SCAN THE QR CODES TO LISTEN OR FIND OUT MORE
TIPPETT
THE MIDSUMMER MARRIAGE
COMPLETE OPERA IN THREE ACTS (3CD BOX SET)
Edward Gardner conductor
London Philharmonic Choir | ENO Chorus
LPO-0124
Released Sep 2022
JAMES MACMILLAN
CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
Mark Elder conductor
Lucy Crowe soprano
Roderick Williams baritone
London Philharmonic Choir
LPO-0125
Released Nov 2022
JUROWSKI CONDUCTS
STRAVINSKY VOL. 2
Vladimir Jurowski conductor
LPO-0126
Released Apr 2023
THE DAMNATION OF FAUST
Edward Gardner conductor
Karen Cargill | John Irvin | Christopher Purves
Jonathan Lemalu | London Philharmonic Choir
London Symphony Chorus | London Youth Choirs
Apple Music Classical exclusive release Nov 2023
General release Feb 2024 (LPO-0128)
JUROWSKI CONDUCTS
STRAVINSKY VOL. 3
Vladimir Jurowski conductor
Angharad Lyddon | Sam Furness | Matthew Rose
Elizabeth Atherton | Maria Ostroukhova
Joel Williams | Theodore Platt | Joshua Bloom
Maxim Mikhailov | London Philharmonic Choir
Due for release Spring 2024 (LPO-0127)
ORCHLAB PROJECT PARTNER
PRINCIPAL SUPPORTERS
LPO CORPORATE CIRCLE
Bloomberg
Carter-Ruck Solicitors
French Chamber of Commerce
Lazard
Natixis Corporate Investment Banking
Sciteb
Walpole
PREFERRED PARTNERS
Jeroboams
Lindt & Sprüngli Ltd
Neal’s Yard
OneWelbeck
Sipsmith
Steinway
IN-KIND SPONSOR
Google Inc
Welcome to the Autumn 2023 edition of Tune In
You are likely to be receiving this just ahead of our 2023/24 season opening, as the excitement mounts for a fantastic season ahead.
You can browse the complete autumn concert listings on pages 13–15, but some personal highlights include Edward Gardner’s opening concert of Mahler 2 on 23 September, Robin Ticciati’s Mahler 3 on 25 November, and welcoming back both pianist Hélène Grimaud (3 November) and soprano Angela Gheorghiu after several years – we are particularly delighted that Angela has agreed to step in for our Operatic Gala on 2 December. The original planned soloist, Renée Fleming, has been awarded the prestigious Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in the 2023 Kennedy Center Honors. We are of course thrilled for Renée, but in order to accept her award in person in Washington DC, she has had to postpone her appearance with us to a future season.
Looking further ahead in 2023/24, next spring our festival The Music in You will bring several new works to the stage, including a cross-artform collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGregor, and exciting performances at both Battersea Arts Centre and St John’s Waterloo. And closing the season next April with Jurowski’s Götterdämmerung promises to be spectacular – but more on these in the next edition!
Inside this issue you will get to know Tania León, our Composer-in-Residence, ahead of performances of her music in October, February and March (pages 4–5). Tania has had an incredible life journey which emanates through her music, and is in a rich vein at the moment, having recently been awarded
EDITOR Rachel Williams
rachel.williams@lpo.org.uk
PUBLISHER London Philharmonic Orchestra
PRINTER John Good Ltd
COVER IMAGE Tania León © Gail Hadani
DIRECTOR
DAVID BURKE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Kennedy Center, Pulitzer and Michael Ludwig Nemmers prizes.
You will also be able to read about some of our exciting developments on the South Coast. Having been resident at Eastbourne, Brighton and Glyndebourne for up to 60 years, we’re excited to be finding ways to engage locally at a much deeper level, as you will see with community pre-concert performances at the season openings, and members of the Orchestra popping up at community venues and projects and alongside local musicians. If you want to find out more about this activity, or have other ideas we could explore, do get in touch with our new Regional Partnerships Manager, Claudia, whose contact details are on page 9.
We are always looking at new ways to share the wonder of music more widely, and are delighted to be partnering with Apple Music Classical to share some specially created content via their brand new app, as well as our own LPO Label back catalogue.
TANIA LEÓN 04–05
APPLE MUSIC CLASSICAL 06
LISTEN & WATCH 07
NEW & NOTEWORTHY 08
NEWS FROM THE SOUTH COAST 09
SPRING/SUMMER ROUNDUP 10–11
MEMBER NEWS 12
CONCERT LISTINGS 13–15
BACKSTAGE: ALICE IVY-PEMBERTON 16
LPO.ORG.UK
We will also continue to share Royal Festival Hall concert performances on Marquee TV, and this year will also be featuring in an exciting documentary and performance on Sky Arts (pages 6–7).
Finally, we know you want to keep up with news of our players and staff. This summer we said farewell to several longstanding members of the Orchestra, notably Keith Millar after over an astonishing 50 years. We have also welcomed some remarkable musicians and hope you will enjoy getting to know them – catch up with all the member news on page 12, and get to know our talented new Co-Leader, Alice IvyPemberton, in her ‘Backstage’ interview on page 16.
We hope you enjoy this magazine and look forward to seeing you soon, whether in London, at our residencies or on tour.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/londonphilharmonicorchestra
FOLLOW US ON X (FORMERLY TWITTER) X.com/LPOrchestra
WATCH US ON YOUTUBE youtube.com/londonphilharmonicorchestra
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM instagram.com/londonphilharmonicorchestra
FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK tiktok.com/lporchestra
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, we cannot accept liability for any statement or error contained herein. © 2023 London Philharmonic Orchestra. The paper used for printing this magazine has been sourced from responsibly managed forests, certified in accordance with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). It is manufactured to the ISO 14001 international standard, minimising negative impacts on the environment and is manufactured from pulp that has been bleached without the use of chlorine compounds using oxygen (elemental chlorine free), which are considered harmful to the environment.
Thisautumn Tania León joins the LPO as Composer-in-Residence for the next two seasons. As well as presenting exciting brand-new commissions and performances of her works, during her time with us Tania will continue her lifelong advocacy for the music of living composers in her role as mentor to our LPO Young Composers.
