Last month, BBC National Orchestra of Wales performed in Brecon, Aberystwyth, Bangor, and Llandudno as part of their tour to mid and north Wales. Laura Sinnerton kept a diary of the tour – exploring what life is like on the road with the orchestra.
Thursday 27 November
November is drawing in dark and cold. Over the last few days, I've been wrapping up warm when leaving the house (gloves in particular now being a must) only to have to strip off a dozen layers when entering the sub-tropical micro-climate of the Hoddinott Hall studio. I've got fairly rubbish circulation, so a thorough warm up is necessary these mornings, and it's no small relief when I feel my fingers begin to relax into the familiar movements of my daily exercises.
For this trip to mid and north Wales we are taking two programmes; one entitled ‘Pictures of Italy’ and the other ‘Celtic Impressions’. At this point in time, I am certain of only three things - firstly, I would very much like to be in Italy right now; secondly, the viola section spends quite enough of its time doing Celtic Impressions (of me!); and thirdly, both programmes are rather note laden!
We are joined by young Italian conductor, Francesco Angelico and two former BBC New Generation Artists - soprano Ruby Hughes and mezzo soprano Jennifer Johnston. In rehearsal, it feels like there is a lot of music to get through; the Italian programme on its own contains seven separate works. Psychologically, there’s something about that which makes the rehearsals feel extra-intense.
The drive to Brecon is really quite short and the weather is decidedly better than that predicted by the Met Office which gives us the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the Beacons. My travelling bud, Emilie, and I arrive in plenty of time for a cuppa and a bite of lunch before rehearsal at our first venue,Theatr Brycheiniog.
Theatr Brycheiniog
The afternoon rehearsal gives us the opportunity to get used to the dry theatre acoustic. In a theatre acoustic, the sound is very immediate and there isn’t the same ‘ring’ as one gets in a studio or purpose built concert hall (the directness of the opening chords of Verdi’s ‘Force of Destiny’ Overture are something of a jolt). This immediacy means that you have to pay particular attention to the attack of notes and also to how you leave a note; without due care, there is the danger that the sound can be thin and lacking in body, and can be particularly tricky in passage work such as is found on pretty much every page of tonight’s Mendelssohn Italian Symphony. For us string players, this means working a lot harder to create warmth and roundness in the sound, supporting more mindful bow usage with at times a more intense vibrato than normal.
After a hearty dinner (pheasant and venison sausages from the cafe, in case you’re wondering) and a preconcert talk by Donal ‘The Professor’ Bannister (Principal Trombone), the concert passes off very well and tonight’s soloist, Ruby Hughes, is well received by the audience. Somehow I’ve not played the Italian Symphony before this patch of work, and I am glad to get my first performance of it over. It has quite a few awkward little bits, and we play quite constantly throughout, so I am feeling rather pooped by the end of the concert.
Radio OB van
Listen again to the Brecon concert in Radio 3 Live in Concert, BBC Now
