Have you ever attended a concert featuring classical music and sound therapy? An ensemble group called Transposed, founded by pianist Elena Toponogova and soprano Eleanor Penfold (Ellie), is offering a classical and meditative sound bath experience. During the conversation, they discussed their upcoming performances in London.
How did you and Eleanor Penfold meet?
The Ensemble group “Transposed”
Elena: We met at the Royal College of Music, London. I was completing my Master of Performance degree in Piano, and Ellie was studying for her postgraduate degree in Vocal and Opera Performance. Our first performance together was to celebrate Prokofiev‘s 125th anniversary at Pushkin House.
Who came up with the idea of performing with a mix of classical music and sound therapy? What are the goals of the performance?
Elena: Last year, Ellie (Eleanor Penfold) asked if I had ever attended a sound bath before and proposed the idea of a classical sound bath experience. We both discussed how much we enjoyed sound baths and what a great escape they were. We are so used to the formality and structure of the contexts that classical music is usually presented in that we wanted to explore giving classical music a context that allowed it the same freedom and space as the sounds healing instruments have in a sound bath.
Ellie: The goal is to offer a new way of experiencing classical music. There is so much beautiful classical repertoire that you may only hear in the concert hall or on a recording that offers a unique and deeply moving experience to the listener. The beauty of a sound bath is that you lie down and physically submit to the sounds around you. That all-encompassing way of embracing sound offers a freeing experience to the listener. It’s also been very liberating as a performer to explore these pieces in this new context as it focuses our attention more on the emotional connection of the music and what we hope the listener will be able to experience.
How was the first performance? Did you find the audience was different from your previous performance?
Pianist Elena Toponogova and Soprano Eleanor Penfold (Ellie)
Ellie: The first performance at the National Opera Studio was an amazing experience. It was fascinating to see how people responded to the music and sounds around them in such an open and relaxed way. As a performer, you don’t usually get the chance to see a full room of people lying on the floor, relaxing with their eyes closed during the performance. It was a really peaceful and freeing way to perform and to experience the programme and not something I have experienced in any other musical context. It was also lovely to welcome an audience that might not usually attend classical performances, as well as seasoned concertgoers.
Do you enjoy the traditional performance format or this new performance style?
Ellie: There is a lovely ritual in the traditional performance format, but it has been really interesting to expand that experience and give it a new context. Funnily enough, when we performed in a traditional recital format shortly after the first sound bath performance, we felt that there was almost something missing, not adding our sound bath instruments into the classical programme. I love that the audience allows themselves to fully embrace the sounds around them and permit themselves to experience the sounds and classical music in a new way.
What is the theme of your upcoming performance?
Elena: Our programme for the Totally Thames festival has been tailored to suit the festival’s water theme. The theme lends itself really well to the natural ebb and flow of a sound bath, with the mixture of chimes, piano, and song ‘washing over’ the audience. During the performance, we move around the room, further contributing to the sense of flow.
The two musicians will have a series of performances featuring classical music with sound bath experiences.
Ellie: The next performance of Serene Sounds is at the Totally Thames festival on September 21st & 22nd, 18:00 at the Finnish Church in Rotherhithe. Uniquely, this church also has its own (very popular) Finnish Sauna and Finnish cafe! After the festival, we will be performing in the beautiful Lauderdale House in Highgate on October 19th, 18:00. While we will have some yoga mats available at the venue, we always encourage people to bring along any yoga mats, pillows and blankets to make themselves as comfortable as possible.
Learn more about Transposed
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