And where did that musical trajectory begin? What sparked your love of music as a child, and how did you discover your talent as a pianist?
My musical talent was discovered by my paternal grandmother. She was the one that observed my behaviour around music and felt compelled to take me to a local conservatory to begin my piano education at the age of four.
Welcome, Tania! Firstly, congratulations on your recent 2023 Michael Ludwig Nemmers Prize, which follows hot on the heels of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2022 – alongside the likes of George Clooney, Gladys Knight and U2 – and a Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2021. Having been working in the classical music world for over 50 years and having recently celebrated your 80th birthday, how does it feel to be recognised in this way?
I am very grateful for the recognition I have recently received. Frankly, it has been a very surprising turn of events for me – as surprising as the fact that, while studying at the conservatory in Havana I envisioned a career as a concert pianist, and never thought that later on in my life I would become a composer as well as a conductor or a professor. The trajectory of my life has constantly surprised me, something that I still experience up to this day.
In 1967, aged 24, you left your native Cuba for the USA, aspiring to become a concert pianist. And then, while still a student at New York University, a chance encounter as a rehearsal pianist with the choreographer Arthur Mitchell led to an invitation to become founding member and first music director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. This proved a pivotal moment, as you subsequently switched from studying piano to composition, and composed your first ballet for the company. You’ve since written six more ballets – what is it about dance that resonates with you?
In Cuba, dance and music are very important. Dancing is integral to Cuban culture. I used to dance at home, with my friends, with my family, since I was a child. We all dance the music of our time – by that, I mean popular music. Whatever style or new genre the popular composers and musicians may come up with, all of us become part of a collective dance troupe. That instinct towards dance is something so natural that I don’t even think about it. I am grateful that in my role at Dance Theatre of Harlem I was able to create original scores for the choreographers I collaborated with, and after my tenure with the company, have had the opportunity to collaborate with other choreographers in the field.
You’ve spoken about how you absorbed a diverse array of cultural traditions from a young age, from Afro-Cuban street rhythms to the classical music on the radio at home. During your long career you’ve also composed and collaborated across a dizzying array of genres, from large-scale ballet, opera and theatre, orchestral and choral works, to chamber ensembles, solo works and electronic music. How has your compositional voice evolved over the last five decades?
I think that my growth as a composer has to do with the cumulative experiences of my life in music, as well as in the arts. I am very attracted to the contributions of the music created by the many cultures in the world –it’s hard to trace these influences that their music has had on me.
On 6 March next year the LPO will give the world premiere of a brand new work you’ve composed especially for them. What’s it like getting to know a new group of musicians and writing for them, and how does it feel to
hear your music in concert for the first time?
I am very much looking forward to creating new works for the LPO. I have had the opportunity to meet many of them already, and look forward to our collaboration with open arms – to write for this group of talented musicians will be a joy. And attending the premieres of the works I will create for them will be an experience for which I’m immensely grateful. To listen to a score one has created – that is hard to describe. One experiences so many emotions at the same time, there is no way to describe one emotion over another. On top of that, that moment is so private for many artists ... it’s hard to articulate.
During the next two seasons you’ll also take on the role of mentor to our LPO Young Composers. Previously you spent 35 years as a professor of composition at the City University of New York, and as a visiting professor at universities and conservatoires worldwide. What is it that excites you about working with young people?
Young creators are inspiring to me. Their ideas are fresh and engaging for all of us mentors and dream listeners. I am very eager
Wednesday 25 October 2023 | 7.30pm
Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
Death and Transfiguration
R Strauss Don Juan
Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left Hand
Tania León Horizons (UK premiere)
R Strauss Death and Transfiguration
Karina Canellakis conductor
Cédric Tiberghien piano
Saturday 3 February 2024 | 6.00pm
Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
Free pre-concert event: Foyle Future Firsts & Royal Academy of Music
Our 2023/24 Future Firsts join forces with students from the Royal Academy of Music and members of the LPO for a vibrant pre-concert performance. Everyone welcome, no ticket required.
to listen to their ideas. These young people are the visionaries of the works of art that will populate the history of our future, and that’s why I think that supporting them in the now is extremely important.
Stravinsky Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Tania León Ácana
Tippett Little Music for String Orchestra
Daniels Deep Forest
Edward Gardner conductor
Wednesday 6 March 2024 | 7.30pm
Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall
Dance Re-imagined
Tania León New work (world premiere)*
Ravel La valse
Szymanowski Harnasie**
Edward Gardner conductor
Robert Murray tenor
Flemish Radio Choir
*Co-commissioned by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Concertgebouw Brugge.
**Harnasie is an original co-production of NOSPR The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice (initiator), London Philharmonic Orchestra (with support from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute), conceived and produced by Studio Wayne McGregor. Project partner: Concertgebouw Brugge. Concert generously supported by Victoria Robey OBE.
Apple Music Classical is a new dedicated streaming app designed especially for classical music. This autumn the LPO is proud to become an official partner of Apple Music Classical, offering listeners the chance to experience everything our LPO Label and the new app have to offer.
ON YOUR IPHONE
• Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS.
• Make sure that the Apple Music app is installed and signed in with the same Apple ID that you use with your Apple Music subscription.
If you’re a classical music lover, you might have felt frustrated when searching for your favourite piece or recording to stream, in an online world designed for pop music. Classical music is different. Instead of simply ‘Artist’ and ‘Title’, classical works have multiple movements and tracks; famous pieces have hundreds of recordings with different orchestras, conductors and soloists; and many composers have their own special catalogue classifications, from Bach’s BWV to Mozart’s K. With these complexities in mind, Apple Music have redesigned the search experience to instantly deliver exactly what users are looking for, using all combinations of keywords, from composer and work, to opus number, conductor, artist, or instrument, or even a work’s nickname.
All 120+ of our LPO Label recordings are now available on Apple Music Classical, along with over 5 million other tracks, making it the world’s largest classical music catalogue. As an official partner of Apple Music Classical, the LPO will be working with Apple Music to bring listeners new, unique and exclusive content and recordings at launch and beyond.
With classical music, every nuance matters, so Apple Music Classical offers the highest audio quality available — up to 192kHz/ 24-bit Hi-Res Lossless. Plus, thousands of recordings – including selected LPO Label releases – are available in immersive Spatial Audio featuring Dolby Atmos.
