On Saturday 18 January we performed two unique concerts at Brent Civic Centre in Wembley Park, a Relaxed Performance in the afternoon and the first full performance of The Goddess of Swan Lake, an interpretation of Tchaikovsky's classic ballet with Indian Kathak dance, created in collaboration with the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company. It was a wonderful day and we were pleased to welcome audiences of all ages and backgrounds to the sell-out performances.
All photos © Tim Lutton/ Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Relaxed Performance was a unique sensory experience, designed by RPO Resound to engage a diverse range of people who might struggle with a traditional concert setting, including those with sensory needs and young children. The afternoon was hosted by Tim Steiner and Aga Serugo-Lugo, with Rebecca Tong conducting, Angie Newman providing British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation, and Annis Joslin creating stunning video projections to complement the music.
The performance was preceded by a sensory introduction, aimed at helping audience members with sensory sensitivities adjust to the environment. Guests were introduced to two musicians—one playing the violin and the other the double bass—offering a chance to hear the different pitches of these instruments. This immersive experience was enhanced by dynamic lighting and visual effects, which played a key role throughout the concert.
The concert opened with a lively, interactive segment featuring Tim Steiner, who introduced a large, bouncing ball. As he bounced the ball, the Orchestra mirrored its movement with sounds, introducing a playful and engaging atmosphere. Tim welcomed the audience and kicked off the performance with his arrangement of Don’t Step Over the Line, a song that was accompanied by visual projections featuring the song’s lyrics and related imagery. This piece also served as a way to introduce the Orchestra's players, one by one, who stood up to perform solos that showcased their instruments.
The Orchestra then performed Marche pour la cérémonie des turcs by Jean-Baptiste Lully, with accompanying visuals of mirrored paint being applied to a pad, enhancing the piece’s dynamic character.
Next, the orchestra brought an upbeat energy to the stage with seventh movement from Igor Stravinsky's Pulcinella, accompanied by a vibrant visual display of colourful dots on the screen by Annis Joslin.
Tim Steiner chose Bob Marley's Three Little Birds and encouraged the audience to sing along, with the entire stage illuminated in the colours of the Jamaican flag. Tim played a cowbell to help keep both the Orchestra and audience in tempo.
The mood shifted with Debussy’s Clair de Lune, providing a peaceful and reflective moment in the performance. Accompanied by serene visuals of nature, this piece allowed the audience to pause, relax, and connect deeply with the music.
We then performed Maurice Ravel's Boléro, with eight musicians moving into the audience, allowing the audience to view the instruments up close. As each musician played their part, the audience experienced the piece in its sections before the full Orchestra joined in.
The interactive element continued as Tim threw coloured round mats across the stage, each landing with a single note played by the Orchestra. Once all the mats were in place, Tim hopped across them as we performed In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg, full of energy and whimsy.
This was followed by the Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns. The music was accompanied by playful yet eerie visuals featuring small objects like toy cars, keys, and a Chinese princess by Annis Joslin, matching the piece's uncanny and otherworldly feel.
To conclude the performance, Tim Steiner presented his own arrangement of Around the World, which the audience joined in with. The musicians then ventured into the audience, playing directly to the guests and creating a magical, immersive moment that left everyone feeling connected and energized.
Following the concert, audience members had the opportunity to participate in four interactive workshops, each designed to cater to different energy levels and moods. These workshops, led by RPO musicians as well as Aga Serugo-Lugo, allowed the audience to engage further with the music and express their creativity. People had the chance to create their own melodies, try their hand at conducting the orchestra, explore different instruments, and learn the fundamentals of rhythm. The breakout groups provided a fun and educational experience, allowing guests to connect with the music in a hands-on way.
After the musicians and RPO stage admin team got a break in the afternoon, we returned to The Drum for rehearsals for The Goddess of Swan Lake with the Sujata Banerjee Dance Company. Directed by Sujata Banerjee, this project aims to unite Western and Indian classical dance and music traditions through a re-telling of Tchaikovsky's timeless ballet. The score was arranged by Howard Moody and the performance was conducted by Orlando Joplin, with an original script by Nona Shepphard.
The concert opened with an introduction by the Orchestra's Director of Artistic Partnerships and Planning, Tom Philpott, and followed with two favourites of the Romantic canon: Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice and Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune.
Elizabeth Hollingshead played the role of the Goddess, Saraswati, who represents all art forms and learning, and travels on the back of a swan, a creature which symbolise purity, grace and inner strength in Hindu mythology.
The performance featured musicians from India who played the tabla, sitar and Indian flute.
Thank you again to everyone who came to each of the performances. We'll see in Wembley Park for more concerts soon.
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