– SPRING / SUMMER 2026 –
SIR GEORGE BENJAMIN
THE NATURE DIALOGUES
BACKSTAGE
Getting to know our new Composer-in-Residence
Pre-concert talks illuminating this spring’s nature-themed concerts
Behind the scenes with Principal Horn Annemarie Federle
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A CHILD OF OUR TIME
Gramophone Critics’ Choice of the Year 2025 Edward Gardner conductor Nadine Benjamin | Sarah Connolly | Kenneth Tarver Roderick Williams | London Philharmonic Choir London Adventist Chorale LPO-0136 Released September 2025
PRINCIPAL SUPPORTERS
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KARINA CANELLAKIS CONDUCTS TCHAIKOVSKY SYMPHONIES NOS. 5 & 6 LPO-0137 Released October 2025
ELGAR: THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS Edward Gardner conductor Allan Clayton | Jamie Barton | James Platt London Philharmonic Choir | Hallé Choir LPO-0138 Released November 2025
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MAHLER: SYMPHONY NO. 9
PRINCIPAL SUPPORTER
Vladimir Jurowski conductor
LPO-0139 Released 23 January 2026
COMING SOON
EDWARD GARDNER CONDUCTS STRAUSS AN ALPINE SYMPHONY METAMORPHOSEN Edward Gardner conductor COMING SOON
LPO-0140 Released Spring 2026
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TUNE IN – SPRING / SUMMER 2026 –
WELCOME
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Jesús Herrera © Liz Isles Photography
elcome to the Spring/Summer 2026 edition of Tune In. We write this on a train in Germany, where we’re on tour with the Orchestra and Edward Gardner, giving some of our last concerts of the year. And what a 12 months it has been! There have been so many fantastic concerts, community projects, recordings and, of course, tours – including a hugely successful visit to South Korea. During the year, over 35,000 people were inspired (and inspired us) through our Education & Community projects; 250,000 people watched the Orchestra perform live; our social channels received over 10 million engagements; and our recordings were streamed more than 260 million times. We recently heard the exciting news that one of our LPO Label recordings has been nominated for a Grammy (see page 8), and we were delighted that our partnership work with grassroots organisations on the South Coast was also recently recognised with an award. At the heart of all this are our wonderful musicians and guest artists, and an incredible team of staff and supporters who enable all of this to happen. We want to thank everyone involved, and hope you feel pride in what we have collectively achieved. We continue to introduce you to some of the remarkable people involved, and in this issue are delighted to include an interview with our Composer-in-Residence, George Benjamin, ahead of his concert with us on 11 February (page 4), as well as our joint Principal Horn, Annemarie Federle (page 16).
EDITOR Rachel Williams rachel.williams@lpo.org.uk PUBLISHER London Philharmonic Orchestra PRINTER John Good Ltd COVER IMAGE Busan Concert Hall, South Korea, LPO tour October 2025. Photo © Jesús Herrera
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, we cannot accept liability for any statement or error contained herein. © 2026 London Philharmonic Orchestra.
JESÚS HERRERA ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
for a very special concert. There are of course many more great concerts coming up – see the full listings towards the back of the magazine for details. If what you read in this issue inspires you, please do support our work in whatever way you can. Whether through our Annual Appeal (page 10) or our annual Galas (page 8), there are many ways to get involved, and the team are always available and happy to chat if you have any questions. As always, we look forward to seeing you at a concert soon, and we wish you a very happy 2026.
DAVID BURKE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Looking ahead to 2026, our season continues to explore the theme of Harmony with Nature. On page 6, we take a closer look at our pre-concert talk series, ‘The Nature Dialogues’. These talks have already proved exceptionally inspiring, and we have some wonderful speakers lined up for the events ahead. It’s a privilege to hear such worldleading thinkers and communicators, and we highly recommend setting aside an extra 45 minutes to join them before the concerts. The final concert in the Harmony with Nature series, on 17 April, features composer and jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard with his own Quintet. His Requiem for Katrina was a deeply personal response to what happened to his home city in 2005: we’re delighted to share some of his reflections on the piece on page 7, and hope you can join us
CONTENTS SIR GEORGE BENJAMIN 04 THE NATURE DIALOGUES 06 SPRING HIGHLIGHTS 07 NEW & NOTEWORTHY 08–09 ANNUAL APPEAL 2026 10 LPO FAMILY 11–12 CONCERT LISTINGS 13–15 BACKSTAGE: ANNEMARIE FEDERLE 16
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TUNE IN – SPRING / SUMMER 2026 –
GETTING TO KNOW...
SIR GEORGE BENJAMIN Renowned British composer Sir George Benjamin joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra in September as Composer-in-Residence: sharing his own music, conducting the Orchestra, and mentoring our LPO Young Composers. We sat down with him to chat about creativity, collaboration, and what lies ahead this season.
