Fantasy, Myths and Legends… Our Performance at the BBC Proms

On Monday 28th August, 90 members of the choir (including a few voices borrowed from Leeds Philharmonic Chorus) travelled to London to perform at the BBC Proms, specifically, Prom 57: Fantasy, Myths and Legends.

The day started around 6.30am when the sleepy streets of Huddersfield began to crawl with bleary-eyed choral singers all toting lunchboxes excitedly. A five-hour coach journey later the choir arrived at the hallowed halls of the Royal Albert Hall, home of the BBC Proms.

It was straight through security and into the auditorium where the choir were ushered onto the stage for an orchestral rehearsal. Excitement was barely kept in check as voices and instruments blended together for the first time, the sound rippling around the circular space and upto the floating mushroom ceiling.

A brief break, and then a full show rehearsal followed and suddenly it was time to change into uniforms and file onto the stage in a now packed-out hall. Every single chair was full and the standing areas too, and as the presenters Ali Plumb and Katie Derham introduced the fantasy music of the concert there were cheers and enthusiasm from the ready audience.

A spellbinding performance followed, kicked off with the instantly recognisable Lord of the Rings. The choir had their first chance to wow with a medley from the epic TV show Game of Thrones and were met with audible cheers from the audience when introduced by the presenters after their first song. Other pieces in the concert included His Dark Materials, Good Omens, Harry Potter, World of Warcraft and Star Wars.

This type of music is not within the choir’s usual repertoire and yet it suited the breadth, depth, and volume of the choir so brilliantly, it might just need to be considered for the future. In the programme, they were described as an ‘epic roaring choir’, words that the society is proud to claim.

After the concert, the choir boarded the coach once more and the sleepy journey back to ‘the north’ commenced. An epic day in more than one sense, we are hugely honoured that Huddersfield Choral Society was able to take part in the BBC Proms and represent choral music in the North of England.

Don’t forget: The concert is going to be broadcast on BBC Two on Saturday 2 September at 5.50pm. More information can be found  on the BBC website.

Photo credit: BBC / Andy Paradise