A season opener that truly sets the bar for a nationally renowned orchestra and truly a shame to have missed.
Having presented a vividly British programme at the BBC Proms earlier this month, Andrew Manze leads the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in the very difficult task of opening the new season. He begins the evening with a familiar fanfare: Shostakovich’s Festive Overture. Unsurprisingly, the orchestra wows the audience, delivering its signature delicate clarity with a resonant presence, drawing particular attention to the carefully thought out pauses before the dramatic fanfare. Even in challenging, attack-heavy passages and the fast outer sections, the orchestra never failed to keep time or sacrifice transparency. The Festive Overture is without a doubt, the classic choice to launch a milestone concert.
Andrew then leads us on into an essentially British programme, featuring works by Britten and Elgar. Leaning more towards a performance than a conventional concert, Andrew provides context for these well-known pieces (Britten’s Cello Symphony and Elgar’s Enigma Variations), scoring a well-deserved extra point for making the music more accessible for those less versed with the orchestra scene. While imbuing some humour and wit, he illustrates how these pieces have continued to entertain generation after generation and risen to such prominence- a point very much appreciated by the audience.
Without letting us down, the orchestra delivered an exquisite rendition of both classics, with Guy Johnston animating his cello with technical precision and intense emotion. The initial melancholy of the first movement of Cello Symphony was well rendered, with clarity even in the denser sections, giving way to a delicate and nervous second movement which was tightly controlled. The vulnerability of the third movement was powerfully conveyed through dynamic contrasts, delivered by the exceptional woodwinds. Though intentionally written to be unsatisfying by Britten, Guy Johnston delivers a contrastingly satisfying conclusion to the symphony, full of emotion and rumination.
Ending off the night was Elgar’s Enigma Variations, which, as rendered by the orchestra, brought out the contrasting personalities of each character; it felt as if they were frolicking amongst the audience. Nimrod displayed brave gusto, and Dorabella exuded playful mischief. Overall, a wonderful night well deserving of the season opening slot- and truly a shame to have missed.
The Season Opening Concert: Unveiling the Enigma ran at the Liverpool Philharmonic Theatre on 17/09/2026.