RCM In Focus returns with new immersive performances for online audiences

Tuesday 26 January 2021

The Royal College of Music’s popular In Focus series returns this spring with new performances by RCM musicians, filmed especially for online audiences. The immersive short concerts, filmed at the RCM’s home in South Kensington in autumn 2020, showcase the talent and passion of the performers and offer behind-the-scenes content, including interviews with students and creative teams.

Featuring small ensembles from across the College’s faculties, the spring series commences on Wednesday 3 February with singers from the internationally renowned RCM Opera Studio performing scenes from Mozart’s Così fan tutte. Innovative staging sees these rising stars of opera making use of the entirety of the RCM’s beloved Britten Theatre, directed by guest artist Olivia Fuchs.

On Wednesday 10 February, celebrated composer Debbie Wiseman OBE delivers the RCM’s annual Crees Lecture. Entitled ‘Every Note Paints a Picture’, the talk will explore the art of composing music to picture from sketch to a full score, discussing the many different aspects it involves – collaboration, process, the language of film music, session musicians, recording studio technique, delivery and concert performances. This is Debbie’s first event with the RCM since being awarded a Fellowship in 2020 by RCM President, HRH The Prince of Wales.

Filmed concerts throughout February and March see the RCM Wind Ensemble performing Françaix’s Hommage à l’Ami Papageno, RCM String Band performing Mozart’s Divertimento, RCM Junior Department singing Hope Is the Thing with Feathers by Christopher Tin and RCM Big Band directed by Mark Armstrong in Stan Tracey’s Genesis. On Wednesday 3 March, audiences will be treated to a lively Percussion Showcase featuring chess boards, electronic playback and a twelve-piece drumline.

RCM Artistic Director, Stephen Johns, comments: ‘I am delighted that we are continuing to bring musical enjoyment to our dedicated audiences and share the world-class creativity and talent of Royal College of Music students through our In Focus series. These concerts were filmed in autumn 2020, and, whilst behind the scenes, our students continue to study, we are delighted to share these filmed performances with a global audience.’

All In Focus performances are free for audiences to watch on the RCM YouTube channel and Facebook page, initially broadcast as Premiere events then available on-demand. Listings and further information can be found on the What’s On section of the website. For all the latest updates, follow the RCM on Twitter @rcmlondon.