LSSO at Milton Court Concert Hall

The LSSO’s Easter Course culminated in the orchestra’s first performance at the Milton Court Concert Hall. Still a part of the Barbican Centre/Guildhall School complex but a more intimate venue than the usual Barbican Concert Hall setting.

It proved to be a particularly appropriate setting for the Elgar Cello Concerto and also provided the LSSO players with a new experience of being able to rehearse at the performance venue for two days prior to the concert day itself. Renowned conductor Christopher Warren-Green (former leader of the Philharmonia Orchestra and current Chair of the Foundation for Young Musicians) and the orchestra took full advantage of becoming familiar with the space and the acoustic. For the concerto they were joined by acclaimed cellist and baritone Matthew Sharp. Both Christopher and Matthew are alumni of the LSSO and the Centre for Young Musicians and were a real inspiration to the current young members.

The concert was opened by young conductor Bradley Wilson, the first musician to be Resident Conductor of the LSSO in a partnership recently established with Black Lives in Music. Bradley conducted Errollyn Wallen’s Mighty River, a piece composed to mark the bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act.

After Matthew’s mesmerising performance of the Elgar the orchestra brought the concert to an end with a spirited and exuberant account of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.4, conducted with great skill and panache by Christopher.