Classical music at Nottingham Theatre Royal & Concert Hall with Matt Wigley, Music Programme Manager

Tell us what you do at the Royal Concert Hall?
I'm responsible for all classical music at the Theatre Royal Concert Hall. Programming, putting it all together, making it happen, thinking ambitiously and artistically big about who comes from where. We don't have a resident orchestra, everything is imported. But that's the amazing strength of the programme. We get the cream of the crop from the UK, Europe, and beyond.

So, what's new?
Um, myself. Hopefully, bringing a lot of energy and enthusiasm in. I'm developing links off the stage. So, whilst we continue to have this world-leading program with visiting artists from all corners of the world, what's new is how we engage audiences, encouraging new audiences to try classical music for the first time and see what a wonderful thing Nottingham has. For example, working with local schoolchildren in new ways as well as communities who wouldn't necessarily think classical music is for them.

There are barriers to break down so they realise that you don't have to be dressed in your finery. It doesn't have to be an expensive hobby. You can listen to world-class music at a very affordable price. Also, what I'm describing as the no-phone zone. Somewhere where you put your phone away, and totally immerse yourself in music, which the Royal Concert Hall’s acoustics enables you to do. It's built for orchestras, so the sound fills the space in a special way, and you can really switch off from our fast-paced world.

Which artists are you attracting to Nottingham?
Where to start! We're working with world-leading artists. For example, the conductor on Wednesday is Singaporean, now working for the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, with the soloist Sir Stephen Hough, a famous name on the British piano scene. We work with orchestras from Liverpool, Birmingham, lots from London, occasionally from further up north. 

We also welcome European orchestras and have started doing a piano recital series, starting with Vadym Kholodenko – a Ukrainian pianist living in America, who’s won the international Van Cliburn Award. 

One of my favourites is Tianyi Lu, who's conducting in March. She's a New Zealand-born Chinese artist living in the Netherlands and performing in Nottingham. I love how international and diverse we are.

But we're keen to celebrate local performers, particularly the Kanneh-Mason family. We're welcoming Braimah on violin in February, alongside the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. It's important we celebrate home-grown talent. 

What does the Royal Concert Hall offer these world-class acts?
Our acoustics are exceptional. Every artist says it. It's a lovely space to perform in. Most importantly, the artists absolutely love the connection with the audience. My predecessor, Neil, created a culture where audiences are so connected. There's such a lovely give and take relationship, and returning artists know what to expect. The more the artist gives to the audience, the more the audience gives back. We've started a visitor's book so visiting artists can say a few words about Nottingham, and they always love performing here. 

Is Nottingham aware of this world-class venue on its doorstep?
I don't think there's awareness. Some people know–- those who have been through our doors and experienced something new. There's a lot of prejudices about classical music. On Wednesday, we welcomed a small group of young asylum seekers. One young person really inspired me, absolutely loved what they heard and wanted to come back and hear more. Then their teacher said, "Oh, you can't afford it." But, in fact, we run a £5 offer for under 26s. We're doing it for Nottingham. We're run by the council. So yes, we've got amazing things. Behind these closed doors, in the heart of Nottingham, there's this amazing cultural gem. 

Any tips about where people new to classical music can start at the Royal Concert Hall?
Yeah. There's programs for everyone in the classical season, and that's intentional. If you absolutely know your stuff, there are programs for you. There's also really good ways of getting into classical music. For instance, our Sunday Piano Series concerts are just an hour on a Sunday morning. They're only £11, so an absolute bargain for a world-class pianist like Vadym Kholodenko to perform. If you're under 26 it's £5 to get wherever you want to sit in the auditorium, which is such an exceptional opportunity.

There’s the Hallé’s Christmas concert, a fantastic place to start. You'll hear an 85-to-90-piece orchestra perform festive favourites, but we've also thrown in arrangements with Taylor Swift, arrangements with Mariah Carey, all those feel-good hits. A lovely mix of the two. In May, it’s the Classic FM Hall of Fame. Very much focused on the greatest hits of classical music. A little bit of everything and presented by John Suchet, the Classic FM presenter.

In March we have an Oscars concert. All our favourites from John Williams and Hans Zimmer, but also stuff from the ages of film – those amazing soundtracks that made every movie so special.

Isn’t there often a talk beforehand?
Absolutely. Wednesday night is a fantastic example with four events happening in the space of a few hours, all included within the ticket price. It represents amazing value for money, and we go a little further than many contemporary organisations in other cities. We have pre-concert talks where we get insights about the performer. Not just how they work as a musician, but also what they do off stage. They are exceptional, incredible artists. 

Before the concerts, we have preludes, small events, typically featuring a local young artist. It's a brilliant opportunity for them to perform to an audience. Sometimes we have after hours events, free to attend if you've got the ticket, with some slightly more eclectic music styles. The lights are dimmed, grab a beer, sit back and finish off the evening in a really relaxed way. For that, we've just had the Tangram Ensemble, a lovely East meets West exploration of two musical cultures. Coming up next year, we've got The Blue Hour, which is cabaret: very 1930s Weimar Berlin. 

To check out the full classical programme at Royal Concert Hall, have a look at their website.

trch.co.uk