Apple Music Classical is curated by classical music experts who are passionate about helping both beginner and seasoned music lovers discover great works. Users can view definitive recordings through ‘Editor’s Choice’ selections, and enjoy exclusive playlists covering key composers, instruments or periods.
Apple Music Classical is included in your Apple Music subscription at no additional cost. If you’ve already joined Apple Music, simply download the Apple Music Classical app to start listening. If you’re not a subscriber yet, join today and start exploring the world of Apple Music Classical.
• Scan the QR code or go to the App Store to download the Apple Music Classical app.
ON YOUR ANDROID PHONE
• Make sure the Apple Music app is installed and signed in with the same Apple ID that you use with your Apple Music subscription.
• Update the Apple Music app to version 4.2.0.
• Go to Google Play to download the Apple Music Classical app.
COMING THIS AUTUMN:
EXCLUSIVE TO APPLE MUSIC CLASSICAL
BERLIOZ: THE DAMNATION OF FAUST
Edward Gardner conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir
Recorded live in concert Feb 2023
Exclusive Apple Music Classical release: November 2023 General digital and CD release: February 2024 (LPO Label LPO-0128)
Eagerly anticipated this autumn is our release of Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust, recorded live in concert at the Royal Festival Hall on 4 February 2023. Principal Conductor Edward Gardner is joined by massed choruses and a charismatic all-star cast including Karen Cargill and John Irvin for a performance praised by The Guardian as ‘by turns broodingly introspective, beguilingly sensuous and eerily malign, with sinister brass and woodwind flickering like demonic fire.’
The Damnation of Faust will be available exclusively on the Apple Music Classical app from 3 November 2023 (see page 7), ahead of general digital and physical release on 3 February 2024.
Just four months after the LPO was founded, in February 1933, British composer Edward Elgar had already begun making his own recordings with the new Orchestra. Over the summer we launched a new series of digital recordings celebrating the enduring legacy of Elgar as a composer and conductor. Volume 1 documents the complete Elgar recordings made by the LPO between 1933 and 1949, while Volume 2 features landmark recordings from the fruitful period from 1949–50. The first volume is out now on all streaming services, with Volumes 2 & 3 to follow later in the autumn and Volume 4 in 2024. Each release comes with a digital booklet containing insightful notes by Andrew Neill, former Chairman of the Elgar Society, offering a compelling narrative of Elgar’s creative vision and the historical and technological context of the recordings.
The first two volumes of our ‘Vladimir Jurowski conducts Stravinsky’ series were acclaimed by press and listeners alike last year. Keep an eye on our social media or in the next Tune In issue for details of Volume 3, due for release in Spring 2024 and featuring Pulcinella, Symphony in C and Requiem Canticles, as well as Ode, Threni, and Variations (Aldous
During the last few weeks, Sky Arts has been filming a new documentary taking a look behind the scenes of the Orchestra as they prepare for the season opening concert of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 on 23 September. Keep an eye on our social media for news on broadcast dates!
We’re thrilled that our LPO Label recording of Tippett’s The Midsummer Marriage has been shortlisted for a Gramophone Award! Recorded live on the opening night of the LPO’s 2021/22 season – Edward Gardner’s first concert as Principal Conductor – it’s available to stream on all major platforms (including in Spatial Audio featuring Dolby Atmos via the Apple Music Classical app), and as a premium three-CD box set from all good retailers.
In 2023/24 we’re once again joining with Marquee TV, the premium streaming service for arts and culture, to bring the LPO concert experience to you at home. A selection of our live concerts will be streamed to watch free of charge for the first 48 hours, with no subscription required. You can watch on a smart TV, tablet, computer or smartphone.
In addition, Tune In readers can benefit from an exclusive 50% discount on a year’s subscription to Marquee’s extensive back catalogue of the world’s best music, opera, theatre and dance. Head to welcome.marquee.tv/lpo-2023 and use code LPO2023.
Filmed live on 27 September 2023
Streamed from 21 October 2023
Felix Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture
Brahms Symphony No. 1
Edward Gardner conductor
Filmed live on 3 November 2023
Streamed from 9 December 2023
Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Stravinsky Petrushka
Edward Gardner conductor
Filmed live on 22 November 2023
Streamed from 13 January 2024
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 (Organ)
Jader Bignamini conductor
Julian Joseph piano
Anna Lapwood organ
Our mission is to share the wonder of orchestral music with as many people as possible. And we don’t want ticket prices getting in the way.
As we go to print, we’re eagerly awaiting the results of Gramophone magazine’s Orchestra of the Year Award. We were one of ten ensembles nominated, with the winner voted on by the public. Thank you to everyone who voted for us! The winners will be announced at the Gramophone Awards ceremony on 4 October.
This autumn is the first chance to catch our inaugural LPO Fellow Conductors, Luis Castillo-Briceño and Charlotte Politi, in action, as they take to the stage for their first LPO concerts – Charlotte in Eastbourne on 22 October, and Luis in Brighton on 4 November – before jointly conducting an LPO concert at St John’s Waterloo on 12 March next year.
Our Conducting Fellowship programme seeks to support the development of the world-class conductors of the future, offering a year-long opportunity to work closely with the Orchestra to two earlycareer conductors each season from backgrounds currently under-represented in the profession. Already making their marks on the international music scene, rising stars Luis and Charlotte will be fully immersed in the life of the LPO, working intensively with the Orchestra under the guidance of Principal Conductor Edward Gardner.
THE LPO CONDUCTING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY PATRICIA HAITINK WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM GINI AND RICHARD GABBERTAS.
2023/24 sees the launch of an exciting new international residency, as we become a Resident Orchestra at the Concertgebouw in Bruges, Belgium. We’re looking forward to visiting the venue in March 2024 for two concerts with Edward Gardner, including a new work by Composer-in-Residence Tania León and a multimedia performance of Szymanowski’s ballet Harnasie in collaboration with choreographer Wayne McGregor – a repeat of our 6 March 2024 Royal Festival Hall concert.