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elcome to the LPO, George! You’ve been a leading voice in contemporary music for decades, and many audiences will know your work through your operas like Written on Skin and Lessons in Love and Violence. For those discovering your music for the first time this season, how would you describe your soundworld? It matters a lot to me that each individual piece I write – regardless of scale – does establish and inhabit its own soundworld, but beyond that, it’s difficult to say. My work has changed over the years, and I always allow my instinct and imagination to lead me – above all, I write the music I want to hear. The LPO season opened in September with your orchestral work Ringed by the Flat Horizon. How did it feel to hear that piece performed by the LPO and Edward Gardner at the Royal Festival Hall? This was my first orchestral piece, completed around the time of my 20th
On 11 February 2026, you’ll take to the podium to conduct the Orchestra in a Royal Festival Hall concert that includes your work Palimpsests alongside Scriabin’s The Poem of Ecstasy, Stravinsky’s Symphonies of Wind Instruments and Ravel’s ballet Mother Goose. How did you choose this programme, and what connections or contrasts do you hear between your own work and the others? I hope that it will be an exciting and unusual programme. The opening and closing works – Scriabin and Ravel – revel in the luxuriant glory of orchestral sound. The Stravinsky, however, has a different approach, concentrating on primary colours, focused economy and transparency: elements which, up to a point, are important to my own score. The Scriabin, Ravel and Stravinsky all, in their contrasting ways, conclude in an idealised and luminous C major – powerful statements of vision from the early decades of the 20th century. Could you tell us a bit more about your work Palimpsests? This is a work that was premiered in 2002, so it’s just over 20 years old. The word ‘palimpsest’ is normally used to describe manuscripts on parchment – or on slate – which were reused, sometimes across centuries. In the Medieval era, parchment was a rare and valuable commodity, and
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scribes would often use the same surface for different texts. Viewed today, these extraordinary manuscripts initially look like an almost random collision of words, sometimes employing different languages, but – with effort – they can be deciphered. The concept can also be applied to architecture – in London, a Roman ruin may lie beneath a Tudor house, over whose foundations a modern edifice has been erected. That is also a palimpsest, and my piece transfers this idea to music – the apparent superimposition of opposed musical materials, seemingly very far apart from each other, but in fact all the same thing. The score demands an eccentric orchestra. There’s a mass of flutes and clarinets, a large complement of brass, three percussion, piano, two harps and reduced strings: eight violins and violas and eight double basses. In order to create the type of clarity for which I was searching, the traditional middle of the orchestra – cellos and bassoons – is absent. In some ways I wanted to forge a soundworld placed somewhere between a big band and a cathedral organ. As part of your role, you’re also serving as Composer Mentor to the LPO Young Composers. These five talented young composers spend the season with the LPO, each creating a new work to be premiered by LPO and Foyle Future First musicians at the annual ‘Debut Sounds’ concert in July. What do you most enjoy about working with emerging composers? Having taught composition at King’s College London for a quarter of a century, I’ve had a lot of contact with younger composers, and this is something I relish. In particular, it’s wonderful to be of use – even in a modest
George Benjamin © Åsa Westerlund
birthday, and it’s dedicated to my beloved teacher, Olivier Messiaen. It was also the piece that launched my name onto the classical music scene so, even though my idiom has changed considerably over the intervening decades, it remains a special work for me – and it was thrilling to hear it conducted with such mastery and played so beautifully.
TUNE IN – SPRING / SUMMER 2026 –
GEORGE BENJAMIN & THE LPO THIS SEASON Wednesday 11 February 2026 | 7.30pm Royal Festival Hall Mother Goose Scriabin The Poem of Ecstasy George Benjamin Palimpsests Stravinsky Symphonies of Wind Instruments Ravel Mother Goose (complete ballet) George Benjamin conductor Book now at lpo.org.uk VIDEO: GEORGE BENJAMIN INTRODUCES THE 11 FEBRUARY PROGRAMME AND PALIMPSESTS. SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH
George Benjamin with the LPO and Edward Gardner at the Royal Festival Hall on 27 September 2025, following their performance of Ringed by the Flat Horizon way – to a young artist’s development and see them flourish creatively. Previous students of mine have benefitted, in a pretty spectacular way, from the LPO’s scheme, and I now greatly look forward to being directly involved myself in the years ahead. The brief you’ve set for this year’s Young Composers invites them to take inspiration from the work of the pioneering sculptor Constantin Brâncuși. What inspired you to choose Brâncuși, and what qualities in his art do you hope will spark ideas for the composers? Rather than choosing an abstract theme, I looked at important artistic anniversaries in 2026, and came across the fact that Brâncuși was born 150 years ago. I thought he might be a good springboard for the composers’ imaginations as his work is so very striking and original; it tackles universal themes in a daringly economic and direct way, and I felt this attribute might cross the divide between musical thought and the rest of the world. His titles are also resonant and
memorable, and I felt they alone could inspire even if the sculptural work itself doesn’t. Whether you’re composing or taking a breather from working, where do you find renewal or inspiration – in art, literature, nature, or elsewhere? In anything which, by surprise, fires me and provokes my imagination – though one can never know, in advance, what the next source of inspiration will be. Usually the stuff of music itself – pitch, rhythm, line, phrase and structure – is the central source of ideas and the bedrock of fresh invention, though I’ve also found that collaboration with Martin Crimp – who wrote the texts for my four operas – has perhaps provided the greatest creative stimulus of all. But anything can provoke musical ideas – and it’s true, I read voluminously while composing, I love the visual arts and cinema, and take both solace and stimulation from the majesty and beauty of nature.
