The Glasshouse

Fantasy, Myths, and Legends at BBC Proms at The Glasshouse is a portal to other worlds. Under the baton of Ellie Slorach, be swept away by the mystical lands of Game of Thrones to the wizarding world of Harry Potter and the galactic battles of Star Wars.

With Royal Northern Sinfonia and Voices of the River’s Edge choir (VOTRE) filling the stage on Sunday 28 July, Ellie tells us why everyone should come, whether they’re lifelong classical music fans or not, in our conversation.

What’s your earliest memory of BBC Proms?

It was when I was in sixth form at school. I stood as a ‘Prommer’ in the Royal Albert Hall, and it was fun right from queuing up; everyone really wanted to be there. I was blown away by the standard of everything, especially the orchestra, as I hadn’t heard many professional players at that point.

You’re leading the Fantasy, Myths and Legends concert next week. The programme has epic scores from films like Harry Potter and His Dark Materials. Can you pick a piece of music from the programme you’re most excited to conduct and tell us why?

It has to be the TV theme Good Omens by David Arnold. There are sounds of angels and devils and the choir. The chorus of angels sings, ‘ah, ah, ah’ and then we get the lower voices in the choir singing, ‘humph, humph, humph’, literally singing the word humph! I think it’s hilarious. There’s such humour in the music, and that’s why I like it.

How do these pieces transport the audience into the worlds of fantasy and adventure? Can you describe the emotions or imagery the certain pieces evoke?

The worlds we get to create are epic, so the orchestral force is massive. It’s a huge play for the brass instruments, especially for the array of percussion. There’s also a large-scale choir, Voices of the River’s Edge. They don’t always sing words we know, but they really add to the power of the concert. We’re going to faraway worlds together, and that’s why a lot of the music has this scale and scope.

Why do you think Fantasy, Myths, and Legends is the perfect concert for first-time Prommers and families?

The combination of music is exciting to everyone. You might love classical music and know pieces like Modest Mussorgsky’s A Night on the Bare Mountain. But equally, if you’ve never heard an orchestra live before, you may have watched Harry Potter films, so you’ll recognise Hedwig’s theme by John Williams.

Younger people will have watched Star Wars or even played some of the video games in the programme. It’s incredible to hear these pieces on TV or in headphones and then to come into the concert hall and hear them live by Royal Northern Sinfonia – that will move you at any age!

Are there any surprises or special moments we should watch out for during the concert?

A mezzo-soprano soloist is joining us for one of the pieces, creating a new sound. Before then, it’s the orchestra and the choir. The soloist is only joining us on that one piece, and I won’t say which one – let’s leave it as a surprise.

For anyone unsure about attending, what would you say to encourage them to come along and enjoy the experience?

The show is full of music that evokes all sorts of characters and realms and tells us a story. Lots of the pieces are fairly short, but they pack a punch. It’s the sort of event that, if you’ve not been to an orchestral concert before, would be a fantastic one to start with. You can try a Promming ticket for £8. But if you’re a seasoned concertgoer, there’s plenty for you as well.

The show features the Voices of the Rivers Edge choir. How do you find working with young performers, and what do they bring to a performance like this?

I recently met VOTRE for a rehearsal, and they’re in great shape. It’s easy to see they’ve been working hard. They’re a choir of singers aged 18 -35 with a real vibrancy in their sound. What’s exciting about choirs is how they help tell the story of where we are or who we’re describing in the music. I’m glad we’re playing scores that need a choir who adds atmosphere, and I hope the audience is also looking forward to that.

Opportunities to sing at events like BBC Proms are incredible. The choir will feel a huge sense of achievement after performing at events like that. They’re  determined to be brilliant at what they do, and they support each other massively

You’ll be back to conduct The Snowman again in December after last winter’s heartwarming concert at The Glasshouse. How did you find the experience of working in Sage One and collaborating with Royal Northern Sinfonia, and what can audiences look forward to this year?

I’m grateful the orchestra has invited me back because I loved the performances last year. I’d never conducted The Snowman before, but the orchestra was so kind and supportive. I loved the concerts, the audience reactions, and the way the whole show was presented with the lighting and hosts. It was all such a treat.

This year, as well as The Snowman, we’ll be performing In the Swamp by the Light of the Moon, which has a special surprise, but I can’t give it away right now. Also, Jingle Bells is always such a laugh. I’m excited to see lots of you again, and hopefully some new faces.