25 Oct 2019

Orchestra Wellington’s Dance Party

From Upbeat, 11:55 am on 25 October 2019

Orchestra Wellington will be stepping away from the standard repertoire as it gives electronic dance music an orchestral twist.

This evening at TSB Arena, Orchestra Wellington will be providing the orchestral component of Synthony, a concert that combines the sound of a big orchestra with DJs and singers.

Synthony at the Auckland Town Hall

Synthony at the Auckland Town Hall Photo: Bladescenes

The concert series has been touring around New Zealand, with Wellington its final destination for the year. Orchestras around the country have had the chance to play the popular hits from the electronic dance era.

Synthony has grown substantially over the last three years. What started out as one night in Auckland in 2017 has now swelled to performances around New Zealand and in Brisbane.

Driving the music side of things, orchestrator Ryan Youens has been giving the EDM classics a classical twist. He’s teamed up with Erika Amoore, who decides what dance tracks will get a makeover. The duo spent months collaborating to ensure there’s a right balance between electronic dance beats and the orchestra.

Synthony in Auckland

Synthony in Auckland Photo: Bladescenes

“At the end of the day the audience is there for the orchestra, so while all the other elements are important, keeping the orchestra at the forefront is always our objective,” Erika says. “We work to ensure enough of the distinctive electronic elements of the original tracks are present while giving the orchestra enough room to shine.”

Over the last few years several well-known EDM tracks have been performed, including tunes by Fatboy Slim, Robert Miles and Fisher’s ‘Losing it’, which was filmed this year. There’s also a “People’s Choice” track, voted by the audience. This year it’s Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’.

Ryan says the response from musicians and audiences alike has been fantastic. “For me it’s been an absolute joy to see how each orchestra has interpreted the music,” he says. “One of the things I love about this gig is that it’s just as big a buzz for the orchestra as it is for the audience - there’s a constant give and take through the whole show.

“And I think it’s a beautiful thing that the orchestra really don’t know what they’re in for until the downbeat, at which time the audience response is quite phenomenal.”

Orchestra Wellington percussionist Brent Stewart says this style of performance is unlike anything else the orchestra has done. He says there’s no time to sit down and the work load is “incessant”, but in a good way. “We're constantly playing which is really great because usually [in symphonic works] we have massive moments of rest," he says. "We can have hundreds of bars including an entire movement of rest in a symphony. In this case we never stop. We haven't even set chairs up to sit on during a break, because we can't sit!"

Orchestra Wellington 2016

Orchestra Wellington 2016 Photo: Mifarr Photography

It takes the percussionists about an hour to set up all the instruments and while EDM isn’t part of the orchestra’s regular repertoire, it brings about a nice change. “For a percussionist it's a refreshing adjustment. The different tracks have such a square rhythm to lock into. There's no guess work and everyone's on the same page," he says. “Despite the fact that many of the musicians are not that familiar with this genre, many recognised most of the tracks!”

“Some are a take on classical pieces like Barber's Adagio for Strings. We've just finished playing the Barber Violin Concerto, so it's a familiar sound, but just slightly different.”

Leading the gig is conductor Peter Thomas, who has been there from the start. He says Synthony is different from the “traditional” orchestra setting. “I work with a click track which is like a metronome in my ear to help make sure that we are perfectly in time with the DJs and the visual effects,” he says. “I cannot control the tempo at all which is the biggest difference from working with an orchestra in the traditional sense.

“However my role is to facilitate the singers, cue the musicians and help with creating energy and style to help bring the various tracks alive with their own character. I also have some interaction with the audience and try and rark them up a bit.”

Peter Thomas conducting Synthony

Peter Thomas conducting Synthony Photo: Supplied

The traditional barriers are also being broken with the audience dancing and singing along. Peter’s advice to the audience is to get amongst it. “Enjoy yourself. Make some noise! Dance up a storm,” he says. “Enjoy and appreciate the hard work of the singers and musicians. Sing. And plan a safe way home.”

Erika Amoore agrees. “Be ready for a dance party! Yes; there is going to be more talking in the audience than your typical orchestral performance, but the energy in the room is infectious,” she says. “Synthony is an immersive experience and full of nostalgia and it's hard not to get wrapped up in the magic.”