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Wednesday 15 July 2026 | 7.30pm Queen Elizabeth Hall Debut Sounds The five LPO Young Composers 2025/26 – mentored throughout the year by George Benjamin – present their new works inspired by the sculptor Constantin Brâncuși. Their pieces are performed by an ensemble of LPO players and Foyle Future Firsts, conducted by William Cole. Tickets go on sale later in the spring – for updates, join our e-list at lpo.org.uk/signup THE LPO YOUNG COMPOSERS PROGRAMME 2025/26 IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE JERWOOD FOUNDATION, THE VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION, THE MARCHUS TRUST AND THE ART MENTOR FOUNDATION LUCERNE. LPO DEBUT SOUNDS 2025/26 RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM LUKE GARDINER.
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LPO 2025/26 SEASON
THE NATURE DIALOGUES From stars to storms, wildlife to oceans, some of today’s leading scientists and storytellers illuminate the natural world in a fascinating series of free preconcert talks at the Southbank Centre this spring. Here’s what’s ahead... HARMONY WITH THE
HARMONY WITH OUR
Saturday 17 January, 5pm Royal Festival Hall
Saturday 21 March, 5pm Queen Elizabeth Hall
Rivers
Volcanic World With broadcaster & writer Kate Humble
With extreme angler, author & broadcaster Jeremy Wade
Ahead of the 6.30pm concert: ‘The Firebird’
Celebrated broadcaster Kate Humble – known for BBC’s Springwatch, Wild in Africa and Into the Volcano – explores Earth as a living, breathing force, constantly shifting and renewing itself. In this pre-concert talk, Kate will bring volcanoes and other awe-inspiring natural phenomena to life, illuminating the forces that shape our world and setting the stage for Gustavo Díaz-Jerez’s piano concerto Tajogaite. Inspired by the volcano on La Palma which erupted for 85 days in 2021, the work receives its UK premiere in the evening’s concert.
Jeremy Wade, presenter of TV’s River Monsters and Mighty Rivers, has spent 40 years exploring the world’s remotest waterways. In this pre-concert talk, he reflects on the dramatic decline of freshwater habitats, where many species are becoming locally extinct, and champions the revival of the rivers that sustain both nature and communities. His insights set the stage for an evening of music inspired by water and the Earth, including John Luther Adams’s Become River and Clarice Assad’s bassoon concerto Terra.
HARMONY WITH OUR
HARMONY WITH OUR
Fragile Eart h
Changing Planet
Wednesday 8 April, 6pm Royal Festival Hall
With scientist Johan Rockström, Chair of Natural England Tony Juniper, and composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir
Friday 17 April, 6pm Royal Festival Hall
With social scientist Gail Whiteman
Ahead of the 7.30pm concert: ‘Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony’
Ahead of the 7.30pm concert: ‘Terence Blanchard: A Requiem for Katrina’ (see opposite page)
Earth system scientist Johan Rockström and environmentalist Tony Juniper explore the delicate, interconnected systems that sustain life on Earth, and the limits within which we can safely operate without causing irreversible damage. Johan and Tony are joined by Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, whose insights offer a lens through which to experience her work CATAMORPHOSIS, which opens the evening’s concert – a powerful musical reflection on our fragile relationship with the planet.
Professor Gail Whiteman, Head of the Nature & Climate Impact Team at the University of Exeter, leads a thought-provoking conversation on resilience, creativity and climate change. In tonight’s concert, we hear Terence Blanchard’s deeply personal response to Hurricane Katrina, A Tale of God’s Will. This pre-concert talk explores what it means to live – and make music – in harmony with a changing planet.
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Jeremy Wade © Chris Bailey – Tony Juniper ©Jason Bye – Anna Thorvaldsdottir © Anna Maggy
Ahead of the 6.30pm concert: ‘Four Season of Buenos Aires’
TUNE IN – SPRING / SUMMER 2026 –
LPO 2025/26 SEASON
SPRING HIGHLIGHTS TERENCE BLANCHARD: A REQUIEM FOR KATRINA
Bo Wang © Brandon Bishop
The force of nature returns this spring, as our Harmony with Nature series continues. On 17 April 2026, for the final concert in the series, we turn our focus to nature’s destructive power. Duke Ellington’s The River Suite is paired with Terence Blanchard’s A Tale of God’s Will: A Requiem for Katrina, a powerful musical testament to the composer’s home city of New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Conducted by Daniela Candillari, the concert will feature Terence Blanchard himself (pictured left) on trumpet, making a rare UK appearance with his own Quintet.
