THROUGHOUT the Covid-19 crisis, music has played a huge role in lifting spirits, with many musicians under quarantine sharing their favourite pieces online.
The Ulster Orchestra is no different, with their digital #UOLetsPlayAtHome series proving popular. Now looking forward to the ‘new norm’, they are sharing their music in intimate courtyard concerts and planning for next season.
With cancelled performances and the prospect of reduced audiences due to social distancing, many arts organisations fear for their future. Not so the Ulster Orchestra.
“My initial thought and still my thought is that if any organisation can prosper in difficult times it's the Ulster Orchestra,” says their managing director, Richard Wigley. “The orchestra has come out of a very difficult place five years ago when they really were looking at whether they could survive or not. The way that the organisation has pulled itself together and responded to the challenge has given us much confidence going forward.
“The orchestra has got really good at adapting. Every single member of the company understands very well what its expectations are from the people of Northern Ireland. There is a high degree of flexibility in the organisation to reach more people and this has been shown once more in our response to this pandemic,” says Richard, a former bassoon player with Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra.
The orchestra has 63 musicians and 21 administrative staff. Although a few have been furloughed, even some of the admin staff have also joined in the Let’s Play at Home series, revealing their hidden talents.
From family string quartets, conversations and tutorials to members performing together remotely and even musicians playing different arrangement with themselves in split screen, the digital series has showcased the diverse talents of the orchestra.
“It was important for us to make sure we kept in touch with our audience. We've been talking for a long time about improving or digital content and this pandemic has accelerated our plans," Richard says. “Through our digital platforms we’ve reached a lot more people, so in a funny kind of way, despite the problems of Covid, it's been quite invigorating."
Lockdown has given rise to much creativity and many of the orchestra members have been experimenting with new genres and even writing original works. Viola player Philip Walton’s violin concerto, In Passing, had its world premiere online, featuring associate leader Ioana Petcu-Colan, accompanied by five other members of the orchestra’s string section.
Cellist Rozzie Curlett has even taught herself the ukulele using YouTube tutorials.
“This has been a great opportunity for people to take up an instrument and give it a go. It's never too late to learn,” says the 30-year-old, who has also been teaching music lessons with her students via Zoom.
She is one of three members of the orchestra who have been responsible for co-ordinating the digital repertoire, as well as engaging in community projects.
“As musicians, we have just had to reinvent ourselves. It’s been very odd performing to a screen from home and having no instant reaction. I’ve been encouraging others to take part and I’m delighted it’s been so well received.”
The musicians have also found it refreshing to experiment with their repertoire and to collaborate with other artists.
“There's been a huge variety and it's been good to show that we don't just do classical music and there are more strings to your bow, so to speak,” Rozzie says.
Among the popular performances has been flautist Colin Fleming performing The Isle of Innisfree, theme tune to The Quiet Man.
“Traditional folk is very much cared about here in in Northern Ireland. We’ve also got some Lush music coming out as well and collaborations with some other artists, who aren't in the classical scene, and commissions from Queen’s University students."
Rozzie herself is currently collaborating with poet Ruth Carr.
“She has written and commissioned some poems and was looking for a musical response. That’s been really good fun.”
In #UOLetsPlayAtHome, Rozzie has made a Teddy Bear's Picnic workshop and performance for younger orchestra fans during lockdown, as well as working on content for key worker schools.
“This time of year we would normally be gearing up towards our Great Crescendo concert, where some schoolchildren would have the chance to perform with us. We’re sad we can’t physically get into schools now, but at least we can get some content to the pupils electronically.”
In the past week Rozzie has been delighted to play again with some of her colleagues, performing string quartet mini-concerts outside a number of care homes as part of the orchestra’s Courtyard Concert series, performing social distancing chamber music.
“We are starting with targeting audience who have been a bit vulnerable and are socially isolated. We play outside and they can open the windows or sit at a distance and listen. Hopefully it will brighten up their day,” she says.
The Ulster Orchestra, just like the government, have taken a phased approach in response to Covid-19. While phase one was their digital output, they have now moved into stage two, as Richard explains.
“We are delighted smaller parts of the orchestra are now creating music together again. And as restrictions ease, we hope to extend our Courtyard Concerts from August onwards. We are open to lots of ideas at the moment, but one of my dreams is it we find a way to use all the beautiful bandstands dotted around Northern Ireland.”
The musicians’ annual holiday is in July, but they are going to continue putting out material through their social media channels. In late summer and early autumn the orchestra plan to record music together, for broadcast on both BBC Radio 3 and local radio.
“We’re kind of the unofficial BBC Orchestra for Northern Ireland and the plan from August, presuming we can get a big enough orchestra and crew together, is to ask listeners what they would like to hear us play. We would then rehearse and respond to those requests,” adds Richard, who is also hopeful to play some part in this summer’s BBC Proms, which is still in planning.
The Ulster Orchestra’s chief conductor Daniele Rustioni who has also performed online, playing piano accompanied by his wife, violinist Francesca Dego, is very much involved in the orchestra’s plans.
“We have Zoom company meetings every Wednesday which Daniele is involved in and we anticipate he will be spending quite a lot of time with the musicians between August and Christmas with the musicians. He's an international superstar so we need to make the most of his time with us,” adds Richard.
Looking further ahead to ‘phase three’, he is hopeful that Ulster Orchestra public concerts will resume in January 2021.
“Obviously I can't control the virus but, based on advice over the best capacity for audiences, what we are anticipating to do is launch a short season from January through to summer 2021.
“What we have achieved over the past few months is an interesting addition to what we do, but it will never replace a live concert experience.”
You can follow the Ulster Orchestra series of digital and pop-up performances on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and use the hashtag #UOLetsPlayAtHome. See also Ulsterorchestra.org.uk
