Sir Simon Rattle (conductor), Barbara Hannigan (soprano), George Benjamin (composer), London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Hall, London
Boulez’ almost infamous piece Éclat started the LSO’s programme at the Barbican. A touchstone work, “difficult” at first hearing but staking the claim for music as exploration in sound for the rest of the second half of the twentieth century. Seeing Simon Rattle conducting made clear the grammar which is there in the sound but is clarified seeing the music in performance. An educational privilege I think, to hear and see this piece laid clear like this.
The second item was a premiere of a piece by George Benjamin, dedicated to Sir Simon on his 70th birthday (he’s looking very sprightly). The composer was present and came to the platform to acknowledge the ovation; it must be fantastic to compose such music and to hear it both performed with a really good and large orchestra, and received so appreciatively.
Back after the interval to the relative comfort zone of one of the great Viennese symphonies, Brahms’ Fourth. The acoustics of the Barbican Hall are still some of the best in London for a listener, and, despite the excellence of the LSO’s in-house recordings, there’s nothing to beat hearing a top-flight orchestra playing in their home acoustic, I hear so much more detail and impact. Smaller forces than for the Benjamin but tightly focused playing with unmatched ensemble. Simon Rattle added the gloss which marks the character of a great performance, energy and intensity in the first movement, power and snap in the last movement and character throughout. The interpretation referred forwards in musical history with exotic chords given light in the second and third movements, defying their major keys.
A very warm reception from a packed Barbican Hall audience. There were outbreaks of singing of “Happy Birthday” around me (for Sir Simon) but it never became generalised. Instead, the orchestra and conductor generously gave us an encore, an unusual Hungarian Dance of Brahms, this one in F major.
The Elizabeth Line (was Crossrail) is a game-changer for travel to the Barbican Centre using the Farringdon station; it’s worth checking the route-finders as the classic itineraries are no longer the optimum.
Programme
Pierre Boulez: Éclat
George Benjamin: Interludes and Aria (from Lessons in Love and Violence) (world premiere)
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Sir Simon Rattle conductor
Barbara Hannigan soprano
London Symphony Orchestra