Following the chaos that descended in the days and weeks after Hurricane Katrina wreaked its devastation, New Orleans residents were left with more questions than answers. ‘How did this happen? Where do we go from here?’ Spike Lee’s award-winning 2006 documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts addressed those questions in a series of episodes that laid bare the fear, anger and hope of a traumatised community. Blanchard, a long-time creative collaborator of Lee, took part in the filming and created the score for the film. He later arranged it into a multi-movement work, and broadened the emotional range of the piece by including compositional contributions from his bandmates, inspired by their own experiences. The result is a musical artefact that captures the grief and confusion of a community pushed to the brink, as well as the resilience and determination of the people of New Orleans. Reflecting on the work’s origins and its title, Blanchard said: ‘In the aftermath of Katrina, when you’re faced with that level of devastation and you’re hurt beyond anything you can imagine, it causes you to dig deep and try to find some answers ... I know a lot of people who are saying how could something so terrible be God’s will? Well in the Christian faith, you know, we have a saying: God acts in strange ways. So for me, I think this is a way for God to get our attention, basically. You know, we haven’t been paying attention to a lot of things and we’ve been letting a lot of things slide. So maybe this is a way for us to kind of stop and take a hard look at what we’re doing as a community.’ This 17 April concert will be a significant moment in our Harmony with Nature journey, bringing the series to a close as we reflect on the fragile relationship between humanity and the environment. Ahead of the 7.30pm concert, our series of free pre-concert talks, The Nature Dialogues, continues at 6pm in the Royal Festival Hall. In the talk, titled ‘Harmony with our Changing Planet’, Professor Gail Whiteman – Head of the University of Exeter’s Nature & Climate Impact Team – will lead a thought-provoking conversation on resilience, creativity and climate change. Tickets for the talk are free: for full details and booking info, visit lpo.org.uk/harmony-with-nature
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BRIDGING CULTURES WITH THE LONDON PHILHARMONIC CHOIR The London Philharmonic Choir has announced Bo Wang (pictured) as its Guest Associate Chorus Director for the 2025/26 season. Bringing a wealth of experience as a singer and choral director, Bo will assist Chorus Director Madeleine Venner in preparing the Choir for performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra this season. The first of these is Zou Ye‘s Kūkai Symphony, which the Choir will perform alongside the LPO and the Chinese Central Conservatory of Music Choir at the Royal Festival Hall on 30 January (see page 14). Inspired by the 8th-century Japanese Buddhist monk Kūkai, the work unites musicians from London and Beijing and, in a world where conflict and division dominate the headlines, offers a moment of shared reflection and hope. Another exciting cross-cultural collaboration comes later in the spring with the UK premiere of Tan Dun’s Choral Concerto: Nine, which will be performed in the same concert as Beethoven’s epic Ninth Symphony. In Nine, Tan Dun – Academy Award-winning composer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – weaves together ancient poetry from China and Europe to create an ‘ode to peace’ worthy of Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’. The London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir will present it, alongside Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, under Tan Dun’s own baton on Saturday 28 March at the Royal Festival Hall and on Sunday 29 March at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. The performances also feature a special collaboration between the London Philharmonic Choir and Bo Wang’s own ensemble, the London Chinese Philharmonic Choir, uniting singers from diverse backgrounds in a season that celebrates the universal power of music. FULL DETAILS & BOOKING INFO ON PAGE 14.
TUNE IN – SPRING / SUMMER 2026 –
LPO NEWS
NEW & NOTEWORTHY NEWS FROM THE LPO LABEL
Throughout 2025 we’ve been celebrating the 20th anniversary of the LPO Label, which was founded in 2005 to give the Orchestra more creative freedom and a platform to showcase its artistry and ambition. October 2025 saw another milestone for the label with Principal Guest Conductor Karina Canellakis’s first full album release: Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6, live in concert at the Royal Festival Hall (LPO0137). It’s already been flying off the shelves and has received widespread acclaim from press and listeners. This was followed in November by Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius under Edward Gardner, recorded at the 2022 BBC Proms with soloists Allan Clayton, Jamie Barton and James Platt, the London Philharmonic Choir and the Hallé Choir (LPO-0138). It, too, received rave reviews, The Guardian praising ‘a perfectly judged performance’ and The Times writing that ‘Gardner, conducting with magisterial assurance … combined theatricality, believability and sheer orchestral and choral beauty into one wonderfully complex tapestry.’ Releases in early 2026 include Vladimir Jurowski’s live recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 9, captured live at the Royal Festival Hall in December 2022, which will be released on 23 January. Later this spring comes another Gardner release: a disc pairing Strauss’s Alpine Symphony and Metamorphosen, recorded live at Royal Festival Hall concerts in 2023 and 2024. The entire LPO Label catalogue is available on all major streaming platforms, or, if you prefer CD or download, visit our online store at lpo.ochre.store
A GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR THE LABEL
Congratulations to our previous Composerin-Residence Tania León, whose work Raíces (Origins) has been nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Classical Composition category. We were delighted to give the world premiere of Raíces with Edward Gardner at the Royal Festival Hall in March 2024, and the live recording of that performance also features on our album of Tania’s works which was released on the LPO Label in July 2025 (LPO-0135). The winners will be announced at the 2026 Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on 1 February.
