Q&A with members of The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra!

They are part of the world-famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and will soon be returning to Lowestoft for an evening of passion and drama from the world of opera.

Stephen Payne and Benjamin Cunningham are part of the orchestra who will be performing ‘A Night at the Opera’ on Friday, September 1.

Outstanding overtures, poignant arias and beautiful duets from some of the world’s favourite operas by Gounod, Bizet, Puccini, Verdi and more will be showcased.

Maestro John Rigby takes the helm, with highlights including songs from tragic love stories such as Puccini’s La bohème and Bizet’s Carmen, powerful epics including Turandot and Eugene Onegin, and playfully comic moments from operas such as The Marriage of Figaro.

We caught up with Stephen (Tutti Second Violin) and Benjamin (Double Bass) ahead of the eagerly anticipated concert.

1. How did you become involved with the RPO?

Stephen: I've been a member of the RPO since May 2011. It was the standard procedure: audition, trial and eventually a job offer.

Benjamin: I was studying at the Royal Academy of Music when I did my RPO audition. My first date on trial was playing the solo bass part in Britten’s War Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall, which was pretty nerve-wracking, and I was offered my position a week after I played my final recital at the Royal Academy of Music.

2. What is the best thing about being a member of the RPO?

Stephen: My favourite thing about the job is the touring - getting to travel the world with such nice colleagues. The schedules are often exhausting, but the way everybody pulls together on the concert platform is really inspiring.

Benjamin: I love the travelling in this job. In ten years here, I’ve seen more of the world than I could have imagined.

3. What inspired you to become a musician as a child?

Stephen: I'd love to say I saw Jascha Heifetz in concert and demanded a violin of my own, or something like that, but I probably didn't have much say in the matter. I was four years old when I began learning and had to be nagged to practice until I was about sixteen.

Benjamin: After a year or two learning the cello, I played Rock Around the Clock in my school orchestra, which has a classic walking bass line. I was so taken by it and figured that if I played the double bass I could do that funky stuff all the time. So, I acquired a bass from the peripatetic service and began learning.

4. Who have you enjoyed working with the most whilst in the RPO?

Stephen: My favourite concerts with the RPO have been those with our principal conductor Charles Dutoit. Even the rehearsals with him are quite an experience.

Benjamin: I honestly have a bit of a hero thing about Charles Dutoit. His complete mastery of the repertoire, the depth of his knowledge, his energy and his ability to transform the sound of an orchestra means that every day of work with him is like a masterclass.

5. Where is your favourite place to perform?

Stephen: I love playing in the Far East because the food is so nice.

Benjamin: I love going to Suntory Hall in Tokyo, which has to be one of the best concert halls in the world.

6. What has been the most valuable piece of advice you have been given in relation to music, and who was it from?

Stephen: When I was just starting to work professionally, an older colleague advised me that it's a good idea to learn the notes. It sounds obvious but it really helps!

Benjamin: When I got the job I learnt a huge amount from my bass playing colleagues, including these golden rules: don’t play in the rests, always have a pencil, always take your turn to buy tea and coffee in the break and don’t be an idiot.

7. If you could learn to play another/different instrument, which would it be and why?

Stephen: I would quite like to be able to play the piano, but I was never keen on the sound of it when I was young so avoided learning.

Benjamin: The viola. They get all the best lines.

8. What was the first recording you ever bought?

Stephen: A terrible song called Cotton Eye Joe by the Rednex.

Benjamin: I was going to say Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto as it was the first classical recording I bought, in truth however, I think the very first was Especially for You by Kylie and Jason.

Tickets for the concert range from £27.50- £32.50 with under 25’s and group rates available.
The orchestra will conclude its 2017 Season with The Music of John Williams on 24th November . Hear your all-time favourite film scores performed live by a world-class orchestra, including Star Wars, Harry Potter, Superman and Indiana Jones.
Call the box office on 01502 533200 or click here to book!