The last few months have been busy for our players and On-the-Road team, with appearances at some of Europe’s most prestigious European festivals. On 21 May we performed under Paavo Järvi at the NOSPR Concert Hall in Katowice, Poland, as part of the Katowice Kultura Natura Festival. In July we were invited for a return visit to the Schleswig-Holstein Festival in Germany, and at the end of August we performed at the Rheingau Musik Festival, also in Germany.
Coming up this Autumn, on 18 September we’ll be appearing at the Flanders Festival in Ghent (Belgium) with Edward Gardner, performing Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. The following month sees an exciting long-haul tour to Korea and Taiwan, with concerts in Seoul and Taipei. There’ll be just time for the players to get their breath back before we head off on a 10-concert tour of Germany –plus a date in Paris – with Edward Gardner and soloists pianist Hélène Grimaud and cellist Nicolas Altstaedt.
FULL TOUR CONCERT LISTINGS ON PAGE 15
Our brand new scheme offers anyone aged 30 and under the chance to experience the magic of live orchestral music at a fraction of the price. Sign up with your email address, and discounts will be delivered straight to your inbox every month, including up to 50% off some of the best seats in the house. You’ll also get drinks offers and behind the scenes peeks, plus a free LPO tote bag when you book your first ticket.
This December we’re looking forward to three concerts as part of the Southbank Centre’s festive season. On 14 December, Christmas in Tinseltown features favourite Christmas film themes – from White Christmas to Love Actually – presented by Mark Kermode. And on Saturday 16 December at 3pm & 7.30pm we give two performances of Christmas Classics presented by YolanDa Brown.
We’ll also be celebrating at our resident venue Saffron Hall – on Sunday 17 December we’ll join the Saffron Walden Choral Society for a Christmas concert including festive favourites by Bach, Handel, Vaughan Williams and more.
14 & 16 DECEMBER TICKETS VIA SOUTHBANK CENTRE ONLY southbankcentre.co.uk
17 DECEMBER AT SAFFRON HALL saffronhall.com
This season the LPO celebrates 60 years as Resident Orchestra at Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre, as well as continuing our thriving residencies in Brighton, Glyndebourne and Saffron Walden. As we celebrate this milestone and look to the future, we’re finding new ways to develop these relationships at a much deeper level, with community pre-concert events, and members of the Orchestra popping up at community venues, projects and alongside local musicians. Here’s a taste of what we’re up to ...
Over the past 60 years the London Philharmonic Orchestra has enjoyed performing for the people of Eastbourne. Our first concert in the town was on 23 September 1934, just two years after the Orchestra was established, conducted by founder Sir Thomas Beecham. Since then we've given over 350 concerts in Eastbourne, performing with countless esteemed conductors and soloists, as well as introducing many exciting new artists to the LPO stage for the first time.
Our 2023/24 season at the Congress Theatre sees two firsts for the Orchestra – on 22 October, one of our two inaugural LPO Fellow Conductors, Charlotte Politi, leads the Orchestra in a programme of Weber, Beethoven and Brahms – read more about the Fellow Conductors scheme on page 8.
Also this season we’re very excited to bring our BrightSparks schools’ concerts to Eastbourne for the first time! The performance on 9 May 2024 is an opportunity for Key Stage 2 children (age 7–11) to experience the thrill of hearing a full orchestra. The project includes free resources and a workshop for teachers, as well as a longer creative project with two local schools. Booking for schools opens in the spring – visit lpo.org.uk/brightsparks
ALL EASTBOURNE & BRIGHTON CONCERTS THIS SEASON lpo.org.uk/eastsussex
BRIGHTSPARKS
On 25 July we held our very first LPO Junior Artists Overture Day in Eastbourne, in collaboration with local music education hub Create Music. Nearly 40 instrumentalists aged 10–15 spent the day exploring music from Bizet’s opera Carmen. They rehearsed alongside LPO musicians, Foyle Future Firsts and LPO Junior Artists, got expert tips on their playing, and found out more about life behind the scenes of a professional orchestra, before ending the day with a celebratory performance enjoyed by family, friends, and guests including local councillors.
Our Overture Days in London and Eastbourne are free of charge and open to all players of orchestral instruments of a suitable age and standard, but priority is given to young musicians from under-represented backgrounds and communities who may be eligible for our main LPO Junior Artists programme in the future. lpo.org.uk/overture
23 August saw a day of family music and art at Highdown Gardens in Worthing –a collaboration between the LPO and Brighton-based arts organisation Creative Waves. During two workshops, children aged 7–12 were invited to create their own artwork inspired by the gardens and the music performed by LPO players. The artwork and soundtracks they created will be on display as part of a community exhibition at Worthing’s Colonnade House gallery later in the year.
This season we’re excited to be teaming up with the non-professional Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra. LPO players will join WPO musicians in rehearsals and support them in the lead-up to their concerts at Worthing Assembly Hall this season.
Our second home on the South Coast was the focus of a recent episode of our ‘LPO Offstage’ podcast. Episode 71, ‘Sussex Life’, featured local residents and LPO musicians Tom Watmough and Kate Leek, and Arts Ambassador for Eastbourne, Chris Connelley, in conversation with host YolanDa Brown. Listen for free at lpo.org.uk/podcast
Sign up to our South Coast mailing list: email southcoast@lpo.org.uk
We’re always striving to deepen our engagement with communities around our South Coast residencies, so if you know of an organisation we should meet, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Regional Partnerships Manager Claudia Clarkson at claudia.clarkson@lpo.org.uk
Over the summer the Orchestra made a welcome return to Glyndebourne Festival Opera for our annual residency. It was a hugely successful year for the Festival, with over 90,000 tickets sold and over 97% of seats filled. We performed in productions of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites and Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress with Glyndebourne Music Director Robin Ticciati; Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream under Dalia Stasevska; and Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore under Ben Gernon.
The lineup for the 2024 Glyndebourne Festival has now been announced – next summer we’ll perform in a new production of Bizet’s Carmen directed by Diane Paulus, under conductors Robin Ticciati and Anja Bihlmaier; Glyndebourne’s first ever full staging of Lehár’s The Merry Widow, with John Wilson conducting and Danielle de Niese in the title role; and Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, again under Robin Ticciati and starring Stuart Skelton as Tristan – a revival of Nikolaus Lehnhoff’s 2003 production.