Following a triumphant 2025 Gala, we are delighted to announce that the LPO 2026 Annual Fundraising Gala will be hosted on Monday 29 June 2026 at the innovative HERE at Outernet, a new live events space at the heart of London’s entertainment district on Tottenham Court Road. Equipped with an array of cutting-edge audio and video technology, this custom designed blank-canvas space, built for creative and cultural events, will offer our guests a truly unique, immersive and memorable night of entertainment, whilst raising vital funds to sustain the Orchestra’s bold artistic vision and social impact work. We invite you to join us for the LPO’s highly anticipated debut performance in this spectacular setting. Our Gala evening begins with a sparkling reception followed by a sumptuous three-course dinner interspersed with show-stopping performances by our world-leading musicians. TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST, PLEASE CONTACT GALA@LPO.ORG.UK
LPO 2025 Gala at Battersea Arts Centre On 27 January 2026 we will welcome 200 guests for our annual American Friends of the LPO Gala at Carnegie Hall, raising vital funds to sustain the LPO’s special relationship with the USA and foster transatlantic cultural exchange. Including a cocktail reception and dinner, the evening will be interspersed with spectacular musical performances by talented students from LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts - where the LPO regularly delivers masterclasses – and members of the LPO. This year, we will honour Grammy Award-winner and former LPO Composer-in-Residence, Tania León, with a Lifetime Achievement in Music Award. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT LPO.ORG.UK/EVENT/AMERICAN-FRIENDS-GALA-2026
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Tania León © Gail Hadani – LPO 2025 Gala © Lia Vittone Photography
LPO GALAS 2026 – LONDON & NEW YORK
TUNE IN – AUTUMN / WINTER 2025 –
LPO NEWS
NEW & NOTEWORTHY TOUR NEWS
In October, we had a fantastic time on tour in South Korea, where we were warmly welcomed by sell-out audiences in Seoul, Daejeon, Busan and Gyeonggi. Principal Conductor Edward Gardner and the Orchestra were joined by guest pianist Yeol Eum Son for performances of Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Brahms. This marked a return visit for both the Orchestra and Gardner, following our hugely successful South Korea tour in October 2023.
ST JOHN’S WATERLOO:
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
On 15 January, we return to St John’s Church, Waterloo, for a concert titled ‘More than meets the eye’, part of our Chamber Sessions series. Featuring music for string ensemble by John Stanley, Jean Langlais, Sarah Lianne Lewis and Gustav Holst, the concert – curated by award-winning composer and conductor Ben Lunn and performed by members of the LPO – is a rare showcase of works by composers who happen to be disabled. Ben says: ‘Often when we think about disability and music, we talk about struggle and suffering. When, in reality, the picture is much more complex and interesting. What I hope this concert will show is that disability is just a very human thing, and not separate from art.’ It’s great to continue our partnership with St John’s, showcasing LPO members in a more intimate setting. Reflecting our commitment to inclusion, the concert will take an accessible format. St John’s is a fully accessible venue, with wheelchair access and a fully accessible bathroom, and we hope everyone will feel welcome. FULL DETAILS & BOOKING INFO ON PAGE 15. GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY TIOC FOUNDATION
This spring, the Orchestra sets off on tour once again, visiting Germany, Luxembourg and Vienna in February with conductor Karina Canellakis and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, following their concert at the Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday 18 February (see page 13). In March, the Orchestra travels to Athens and Budapest with conductor Paavo Järvi and pianist Alexandre Kantorow, before Edward Gardner leads two concerts at Dresden’s Kulturpalast with violinist Nicola Benedetti at the end of May. FULL TOUR LISTINGS ON PAGE 15.
LPO MERCHANDISE
Have you seen our new range of LPO merchandise? From handy tote bags and eco-friendly water bottles to stylish stationery and cosy clothing – all featuring the iconic LPO pink star – it’s the perfect way to take a little piece of the Orchestra home with you! With prices from just £2, there’s something for every taste and budget. Check out the merch stall at selected Royal Festival Hall concerts in the Level 2 Foyer, or browse the range and order online at shop.lpo.org.uk
THIS SPRING’S STREAMS
EDWARD GARDNER CONDUCTS ELGAR
LPO ON MARQUEE TV
This spring we continue our partnership 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 concerts are streamed to watch free of charge for the first 48 hours, with no subscription required. In addition, Tune In readers can benefit from an exclusive 50% discount on a year’s subscription to Marquee TV, including new releases as well as its extensive back catalogue of the world’s best music, opera, theatre and dance. Head to discover.marquee.tv/50lpo and use code lpo50off
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STREAMING FROM FRI 23 JAN (FILMED 26 NOV 2025)
Elgar In the South (Alassio); Sea Pictures; Sospiri; Enigma Variations Edward Gardner conductor Beth Taylor mezzo-soprano
KARINA CANELLAKIS CONDUCTS MOZART & RACHMANINOV PART 1 STREAMING FROM FRI 20 MAR (FILMED 25 OCT 2025) Mozart Overture, Idomeneo, K366; Masonic Funeral Music, K477; Piano Concerto No. 25, K503 Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2 Karina Canellakis conductor Paul Lewis piano
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TUNE IN – SPRING / SUMMER 2026 –
LPO NEWS
LPO FAMILY We’re delighted to introduce our new cohorts of talented young musicians who are spending this season with the LPO as participants in our Rising Talent programmes.
