full orchestral experience.

The programme is split into three blocks:

• Cinema & atmosphere — Inception, Cinema Paradiso, Amélie, La La Land, plus Ludovico Einaudi's Experience.
• Classical masterpieces — Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra, Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers, Vivaldi's Winter and Saint-Saëns's The Swan.
• Pop & rock anthems in symphony — The Verve's Bitter Sweet Symphony, Eagles' Hotel California, ABBA's The Winner Takes It All, The Beatles' Yesterday, Gary Moore's Still Got the Blues, Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale, Lucio Dalla's Caruso and Bert Kämpfert's Strangers in the Night.

A central intermission gives guests a natural break for dinner, speeches or a glass of wine. You can also listen to the official Spotify playlist in advance.

How many musicians do you need on stage?

The core line-up is 34 musicians. Because the show is acoustic, the technical needs are light: USO brings the players and the arrangements, and the stage footprint is roughly 10 by 6 metres. The venue supplies a standard stage and PA; no elaborate production is required.

For a corporate gala or award ceremony, that size creates a real symphonic presence without overwhelming a hotel ballroom or theatre stage. If your room is smaller, we can discuss a reduced formation — the same programme adapts to the space and budget.

Where has USO already performed this show?

After public performances in three Swiss cities, Symphonic Greatest Hits returns for a seated gala-style concert at Casino Bern on 18 October 2026. The archived dates are a useful preview for corporate bookers who want to hear the show live before committing:

• Zurich — 31 January 2026 at Kirche Enge.
• St.Gallen — 13 February 2026 at Kirche Linsebühl.
• Locarno — 18 April 2026 at Chiesa San Francesco.

The Locarno concert sold out. In Corriere del Ticino (19 April 2026), Mauro Rossi described the evening as a winning formula: pop classics rearranged symphonically, mixing classical excerpts with film scores and pop-rock standards, and placing the orchestra in the lineage of MFSB, Salsoul, Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, Bert Kämpfert and James Last.

"Sold out Saturday evening at the church of S. Francesco in Locarno for the young Ticinese ensemble and its 'easy listening' repertoire." — Corriere del Ticino, 19 April 2026

Is this the right fit for your corporate event or gala?

This show is built for moments where the music itself is the centrepiece: seated galas, annual dinners, award ceremonies and private celebrations. Several Swiss banks have already booked USO for their annual-report events, using the full orchestra as the elegant high point of the evening.

The programme can be shaped around your event flow:

• Split the 90 minutes into two sets around dinner or speeches.
• Pair the full-orchestra show with a smaller ensemble — such as our Exotic Event format or the Sweet & Tight Band — for arrival music, an apéro or a quieter dinner set.
• Want the room dancing afterwards? Our flagship Symphonic Disco is the natural second half.

We do not publish fixed quotes for a 34-piece show because every event is different. The public services page shows our consumer tiers, and private or corporate hires are built to your budget, venue and schedule. Not sure which USO format matches your room? Browse the other formats on our blog.

Ready to talk? Tell us about your gala or corporate evening through the services enquiry form or the promoters page, and we will come back with a tailored proposal.

Frequently asked questions

Can the setlist be adapted for our audience or theme?

Yes. The programme can be adjusted depending on the stage size, the room and the budget. We keep the core identity of the show — cinema, classical and pop-rock in one flow — but can emphasise one block or swap individual titles to match your event.

How long is the show, and does it include a break?

The standard set is 90 minutes with a central intermission. It can also be split into two shorter sets if that works better around dinner or speeches.

Is it fully seated or can guests dance?

Symphonic Greatest Hits is designed as a seated concert. If you want a dance floor afterwards, we recommend pairing it with Symphonic Disco, the show built to get the whole room moving.

What does the venue need to supply?

Very little. The show is acoustic, so the venue provides a suitable stage (roughly 10 × 6 metres) and its house PA. USO brings the musicians, the arrangements and the production know-how.

Can we pair it with a smaller ensemble for arrival or dinner?

Yes. The full orchestra can be the centrepiece, while a smaller ensemble — for example our Exotic Event line-up or the Sweet & Tight Band — handles the quieter arrival, apéro or dinner moments.

About the author: Arseniy Shkaptsov is Music Director, conductor and arranger of United Soloists Orchestra. He has guest-conducted the Orchestra della Toscana and the Athene Philharmonia Orchestra, and his mentors include Paavo and Neeme Järvi, Daniele Gatti and Vladimir Fedoseev.

Photos: AK Photography (Andrey Klimontov).