Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Playing with drama and discipline, the Pappano-led LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA triumphantly returns to Carnegie Hall

• By drediman
• March 6, 2025
• No Comments

After a hiatus of two decades, the great London Symphony Orchestra makes a highly anticipated return to Carnegie Hall this week for two performances only. As led by newly-appointed music director Antonio Pappano (who previously served a lengthy term as music director of the Royal Opera House, from 2002 through 2024), last night’s first concert was a triumphant affair, befitting a world class orchestra of their stature. On the program were diverse works that spanned three centuries — in reverse-chronological order George Walker’s Sinfonia No. 5 (“Visions”), Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade, and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1.

Such expansive programming is what makes attending the symphony such satisfying experiences, and last night was certainly not an exception. Throughout, the ensemble responded with drama and discipline under Pappano’s baton, starting with Walker’s 2016 “Visions”, which the composer penned — well into his 90s — as a tense, anxiety-ridden response to the racism that still very much plagues this country. Then came Bernstein’s Serenade, which featured a breathtaking performance by violin soloist Janine Jansen. Both skimming and driving the emphatic dance quality of the piece — calling to mind Igor Stravinsky’s distinctive ballet scores for choreographer George Balanchine — Jansen and the orchestra played with intelligence and intensity, particularly in the thrilling final “Socrates” movement.

Then after the intermission, the audience was treated to a masterful and beautifully judged rendition of Mahler’s First, a natural conclusion for the evening (Bernstein was an unabashed champion and devotee of Mahler’s). As a whole, the London forces’ performance of this sprawling but most conventional of the composer’s works was fully-formed and lucid. Themes wove clearly in complete thoughts through the episodic structure of the symphony, but never at the expense of depth and profound mystery. The performance rightfully drew enthusiastic ovations from the audience. Let’s hope we get the opportunity to do so again much sooner than in 20 years’ time.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Classical Music
Carnegie Hall
2 hours, 15 minutes (with one intermission)
Through March 6