The 2024 Festival runs from 16 May to 25 August, and booking opens in the spring. glyndebourne.com/festival
We were invited to give two concerts at this summer’s BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. On 7 August we joined conductor Robin Ticciati for the annual Glyndebourne Prom –this year a concert performance of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites, fresh from the Glyndebourne Festival. Later the same week, on 11 August, we returned to the Proms stage for a sold-out concert with Edward Gardner featuring two works by Ligeti with the London Philharmonic Choir, Norwegian Edvard Grieg Choir and Royal Northern College of Music Chamber Choir, before Strauss’s epic Also sprach Zarathustra
On 13 July our 2022/23 LPO Young Composers and Foyle Future Firsts presented their annual Debut Sounds concert at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, marking the culmination of their year with the LPO. This year titled ‘Where to Begin?’, the concert featured the world premieres of five new works by the 2022/23 LPO Young Composers: Jakob Bragg, Philip Dutton, Zakiya Leeming, Matt London and Tayla-Leigh Payne, performed by an ensemble of LPO musicians and Foyle Future Firsts. This year, the composers’ brief was to create new musical works inspired by other art-forms, with the resulting compositions covering a multitude of influences from the 18th-century etchings of Piranesi to experimental animation, via circus arts, architecture and environmental installation.
Throughout the year, the Young Composers had been guided through a series of seminars, workshops and rehearsals by LPO Composer-in-Residence and Composer Mentor Brett Dean. The concert marked the end of Brett’s three-year residency with us, and we are very grateful to him for everything he has brought to the LPO and to the Young Composers programme. He will be succeeded as Composer-in-Residence and Composer Mentor by Tania León from September 2023.
The 13 July Debut Sounds concert is available to watch for free on the LPO YouTube channel: youtube.com/londonphilharmonicorchestra
THE 2022/23 LPO YOUNG COMPOSERS PROGRAMME WAS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY ALLIANZ MUSICAL INSURANCE, THE ERNST VON SIEMENS MUSIC FOUNDATION, THE GARRICK CHARITABLE TRUST, THE MARCHUS TRUST AND THE VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION. THE 2022/23 FOYLE FUTURE FIRSTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WAS GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY THE FOYLE FOUNDATION WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE BARBARA WHATMORE CHARITABLE TRUST AND THE THRIPLOW CHARITABLE TRUST.
Back on 11 January we gave three performances of Gavin Bryars’s iconic Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet in the atmospheric surroundings of St John’s Church in Waterloo. During the afternoon, LPO musicians ran a creative workshop and gave a relaxed performance for an invited audience of adults with experience of homelessness, many with links to St John’s through the church’s homeless outreach work. This was followed by two public concerts in the evening. John McIntyre, a member of charity ‘Mental Fight Club’, took part in the workshop, and sent us an email afterwards describing how deeply the experience had touched him:
‘This was a very special event. It was so inspiring and uplifting to be involved in the creativity of the LPO. I was deeply touched by the love, care and thought that went into creating a very warm and inclusive experience, from the very moment I entered the church until the moment I left. It was truly mind-expanding to be involved in the transformative effect of the music: to feel our work coming alive gradually from within, growing and falling and rising to its full expression. Taking part in that creative work unlocked some of my mindforged manacles, and gave me a feeling of freedom and self-fulfilment.’
Building on the success of this event, we’ll be continuing our partnership with St John’s Waterloo with a concert on 12 March 2024 as part of our spring festival The Music in You, in which the audience will help create the music! We will also be announcing a series of chamber concerts at St John’s in 2024 with LPO players and guest artists. Keep an eye on our social channels or sign up to our mailing list via lpo.org.uk for details as they’re announced.
In March members of the LPO string section joined Australian singer-songwriter RY X for two sold-out performances at the Camden Roundhouse. Known for his passionate, quietly intense performances, RY X has performed to packed venues with ensembles around the world including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Brussels Philharmonic and the London Contemporary Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall.
In May the LPO was invited to star in an episode of Sky TV show ‘Rob & Romesh Vs’, in which comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan meet professionals from different worlds and try their hand at something new! Under the expert tuition of our musicians Rob and Romesh tried their hand at conducting, singing and timpani, climaxing with a rousing rendition of ‘Nessun Dorma’ in front of a live Royal Festival Hall audience. The episode was aired on 9 August and is available to Sky subscribers at sky.com/watch/rob-and-romesh-vs
On 9 May 2023 our ‘Feel the Rhythm’ Gala took place in the Grand Hall of Battersea Arts Centre. Hosted by Katie Derham, the evening featured a captivating performance by the Orchestra under the baton of Edward Gardner, and a collaboration between LPO Principal Cello Kristina Blaumane, Strictly Come Dancing’s Lauren Oakley and Dancing with the Stars’ Pasquale La Rocca creating a memorable tango finale. The evening raised over £166,000 to support the work of the LPO.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the American Friends of the LPO (AFLPO)’s first full in-person Gala since the pandemic was an enormous success, with 120 guests in attendance at Carnegie Hall on 2 May. The evening featured performances by LPO Principal musicians, students from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and special guest artist pianist Jonathan Biss, as well as honouring conductor Marin Alsop’s contribution to the orchestral sector with the AFLPO Lifetime Achievement in Classical Music Award. The event raised over $200,000 to support the activities of the AFLPO and the LPO.
We would like to thank everyone who attended and generously supported these events. Our thoughts now turn to the next London Gala on 25 June 2024, as well as next year’s AFLPO Gala on 12 February 2024. Further details will be shared in due course, and we hope to see many LPO friends and family at both occasions. For more information please contact Katurah Morrish, Development Events Manager, at katurah.morrish@lpo.org.uk or 020 7840 4207.
We were thrilled to welcome Alice IvyPemberton as Co-Leader in February 2023 – meet Alice in the ‘Backstage’ interview on page 16. This year the First Violin section also welcomed Cassandra Hamilton in January and Elizaveta Tyun in August. Meanwhile, Lucia Ortiz Sauco joined the Viola section in April, and the same month saw Tom Nielsen take up the position of Co-Principal Trumpet, while Karen Hutt joined us as Sub-Principal Percussion in May.
