A two-part performance that first breaks The Rite By Heart open, then brings it roaring to life in full force.
Aurora Orchestra’s The Rite By Heart offered an immersive and accessible evening, turning a notoriously complex work into both a learning experience and a visceral performance.
The evening opened with the famous bassoon solo, played beautifully by Jonathan Davies. There was something especially striking about hearing it in this context, knowing that this delicate, slightly eerie melody underpins so much of what follows. From there, the performance gradually took on a theatrical dimension as Karl Queensborough and Sarah Twomey stepped onto the stage and began to weave a narrative through the music.
Set apart in coloured costumes against the orchestra’s black attire, they moved among the musicians, taking on the roles of Stravinsky and his collaborators. Queensborough’s portrayal of Stravinsky felt vivid, often interacting playfully with pianist John Reid, while Twomey moved between characters, bringing moments of humour, notably in exaggerated dance mimics, that broke up the intensity of the piece.
What made this first half so engaging was the way the piece unfolded in real time. The actors and musicians together demonstrated how the music was constructed, why certain chords felt so jarring, how rhythms were chosen and how the work evolved. Conductor Nicholas Collon played a central role in this, stepping into a more conversational role as narrator. By involving different sections of the hall to clap contrasting rhythms, he made Stravinsky’s complexity tangible and surprisingly accessible.
The staging itself was minimal. A series of white box structures were rearranged throughout, subtly shifting the mood of each section. The lighting, however, stood out more strongly, at times isolating individual performers in frames and at others creating broader, more atmospheric effects such as falling patterns of light or sudden flashes during the more temperamental passages. It added a visual dimension that complemented the music without distracting from it.
This first part of the performance also offered useful context, touching on the work’s roots in Eastern European folk and the shock it caused at its premiere. Set against more familiar classical styles, its boldness felt even more pronounced. If anything was missing, it was the presence of dance; given how central choreography is to The Rite By Heart and how much it was mentioned, it would have been interesting to see that element brought to life as well.
The second half of the show allowed the orchestra to perform the full work from memory. This alone was impressive, but freed from their scores, the musicians seemed more physically engaged and more connected. With most of them standing, the orchestra felt in constant motion, reinforcing the sense of The Rite By Heart as something living and constantly shifting.
Collon’s conducting was energetic, holding together the piece’s famously difficult rhythms. The intensity never faltered, and having already seen the piece explored and explained, the audience could experience it with a deeper understanding. It felt less like hearing it for the first time and more like recognising something newly familiar, now presented in full.
The two-part structure proved to be one of the evening’s greatest strengths. By first opening up the piece and then performing it in its entirety, the concert created a stronger connection between the audience and the music. The surprise final touch, with musicians moving through the audience to replay key moments, brought the sound into the space itself, making the experience feel immediate and immersive.
Overall, it was an ambitious and inventive performance that succeeded on multiple levels. It managed to educate, entertain and deliver a musically outstanding interpretation of a demanding work. As part of the Multitudes Festival at the Southbank Centre, it made for a confident and memorable opening.
The Rite By Heart was a one-off performance on 26th April, presented as part of the Multitudes multi-arts festival, which runs until 30th March at the Southbank Centre.