The Grand Scottish Prom at Glamis Castle is back. Helen Brown speaks to the RSNO’s conductor for the evening, Grant Llewellyn, about the thrills and spills of performing in the open air.
“I’m a Welshman,” Grant Llewellyn says, “and growing up on the west coast of Wales you get used to the elements!”
He’s also an in-demand international conductor, currently music director of the North Carolina Symphony in America but with strong and lasting musical roots here in Britain.
He’s worked with the RSNO on tours and one-off concerts and he admits to being thrilled at the prospect of taking the helm of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at what is their first outing at the historic seat of Glamis.
“I’m looking forward to it enormously. Apart from the reputation of Glamis itself, I’m familiar with it through history, literature and culture and the idea of linking that setting with live music and a large, enthusiastic audience is just thrilling.
“In Wales, we are also surrounded by historic settings and there are some wonderful outdoor venues but I reckon that in terms of the weather, Wales has a 60% failure rate so you learn to be philosophical about it. As long as I have my wellies and North Face jacket, I’ll be fine.
“I have also done quite a lot with the BBC Last Night of the Proms in varying parks over the years and I think people and players just get into the mood to enjoy a festive atmosphere, no matter what.
“The programme we’ll be doing in July in Scotland has lots of more popular pieces for the audience and it will be a huge amount of fun to play.”
Born in Tenby, Grant’s home base now is very much in Cardiff with his wife and four children but his musical career takes him all over the world.
“That is very much the life of a modern conductor, travelling and working. It’s a pretty ridiculous career path, especially when you’re young and are married with young children which I was when I started. Now, I’ve think I’ve just passed the two million miles mark with American airlines.
“That’s another reason I’m looking forward to Glamis. It’s at a time of year when I’m not careering back and forth over the Atlantic. I’ll be back in Britain for some time over the summer. And I’m bringing my wife to Scotland, which is a rare treat for us. With four kids, that’s something you never get to do, but the youngest is 15 now, so I think they can take a bit of parental neglect.”
The Grand Scottish Prom at Glamis Castle, sponsored by Renault and The Courier, takes place in the grounds of the castle on Saturday, July 30. For more information visit www.glamis-castle.co.uk.
Photo Michael Lutch.