LPO JUNIOR ARTISTS
LPO Junior Artists is our orchestral experience programme for talented young musicians aged 15–19 from backgrounds currently under-represented in professional UK orchestras. This season we’re delighted to be working with Zakkai Amachree, Lillian Clarke-Jones Blackwell, Niara Fell, Matilda Hoberman-Evers, Evelyn Lee, Lara Omidvar, Hanhan Qu & Ralf Sauer.
FUTURE FIRSTS
Our annual Future Firsts programme bridges the transition between education and the professional platform for outstanding orchestral musicians at the start of their careers. It’s designed to nurture and develop talented orchestral players, forming the base for future appointments to the LPO and other world-class orchestras and ensembles. This year we welcome Katie Bannister, Emily Crook, Isabel Garcia Gonzalez, Billy Hui, Nivanthi Karunaratne, William Lui, Archie McVicar, Aisha Palmer, Flo Plane, Ollie Plant, Sara Ramirez Rodriguez, Noah Rudd, Julie Scheuren, Mio Takahashi, Emily Trubshaw & Mark Zang. THE FOYLE FUTURE FIRSTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2025/26 IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE FOYLE FOUNDATION AND PURPOSEFUL VENTURES, ALONGSIDE THE BARBARA WHATMORE CHARITABLE TRUST, SCOPS ARTS TRUST AND THE IDLEWILD TRUST. INSTRUMENT CHAIRS ARE KINDLY SUPPORTED BY DAVID BURKE & VALERIE GRAHAM (CLARINET), MICHELLE CROWE HERNANDEZ & CHRISTIAN HERNANDEZ (TUBA), JOHN & SAM DAWSON (PERCUSSION), MARIE POWER (PIANO), JUDY WRIGHTSON & TONY LLEWELLYN (VIOLIN) AND NIGEL PHIPPS & AMANDA MCDOWALL (OBOE).
Over the next two years, we’re delighted to be embarking on a transformational partnership with Purposeful Ventures to support the evolution of our Future Firsts programme. Drawing on Purposeful Ventures’ expertise in Theory of Change, impact measurement and evaluation, we aim to deepen the programme’s impact and nurture the next generation of orchestral talent to fulfil their creative potential. We would like to thank Foyle Foundation for their fundamental support in establishing the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Foyle Future Firsts back in 2004. Over the last 21 years, Foyle Foundation’s commitment to the programme has supported 345 young musicians to make the transition from education to forge flourishing professional careers, and alumni of the scheme can be found in orchestras through the UK and beyond. The Foundation officially closed in December 2025, although their funding will continue for the remainder of this season, and their support will leave a lasting legacy on the LPO and the wider orchestral music ecosystem.
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THE LPO JUNIOR ARTISTS PROGRAMME 2025/26 IS GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY THE MARGARET KILLBERY FOUNDATION, TIOC FOUNDATION AND THE UK FRIENDS OF THE FELIX MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY FOUNDATION.
LPO YOUNG COMPOSERS
The LPO Young Composers programme aims to find and support the progression of talented, early-career orchestral composers. Under the mentorship of Composer-inResidence Sir George Benjamin, they will spend the season with the LPO, composing new works for our Debut Sounds concert on 15 July 2026 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Welcome to our 2025/26 Young Composers Seyoung Oh, Margot Pommellet, Edward Robson, George Stevenson & Michael Taplin. THE LPO YOUNG COMPOSERS PROGRAMME 2025/26 IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE JERWOOD FOUNDATION, THE VAUGHAN WILLIAMS FOUNDATION, THE MARCHUS TRUST AND THE ART MENTOR FOUNDATION LUCERNE.
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LPO NEWS
LPO FAMILY ELEVATE YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE LPO
January 2026 sees the relaunch of the LPO Corporate Membership scheme, with compelling new packages that offer a mix of world-class hospitality and high-profile brand visibility for companies of any size. Through participating in the scheme, LPO Corporate Members will also be signalling their commitment to supporting the LPO’s vital social and artistic mission. We know every company is different, so have curated benefits which can be tailored to meet each Corporate Member’s needs. Whether your priority is to deepen client relationships, forge new connections with our donor network, or raise your organisation’s brand profile among our audience of culturally engaged supporters, we have the ideal option to suit. All Corporate Memberships feature prime seats for the LPO’s London concert season at the Southbank Centre, including exceptional hospitality in the Orchestra’s private Beecham Bar, where you can mingle with our musicians, leadership team and other top LPO supporters. Our top levels of Corporate Membership include access to the Royal Festival Hall’s iconic Foyle Pavilion, where you can host a private meeting or reception for your guests, as well as the option to engage an ensemble of LPO musicians to enhance your next client-facing event or staff celebration. There are even opportunities to get families involved through flexible access to our family concert series, FUNharmonics. The benefits of LPO Corporate Membership continue beyond the glitz and glamour of our London season. Visibility across our print and digital platforms is guaranteed to put your brand before a global audience of millions, while invitations to special events for senior stakeholders provide further opportunities to engage with the LPO’s wider network of affluent and influential supporters away from the concert hall. These are just some of the unique and memorable ways we can support businesses to fulfil their strategic commercial goals and charitable giving mission through our new LPO Corporate Membership scheme. For more information visit lpo.org.uk/support-us/corporate/ corporate-memberships