MEET OUR MEMBERS lpo.org.uk/who-we-are
In the spring we welcomed Roger Barron as Chair of the Orchestra’s Advisory Council. With a wealth of knowledge and experience gained over a long professional legal career, we’re delighted that Roger will be able to share his expertise with the LPO in this way.
Claudia Clarkson joined the team in January as Regional Partnerships Manager, a new role created to help deepen our community relationships – read more on page 9. We also welcomed Assistant Stage Manager Benjamin Wakley and Marketing Assistant Isobel Jones in September.
In the spring we said goodbye to Temporary Finance Officer Kevin Broadbent, and to Website Manager Harrie Mayhew, who moved on to other projects after working with us to develop and launch our fantastic new website over the last year.
Congratulations to Hayley Kim on her recent promotion to Residencies & Projects Marketing Manager, Alicia Hartley on her promotion to Digital & Marketing Co-ordinator, and Eleanor Conroy and Al Levin on their promotions to Development Co-ordinators.
JOIN OUR TEAM lpo.org.uk/jobs
At the end of the 2022/23 London season we said a fond farewell to much-loved percussionist Keith Millar. Keith joined the LPO in 1972 and at the time of his retirement was its longestserving member, having dedicated over 50 years of his career to the LPO. He was Principal Percussionist for some 20 years, and also served as Director and Chairman of the Orchestra during the 1980s and 90s. We wish Keith a long and enjoyable retirement!
In December 2022 we said goodbye to Sub-Principal Flute Sue Thomas, who moved on after 21 years with the LPO, having joined in 2001. Sue is going to be much missed, not only as an incredible flautist and musician, but also as a warm and supportive colleague. Focussing now on her teaching career and family, we wish her all the very best for the future.
First Violinist Catherine Craig retired from the Orchestra in September 2023. Originally from the USA, Cathy played with many international orchestras before joining the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1994. We wish her well for her future endeavours.
In August we said goodbye to cellist Gregory Walmsley, who has relocated to Berlin with his family. Greg was previously Co-Principal Cello at the Opera House in Seville before joining the LPO in 2003. We wish him all the best!
Congratulations to LPO podcast host and Advisory Council member YolanDa Brown, who received an OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours in recognition of her services to music, music education and broadcasting. Congratulations to Co-Principal Double Bass Sebastian Pennar and his wife Sophie on the birth of their daughter, Olwen Lucy, on 17 February 2023, and to Principal Guest Conductor Karina Canellakis and her husband Daniel on the birth of their daughter Emeline on 27 May 2023.
Since the last issue of Tune In we were sorry to learn of the deaths of four former LPO members. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones.
Horn player Patrick (Pat) Strevens died on 10 January 2023. He was 94 years old and at the time of his death was the earliest surviving member of the LPO, having joined as Fourth Horn in 1948. He was a member of the LPO until 1953, after which he continued to play with the Orchestra in a freelance capacity.
Former Principal Second Violin Jacqueline (Jackie) Hartley died on 16 March 2023, aged 63. Jackie was appointed Principal at the LPO following her graduation from the Royal Academy of Music in 1982, and was a member of the Orchestra until 1998.
Former Principal Cello Alexander Cameron died on 23 March 2023, two days before his 101st birthday. Having joined the Orchestra as Principal in 1967 and played under conductors including Haitink, Solti and Tennstedt, Alexander continued to play with us until 1988.
We were sad to hear of the death of viola player Jo St Leon on 15 July 2023. Jo was a member of the London Philharmonic Orchestra for 13 years between 1983 and 1997. She also previously held Principal Viola positions with English National Ballet, Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet and English Touring Opera, and later moved to Hobart, Tasmania, where she continued her career as a violist and, latterly, a successful writer.
Unless otherwise stated: Standard prices £14–£51 Premium seats £70
London Philharmonic Orchestra Ticket Office 020 7840 4242 Mon–Fri 10am–5pm lpo.org.uk
Booking fees apply: £3.50 online, £4 telephone
Southbank Centre Ticket Office 020 3879 9555 Mon–Fri 10am–5pm/Sat–Sun 12pm–5pm southbankcentre.co.uk
Booking fees apply: £3.50 online, £4 telephone. No transaction fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members and Supporters Circles.
Unless otherwise stated, all Southbank Centre concerts are at the Royal Festival Hall and start at 7.30pm.
Edward Gardner’s position in the LPO in the 2023/24 season is generously supported by Aud Jebsen.
Saturday 23 September 2023 | 7.00pm
Please note start time
Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’
Mahler Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection)
Edward Gardner conductor
Sally Matthews soprano
Beth Taylor mezzo-soprano
London Philharmonic Choir
BBC Symphony Chorus
Wednesday 27 September 2023 | 7.30pm
Johan Dalene plays Sibelius
Felix Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture
Sibelius Violin Concerto
Brahms Symphony No. 1
Edward Gardner conductor
Johan Dalene violin
Saturday 30 September 2023 | 7.30pm
Tchaikovsky’s Fourth
Beethoven Overture, Egmont
Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Edward Gardner conductor Christian Tetzlaff violin
Wednesday 25 October 2023 | 7.30pm
Death and Transfiguration
R Strauss Don Juan
Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left Hand Tania León Horizons (UK premiere)
R Strauss Death and Transfiguration
Karina Canellakis conductor Cédric Tiberghien piano
Saturday 28 October 2023 | 7.30pm
Canellakis conducts Shostakovich
Beethoven Overture, The Creatures of Prometheus
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2
Shostakovich Symphony No. 8
Karina Canellakis conductor
Jonathan Biss piano
Sunday 29 October 2023 | 12 noon–1.00pm
FUNharmonics Family Concert: The Firebird
Edward Gardner conductor
Rachel Leach presenter
A captivating tale of good versus evil in an unforgettable first concert experience for all the family. Prince Ivan tiptoes through evil King Kastchei’s dark and gloomy garden of stone figures. A flash of fiery gold glimmers in the corner of his eye – could it be the magical Firebird? Before too long, the Prince faces the most terrifying villain in all of classical music – King Kastchei himself! Can the Firebird save the day?
