Australia's Concept Eventz is known for curating gin festivals, drive-in cinemas and sing-along film nights. For their next big event, organisers have wrangled skilled orchestral musicians from across the country to form the Alternative Symphony.

With the same approach as Britain's acclaimed orchestral group No Strings Attached, the troupe is set to perform the work of hip hop greats with a classical slant. At a yet-to-be-announced Auckland venue this August, the Alternative Symphony will give the hits of Notorious B.I.G and 2Pac the orchestral treatment, while guest vocalists step in to reimagine verses. The production will also offer "some of the best visuals Australia has to offer."

The rappers, considered two of the most significant and influential emcees of all time, were famously the focal points of the East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry, which spawned an endless supply of antagonistic diss tracks. At this one-off orchestral experience expect to hear hits like 'California Love', 'What's Beef?', 'Changes', 'Mo Money Mo Problems' and 'Thugz Mansion' played on violins and saxophones.

The Alternative Symphony has previously tackled the songbooks of Dr. Dre and Daft Punk.