STAFF UPDATES
Our Stage Management team sees some changes this spring. In December we said goodbye to Deputy Stage Manager Benjamin Wakley, who left the LPO to become Music Stage Supervisor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. In March, Stage & Operations Manager Laura Kitson will also leave the LPO, to take up the position of Operations Manager at Henry Wood Hall. Both Laura and Ben have been outstanding, dedicated colleagues and we will miss them both hugely, but wish them all the very best for their new roles. We look forward to welcoming Gabrielle Slack-Smith as our new Assistant Stage Manager in February. With a background in art and museums, Gabrielle has built her career in logistics across the fine art sector, currently serving as Registrar at the Michael Hoppen Gallery. More recently, she has expanded her experience into the orchestral world through freelance crew work with several UK orchestras. In January we welcome Nicola Stevenson as Concerts & Recordings Assistant. A former professional flautist, Nicola comes to us from the Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra, where she is currently Orchestral Manager & Administrator. In January we welcome Development Director Laura Willis back from her maternity leave. We’d like to say a big thank you to Olivia Highland for doing a fantastic job of leading the Development team in Laura’s absence – Olivia moves on to take up the role of Development Director at the Almeida Theatre. Sadly, we’ll be saying goodbye to Development Co-ordinator Al Levin in January, as they move on to a new role as Senior Development Officer at The London Library. Many of you will know Al from their wonderful work taking care of LPO Friends and Members, and they will be greatly missed! We also take this opportunity to congratulate Holly Eagles on her welldeserved promotion from Development Assistant to Development Co-ordinator in September. Congratulations to Press & PR Manager Georgie Blyth and her husband Joni on the birth of their baby boy, Patrick David Blyth, who arrived on 18 September 2025.
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IN MEMORIAM
We were sad to hear of the death of former LPO First Violin John Kitchen, on 17 August 2025 at the age of 87. Born in Lancaster in 1938, John was initially taught the violin by his father, before studying at the Royal Manchester College of Music with Clifford Knowles. There he was a contemporary of Rodney Friend, who would later become Leader of the LPO. In 1957, after leaving the RMCM, John completed his National Service with the Band of the Grenadier Guards. Aged 21, he became the youngest member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, before joining the London Symphony Orchestra in 1965. In 1968, he moved to Dublin to become Leader of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland (RTÉ), where he met his future wife – the opera singer Patricia Reakes – at the Wexford Festival. In 1971 he returned to the LSO, before joining the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s First Violin section in 1973. In 1977 he moved to the English Chamber Orchestra, before once again returning to the LPO in 1982 (‘Happy to be home again!’). He remained a member of the LPO until his retirement in 2009, after which he focussed on chamber music and teaching. We extend our sympathies to John’s wife Patsy, his daughter Sarah, and all his family and friends.
LPO ADVISORY COUNCIL
In September we welcomed Amna Boheim to the Orchestra’s Advisory Council. Amna is Chair of Trustees for Oasis Charity, and a former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. She has a deep love of music and the arts, and is a passionate advocate for social change at grassroots level. We’re very grateful to her for sharing her experience and knowledge with the LPO.
TUNE IN – AUTUMN / WINTER 2025 –
LPO SPRING 2026
CONCERT LISTINGS SOUTHBANK CENTRE
Supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust.
Unless otherwise stated, all Southbank Centre concerts are at the Royal Festival Hall and start at 7.30pm. See lpo.org.uk for pricing information. LPO Ticket Office: lpo.org.uk 020 7840 4242 (Mon–Fri 10am–5pm) Booking fees apply: £3.50 online, £4 telephone
Southbank Centre Ticket Office: southbankcentre.co.uk 020 3879 9555 Mon–Fri 10am–6pm | Sat–Sun 12pm–5pm Booking fees apply: £3.50 online, £4 telephone. No transaction fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons. Edward Gardner’s position with the LPO in 2025/26 is generously supported by Aud Jebsen. Karina Canellakis’s position with the LPO in 2025/26 is generously supported by Richard Buxton.
Concerts indicated by this icon are part of the ‘Harmony with Nature’ series.
5.00pm | Free pre-concert talk Harmony with the Volcanic World With broadcaster Kate Humble. Book your free tickets at lpo.org.uk Wednesday 21 January 2026 Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Mosolov The Iron Foundry Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Anna Korsun Terricone Prokofiev Symphony No. 2 Vladimir Jurowski conductor Anna Vinnitskaya piano Saturday 24 January 2026 Mahler’s Tenth Mahler Symphony No. 10 (compl. Barshai) Vladimir Jurowski conductor Concert supported by a syndicate of donors.
Saturday 17 January 2026 12 noon FUNharmonics Family Concert: Peter and the Wolf Michael Seal conductor Rachel Leach presenter A classic for a reason, Peter and the Wolf is the perfect example of brilliant music that introduces different instruments of the orchestra through compelling storytelling. Free pre-concert foyer activities from 10am–12 noon (concert ticket-holders only).
