ECLECTIC in repertoire, and renowned for innovation, the London Philharmonic Orchestra is doing a series of concerts at the Royal Festival Hall since September 2001, as a prelude to its 70th birthday celebrations later this year. Concertgoers are able to listen to the complete Beethoven symphony cycle, tap the night away to Morton Gould’s Tap Dance Concerto, observe the Dogon tribe of Mali, western Africa, singing and dancing, and watch enthusiastic young musicians from the audience attempt to conduct the orchestra’s 75 players.
The 38 concerts offer a typical mix of evocative and challenging music played by some of the world’s finest artists. Beethoven, Mozart, Sibelius and Stravinsky are featured throughout the season that also includes two premieres of Finland’s Kaija Saariaho’s music.
Among the international soloists are cellist Mistislav Rostropovich, violinists Joshua Bell, Sarah Chang, Maria-Elisabeth Lott and Pianists Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Lang Lang, John Lill and Maria Joao Pires.
The LPO has been recording film soundtracks for more than 40 years. The movies range from Lawrence Of Arabia, The Mission, Philadelphia, East Is East, The Cell, The Yards to the recent Hollywood blockbuster, Lord Of The Rings. The high quality of the orchestra’s music-making is reflected in the numerous awards made to its CD recordings.
Kurt Masur became the LPO’s principal conductor in September 2000 after establishing his reputation with famous orchestras such as the Leipzig Gewandhaus and the Cleveland, Israeli, New York and Dresden Philharmonics. Born in Brieg, Silesia, Masur is known not only for his skills as a conductor, but also because he has not used a baton since 1972. “Orchestras understand me very well”, he explains. He will not tolerate coughing in the concert hall and has been honoured for the central role he played in the peaceful demonstrations contributing to German reunification.
Admired for his interpretation of Beethoven, Bruckner, Schumann, Mahler and Tchaikovsky, the maestro is keen to encourage new composers. He took over the LPO at a time of ambitious expansion of the orchestra’s educational role. It already works closely with four schools, teaching pupils musical skills and composition and teaches professional skills to members of its Youth Orchestra and choir. It is now likely to encompass jazz, classical, Latin, Afro-Caribbean and Asian music.
From its founding on October 7, 1932, at London’s Queen’s hall by Sir Thomas Beecham, the LPO has always been a pioneering band of troubadours. Lancashire-born Beecham was largely self-taught as a conductor, but came from a wealthy family whose Beecham’s pills cured digestive problems and its powders were termed a cure-all for virtually every ailment. The company eventually became today’s pharmaceutical giant, SmithKline Beecham.
Once known as ‘Beecham’s baby’, the LPO has really grown up to become an orchestra with a dazzling international reputation. Kurt Masur, regarded as a humanitarian as well as a great musician, is already fulfilling Sir Thomas’s firm belief that “music-makers are the weavers of dreams, revealing all the gifts of human creation”.
A POLITICIAN awoke in a hospital bed after a complicated operation, and found that the curtains were drawn around him. “Why are the curtains closed,” he said. “Is it night?” A nurse replied, “No, it is just that there is a fire across the street, and we didn’t want you waking up and thinking that the operation was unsuccessful!”— Dawn\Syndication Service
ECLECTIC in repertoire, and renowned for innovation, the London Philharmonic Orchestra is doing a series of concerts at the Royal Festival Hall since September 2001, as a prelude to its 70th birthday celebrations later this year. Concertgoers are able to listen to the complete Beethoven symphony cycle, tap the night away to Morton Gould’s Tap Dance Concerto, observe the Dogon tribe of Mali, western Africa, singing and dancing, and watch enthusiastic young musicians from the audience attempt to conduct the orchestra’s 75 players.
