THE CONDUCTOR WHO DOESN'T WANT TO BE MORTALLY SERIOUS

Robert Groslot is a phenomenal combination of two worlds: classical music and pop. This Belgian conductor and his orchestra Il Novecento have been stars of the 'Night of the Proms' for 24 years - grand concerts prepared with great pomp, during which pop vocalists sing their greatest hits in symphonic versions. The show enjoys great popularity in Europe - it has been watched by eight million viewers so far. Among the performers with Groslot and Il Novecento have been Sting, James Brown, Macy Gray, Sinéad O’Connor, Angie Stone, Andrea Bocelli, Boy George, James Blunt, Mike Oldfield, and Zucchero. On March 21, 'The Night of the Proms' will come to Łódź. In Atlas Arena, accompanied by Il Novecento, will perform Katie Mela, Kim Wilde, Mark King, Grzegorz Skawiński, and Rafał Brzozowski. Robert Groslot talks about the behind-the-scenes of this event.


Is it easy to convince stars to participate in the 'Night of the Proms'?
Initially, we had quite a few difficulties, but over the last 20 years, the marriage of pop music with classical has become increasingly popular, and artists are noticing this. So if you look at the list of stars who have participated in the 'Night of the Proms', it is indeed impressive. These concerts have a good reputation, and artists know that we want to create something new and interesting together. Many decide to participate again. This is also the case this year. Kim Wilde sang with us, guitarist Mark King played, and Tony Henry, who excellently combines opera with pop music, will perform again. However, I have not worked with Rafał Brzozowski and Grzegorz Skawiński before.

How long do preparations for the concert tour take?
If it is a new program, everyone receives sheet music and arrangements as homework so they can prepare. The rehearsals then go smoothly, lasting about a week, two or three times a day.

Who selects the soloists?
Primarily Jan Vereecke, one of the producers and originators of the 'Night of the Proms'. He has excellent contacts with impresarios and agencies around the world, knows what and who is needed to assemble an attractive program. However, before making a final choice, he always asks for my opinion, especially when it comes to artists from the classical music sphere.

Do you, as a conductor, influence the overall sound?
Of course, yes, because it is about making the music alive, not sterilized. After each rehearsal, we discuss what to do to maintain the perfect sound balance and what depends on me and what on the sound engineers. We also always try to take into account the acoustic differences of the halls in which we perform.

The concert program is shrouded in mystery...
We want the show to be a surprise for the audience, and I hope it will be enjoyable.

So please at least tell us whether the artists invited by you in each country sing their own hits or world standards?
We want them to sing what brought them popularity, but it can be in a new arrangement with the symphonic orchestra Il Novecento, which will sound different, perhaps more interesting. The main idea of the 'Night of the Proms' is that the concert is a kind of meeting with musical hits from the last three centuries.

So just like with the classics....
There is a lot of it at our concerts. However, we do not want to be mortally serious. The idea of the 'Night of the Proms' refers to the tradition of 19th-century promenade concerts, where people listened to good music in the summer, often in the fresh air.

When you received the offer to conduct the 'Night of the Proms' concerts, did you agree without hesitation?
I received the first invitation in 1988 and performed, but as a pianist. So when a few years later I was offered to conduct, I knew what kind of show it was about. Nevertheless, it was the early 90s, and we had only four concerts a year. Over the years, the idea has undergone tremendous evolution to become a perfect show.

Is it true that today every musician in the orchestra has their own microphone?
The sound of each instrument, the voice of each singer is collected by a separate microphone, and everything is mixed backstage so that the listener receives the music in the best possible sound. It is a very complicated job for the best professionals.

For the conductor, is the 'Night of the Proms' project a difficult task or a pleasure?
Both. It is a complicated undertaking that requires perfecting many details, and on the other hand - it gives enormous musical satisfaction to the performers, and I hope, to the audience.

What does Robert Groslot do when the 'Night of the Proms' tour ends?
I compose, because that is still the most important thing for me. Please visit the website robertgroslot.eu, you can listen there.

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