Join in the free pre-concert foyer activities from 10am–12 noon (concert ticket-holders only).
Adults £16–£24, children £8–£12
Friday 3 November 2023 | 7.30pm
Hélène Grimaud plays Ravel
Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Ravel Piano Concerto in G
Stravinsky Petrushka (1947 revised version)
Edward Gardner conductor
Hélène Grimaud piano†
†Hélène Grimaud’s performance is generously supported by HSH Dr Donatus, Prince of Hohenzollern.
Wednesday 22 November 2023 | 7.30pm
Julian Joseph plays Gershwin
Julian Joseph Spiritual Fiction or Fact (No. 5 of Symphonic Stories: The Great Exception)
Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 (Organ)
Jader Bignamini conductor
Julian Joseph piano
Anna Lapwood organ
Saturday 25 November 2023 | 7.30pm
Ticciati conducts Mahler
Mahler Symphony No. 3
Robin Ticciati conductor
Alice Coote mezzo-soprano
London Philharmonic Choir
Trinity Boys Choir
Wednesday 29 November 2023 | 7.30pm
Beethoven’s Fifth
Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3
Florence Price Violin Concerto No. 2† Beethoven Symphony No. 5
Kristiina Poska conductor
Pieter Schoeman violin‡
†A grant from the ABO Trust’s Sirens programme (supporting the promotion of music by historical women composers) has made this performance possible. ‡LPO chair supported by Neil Westreich
Saturday 2 December 2023 | 7.30pm
Angela Gheorghiu Operatic Gala
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 1 (Winter Daydreams)
Various Operatic arias and orchestral selections
Gergely Madaras conductor
Angela Gheorghiu soprano†
†Please note change of artist from previously advertised.
Tickets £19–£60 (Premium seats £85)
Wednesday 6 December 2023 | 7.30pm
Scheherazade
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor)
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade
Tianyi Lu conductor
Tom Borrow piano
11.00 am–3.00pm | Daytime event
Royal Festival Hall
LPO Showcase: OrchLab Festival Day
OrchLab Festival Day is the culmination of this year’s OrchLab programme, delivered in collaboration with Drake Music – leaders in music, technology and disability. This free but ticketed event is open to disabled adults, their families and those who support them (over 18s only). For more information visit orchlab.org/open-events
Thursday 14 December 2023 | 7.30pm
Southbank Centre:
Christmas in Tinseltown
Mark Kermode presenter
Tickets £30–£60
Via Southbank Centre Ticket Office and website only
Saturday 16 December 2023 | 3pm & 7.30pm
Southbank Centre: Christmas Classics
YolanDa Brown presenter
Tickets £30–£60
Via Southbank Centre Ticket Office and website only
Sunday 24 September 2023 | 3.00pm
Congress Theatre, Eastbourne eastbournetheatres.co.uk | 01323 412000
Tchaikovsky’s Fourth
Felix Mendelssohn Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage
Felix Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Alessandro Crudele conductor
Chloë Hanslip violin
2.15pm | Free pre-concert performance
Join us for a special free performance in the foyer, given by young musicians from Create Music, the music education hub for Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.
Friday 29 September 2023 | 7.30pm
Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden saffronhall.com | 0845 548 7650
Beethoven Overture, Egmont
Bartók Violin Concerto No. 2
Dvořák Symphony No. 7
Edward Gardner conductor
Christian Tetzlaff violin
Sunday 15 October 2023 | 3.00pm
Please note start time
Brighton Dome Concert Hall brightondome.org | 01273 709709
Beethoven & Mozart
Mozart Overture, The Marriage of Figaro
Mozart Horn Concerto No. 4
Beethoven Symphony No. 5
James Henshaw conductor
Annemarie Federle horn
Free pre-concert activities
2.00pm & 2.25pm
Join us for a free interactive session, suitable for all ages, exploring Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony in a fun, immersive and hands-on way.
2.45pm
Young musicians from Create Music, the music education hub for Brighton & Hove and East Sussex, give a special free performance in the Brighton Dome foyer.
Sunday 22 October 2023 | 3.00pm
Congress Theatre, Eastbourne eastbournetheatres.co.uk | 01323 412000
Brahms’s Second
Weber Overture, Der Freischütz
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3
Brahms Symphony No. 2
Charlotte Politi conductor†
Samson Tsoy piano
†Inaugural participant in the LPO Conducting Fellowship programme. This programme is generously supported by Patricia Haitink with additional support from Gini and Richard Gabbertas.
Saturday 4 November 2023 | 7.30pm
Brighton Dome Concert Hall brightondome.org | 01273 709709
Tchaikovsky’s Fourth
Dvořák Carnival Overture
Mozart Sinfonia Concertante
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Luis Castillo-Briceño conductor†
Benjamin Baker violin
Jordan Bak viola‡
†Inaugural participant in the LPO Conducting Fellowship programme. This programme is generously supported by Patricia Haitink with additional support from Gini and Richard Gabbertas.
‡ LPO Alexandra Jupin Award recipient: An annual award for an artist making their debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
6.45pm | Free pre-concert performance
Join us for a special free performance in the foyer, given by young musicians from West Sussex Music, the music education hub for West Sussex.
