Tag orchestra

REVIEW: London Schools Symphony Orchestra

Photo by David Monteith-Hodge

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe programme was well balanced, with a range of contemporary composers. The first piece, Nautilus by Anna Meredith (arr.Jack Ross), was a contemporary “genre-busting” introduction to the concert. This piece brought the Barbican to life with an energetic but sensitive performance from the young musicians. Enyi Okpara the LSSO’s Conductor in Residence for this year did a fantastic job of commanding the orchestra. With incredibly complex rhythms, the intense connection was evident between the orchestra and the conductor producing just the right dramatic effect. The booming brass and range of percussion made this a brilliant opener to the performance. 

REVIEW: Guildhall Symphony Orchestra: Pines of Rome

Reading Time: 2 minutesConducted by Roberto González-Monjas, a Guildhall alumnus himself, this performance of Respighi’s ‘Roman Trilogy’ by the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra in the Barbican Hall was an unmitigated delight.

Written between 1915 and 1928, these three orchestral pieces are Respighi’s most celebrated works. Respighi was trained at a young age to play the violin by his father - perhaps this is one of the reasons why González-Monjas, himself an extraordinary violinist, seems to understand these orchestral pieces so well.

REVIEW: Winterreise

Reading Time: 3 minutesSchubert's Winterreise is a deep and profound exploration of loneliness, melancholy and self-journey through an incredible chemistry between male voice, piano and the poignant verses by Wilhelm Müller, which was written just one year prior to Schubert’s untimely demise at 31.  German conductor Hans Zender orchestrated this masterpiece in 1993 by weaving in a myriad of modern soundscapes and instrumental techniques (such as huge array of percussion) that infuses Schubert with a contemporary flavour and psychological depth.