Guildhall Questions: Candida Thompson answers

On Thursday 30 January the Guildhall String Ensemble will return to Milton Court Concert Hall for a concert of

Britten, Arvo Pärt and Shostakovich directed by Candida Thompson, artistic director of Amsterdam Sinfonietta since 2003. We caught up with Candida to find out more about the programme and what it’s been like to work with the ensemble.

Can you tell us a little about the programme you will be performing on Thursday 30 January?

I’m very much looking forward to working again with the Guildhall String Ensemble – new energy, new faces and new challenges. Our programme is also an exciting and special one: Shostakovich’s Violin Sonata arranged for violin, strings and percussion, Britten’s Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge, plus the famous Pärt Cantus written to mourn the death of Benjamin Britten. 

To perform Shostakovich and Britten together is not a new idea. They admired each other’s work and shared a great friendship in spite of the iron curtain that separated them. However I’m pretty sure that, due to their age, both these pieces will be new for many of the Guildhall String Ensemble players. 

What are the main challenges of directing a String Ensemble from the violin?

An ensemble is an art form in itself, not an orchestra and not a chamber music group. How does one approach this, how does a group find itself, who is leading, who is directing the decisions? The process needs direction but in a very different way to that of an orchestra, and one doesn’t have the immediate response that happens in a small chamber music group. However, the responses still have to come from within the ensemble and not only from the leader. One has to lead, encourage, let go, react and keep all channels open so that the process can be homogeneous. 

And what do you enjoy most about it?

In this formation, everyone’s responsibility is heightened, one cannot rely on following an individual and everyone has to find a way to become part of the musical intention. In this way the ensemble can be free to react to each other and find a way for everyone to be part of the overall musical intention, creating a group that is larger than the sum of its parts. 

It can be a magical experience, breathing together, finding sound worlds and becoming one with the music. 

What is your main goal when you first start working with a new ensemble?

I want to create an atmosphere where people can bring out their ideas in reaction to me and then we can play ‘ball’ with the music and, at the same time, be as true to the score as one can be. I suppose one could say I try to lead by example, this means having to be critical of myself as well. It will be an exciting week!

Candida directs the Guildhall String Ensemble in Milton Court Concert Hall on Thursday 30 January at 7pm. Tickets available from barbican.org.uk