Sunday 26 November 2023 | 3.00pm
Congress Theatre, Eastbourne eastbournetheatres.co.uk | 01323 412000
Mozart & Beethoven
Beethoven Overture, Fidelio
Mozart Clarinet Concerto
Beethoven Symphony No. 4
Bertie Baigent conductor
Benjamin Mellefont clarinet
Sunday 17 December 2023 | 7.30pm
Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden
saffronhall.com | 0845 548 7650
A Christmas Celebration
Jonathan Bloxham conductor
Saffron Walden Choral Society
Monday 18 September 2023 | 8.30pm St Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium gentfestival.be
Felix Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture
Mahler Symphony No. 5
Edward Gardner conductor
Thursday 5 October 2023
Daegu Concert House, South Korea
Beethoven Overture, Egmont
Brahms Violin Concerto
Brahms Symphony No. 1
Edward Gardner conductor
Christian Tetzlaff violin
Friday 6 October 2023
Bucheon Arts Centre, South Korea
Felix Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture
Brahms Violin Concerto
Dvořák Symphony No. 7
Edward Gardner conductor
Christian Tetzlaff violin
Saturday 7 October 2023
Seoul Arts Center, South Korea
Programme and artists as 5 October
Tuesday 10 October 2023
National Concert Hall, Taipei, Taiwan
Felix Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture
Sibelius Violin Concerto
Brahms Symphony No. 1
Edward Gardner conductor
William Wei violin
Wednesday 11 October 2023
National Concert Hall, Taipei, Taiwan
Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto No. 3
Dvořák Symphony No. 7
Edward Gardner conductor
William Wei violin
Tuesday 7 November 2023
Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1
Brahms Symphony No. 1
Edward Gardner conductor
Hélène Grimaud piano
Wednesday 8 November 2023
Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany
Dvořák Cello Concerto
Stravinsky Petrushka (1947 revised version)
Edward Gardner conductor
Nicolas Altstaedt cello
Thursday 9 November 2023
Tonhalle, Düsseldorf, Germany
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1
Stravinsky Petrushka (1947 revised version)
Edward Gardner conductor
Hélène Grimaud piano
Friday 10 November 2023
Congress Centrum, Hannover, Germany
Sunday 12 November 2023
Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany
Programme and artists as 9 November
Monday 13 November 2023
Isarphilharmonie, Munich, Germany
Tuesday 14 November 2023
Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany
Wednesday 15 November 2023
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris, France
Friday 17 November 2023
Konzerthaus, Freiburg, Germany
Saturday 18 November 2023
Graf Zeppelin Haus, Friedrichshafen, Germany
Programme and artists as 7 November
Welcome to the LPO, Alice! You joined in February, so you’ve recently come to the end of your first season and your first summer at Glyndebourne. How was that? I joined the LPO during an especially busy part of the London season, and colleagues kept saying ‘Just wait until you get to Glyndebourne – it’s heaven!’ I remember stepping out on the first day of rehearsals and seeing the grounds and gardens, and thinking they were absolutely right. It’s such a big contrast from our touring and performing during the year, not just in terms of being in the beautiful countryside, but also musically: playing in the pit, repeating repertoire, and following the different nuances and timings of singers on stage each night. We can really refine an opera over the course of a run and add more and more detail – a luxury that’s not possible during the concert season. And the music itself was wonderful; I got to lead Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, which is full of so much vibrancy and beauty – it was incredibly special to lead such an iconic production.
What has been your career journey so far, and how did it bring you to the LPO?
I grew up in New York City and started playing violin when I was four years old, with bluegrass fiddle music from the Appalachian mountains. I then found my beloved teacher Nurit Pacht a few years later, and went on to study at The Juilliard School for my Bachelors and Masters degrees with Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho. Like many violinists, I was very focused on solo and chamber music during my education, but I became increasingly interested in orchestral playing, especially after leading Scheherazade and Pulcinella under the batons of Xian Zhang and Barbara Hannigan, so when I spotted the LPO vacancy online I jumped at the chance to apply. The audition was wedged between so many final exams, performances, and work I was doing with the New York Philharmonic at the time, and I had never even been to the UK before, so it was certainly a bit of a leap of faith – but I was so drawn to the LPO that it felt worth it! The audition itself turned out to be only part of my first few days in London, because a last-minute illness opened up a spot in the section for a Royal
American violinist Alice joined the LPO as Co-Leader in February 2023. We caught up with her as she reflects on her first season with the Orchestra.
Festival Hall concert that week, and I found myself performing with the Orchestra the very next day. I flew back to New York with a trial in place for autumn 2022 and then joined officially in February 2023. Needless to say, those few days back in April 2022 ended up being some of the craziest and most rewarding of my life.
Can you tell us a bit about your role as Co-Leader, and what it’s like working so closely with LPO Leader Pieter Schoeman? Sitting at the front of the Orchestra as Co-Leader feels a bit like being in the ‘eye of the storm’ and co-piloting a plane! It’s exhilarating to be at the centre of so much sound, intensity and creative expression. My two primary responsibilities are leading the Orchestra when Pieter takes time off, and collaborating with his leading when he’s in. As people probably know, the Leader is the first point of contact in translating the conductor’s gestures into sound – literally leading the orchestra with timing, articulation, approach and colour, in response to the conductor’s wishes.
So it’s important that I try to match Pieter’s playing to create a clear and unified front desk. A real gift of the Co-Leader position has been the opportunity to play with Pieter and develop a partnership as a desk, which has been so enlightening, even just over the last few months. He brings over 20 years of experience to the job and has so many insights from past performances. And also, without saying anything, the way he’ll lead and play intricate passages or tricky entrances shows me a lot about what I can do in the future.
What have been your favourite discoveries in London so far?
The sheer size and scale of London continue to amaze me, but I’m slowly exploring more and more on my days off. I’ve laughed with colleagues about the fact that during my trial I didn’t even make it north of the river because I was so focused on the work at the Royal Festival Hall. Even now, I have to say I continue to have a huge soft spot for the Southbank area. I love the food market on weekends, the vibrancy of the cafes and shops along the riverfront, and as a theatre fan, I so appreciate that you can just pop over to the National Theatre next door. It’s lovely to see how bustling and integrated the arts are within the area, with street food and drinks combined with concerts, plays, movies and exhibitions.
Which LPO concerts this autumn are you most looking forward to, and why?
I’m especially looking forward to our season opener of Mahler 2 [23 Sep] – this will be my first time playing it, and it’s a work I’ve longed to play for as long as I can remember. I know Mahler 3 with Robin Ticciati [25 Nov] will be incredible as well. We work with him all summer at Glyndebourne, and it’s fantastic to reconnect in a concert setting, since the Orchestra has such a deep musical relationship with him. Lastly, a very special concert for me will be the 6 December Scheherazade, because I’ll be leading and playing the beautiful violin solos that inspired me to embark on an orchestral career in the first place. I played it with the LPO in Eastbourne last year as part of my trial, so it will be a real dream come true to bring it to the Royal Festival Hall stage as an official member of the Orchestra.
Newsletter published by the London Philharmonic Orchestra 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP
Tel: 020 7840 4200 • Ticket Office: 020 7840 4242 admin@lpo.org.uk • lpo.org.uk