Saturday 17 January 2026 6.30pm (Please note start time) The Firebird Rimsky-Korsakov Russian Easter Festival Overture Gustavo Díaz-Jerez Tajogaite (Concerto for Piano and Orchestra) (UK premiere) Stravinsky The Firebird Suite (1945 version)
Friday 30 January 2026 Symphony Kūkai Zou Ye Kūkai Symphony for Orchestra & Chorus Takuo Yuasa conductor Central Conservatory of Music Choir (China) London Philharmonic Choir Tickets available via Southbank Centre Ticket Office and southbankcentre.co.uk only. Wednesday 4 February 2026 Bohemian Rhapsodies Bacewicz Overture* Martinů Violin Concerto No. 2 Lutosławski Symphony No. 4* Janáček Taras Bulba Edward Gardner conductor Josef Špaček violin *Supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor Gustavo Díaz-Jerez piano
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Saturday 7 February 2026 The Wooden Prince Kaprálová Rustic Suite Szymanowski Stabat Mater* Kaprálová Waving Farewell Bartók The Wooden Prince Edward Gardner conductor Galina Cheplakova soprano† Agnieszka Rehlis mezzo-soprano Kostas Smoriginas bass London Philharmonic Choir *Supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.
†Please note change of artist.
6.00pm | Free pre-concert performance LPO Showcase: Foyle Future Firsts The LPO Foyle Future Firsts join students from the Royal Academy of Music and members of the LPO, conducted by Edward Gardner. The programme includes Ligeti’s Melodien and Bartók’s Dance Suite. Wednesday 11 February 2026 Mother Goose Scriabin The Poem of Ecstasy George Benjamin Palimpsests Stravinsky Symphonies of Wind Instruments Ravel Mother Goose (complete ballet) George Benjamin conductor Wednesday 18 February 2026 Anne-Sophie Mutter plays Tchaikovsky Sibelius Pohjola’s Daughter Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Beethoven Symphony No. 7 Karina Canellakis conductor Anne-Sophie Mutter violin Concert generously supported by Sir Simon & Lady Robey CBE.
6.00pm | Free pre-concert performance LPO Showcase: Junior Artists The LPO Junior Artists perform alongside LPO musicians, Foyle Future Firsts and Junior Artist alumni under the baton of LPO Fellow Conductor Wilson Ng.
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LPO SPRING 2026
CONCERT LISTINGS Wednesday 4 March 2026 Tchaikovsky & Sibelius
Saturday 28 March 2026 Beethoven’s Ninth
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 Sibelius Symphony No. 2
Tan Dun Choral Concerto: Nine (UK premiere) Beethoven Symphony No. 9
Paavo Järvi conductor Alexandre Kantorow piano Saturday 21 March 2026 6.30pm | Queen Elizabeth Hall (Please note start time & venue) Four Seasons of Buenos Aires John Luther Adams Become River Clarice Assad Terra: Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra (European premiere) Piazzolla, arr. Desyatnikov The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (with live dance) Pablo Rus Broseta conductor Jonathan Davies bassoon* Alice Ivy-Pemberton violin *LPO chair supported by Sir Simon Robey. Supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust.
5.00pm | Free pre-concert talk Harmony with our Rivers With Jeremy Wade: see page 6 Wednesday 25 March 2026 Voices from Finland Lotta Wennäkoski Zelo (world premiere)* Sibelius Kullervo Robin Ticciati conductor Miina-Liisa Värelä soprano Shenyang bass-baritone YL Male Voice Choir *Commissioned by the London Philharmonic Orchestra
6.00pm | Free pre-concert performance LPO Showcase: Crisis Creates Members of Crisis UK – all adults who have experienced homelessness – perform original music they have devised with LPO musicians and a workshop leader during a week-long creative project.
Tan Dun conductor Elizabeth Watts soprano Hongni Wu mezzo-soprano John Findon tenor Dingle Yandell bass-baritone London Philharmonic Choir London Chinese Philharmonic Choir Wednesday 1 April 2026 Pictures at an Exhibition Mark-Anthony Turnage Three Screaming Popes Bartók Violin Concerto No. 1 Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition Edward Gardner conductor Alina Ibragimova violin Wednesday 8 April 2026 Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony Anna Thorvaldsdottir CATAMORPHOSIS Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 Beethoven Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral) Kirill Karabits conductor Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider violin 6.00pm | Free pre-concert talk Harmony with our Fragile Earth See page 6 Friday 10 April 2026 Brahms’s Double Dvořák In Nature’s Realm Brahms Double Concerto for violin and cello R Schumann Symphony No. 4 Jonathon Heyward conductor Pieter Schoeman violin* Kristina Blaumane cello† *LPO chair supported by Neil Westreich. †LPO chair supported by Bianca & Stuart Roden.
Wednesday 15 April 2026 Queen Elizabeth Hall (please note venue) Carnival of the Animals Dvořák Symphony No. 7 Ryan Carter Piano Concerto (world premiere)* Saint-Saëns The Carnival of the Animals (with film animation by Sandra Albukrek)
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Lidiya Yankovskaya conductor Tomoko Mukaiyama piano Bizjak Piano Duo * This project is supported by the Daniel W. Dietrich ’64 Fund for Innovation in the Arts, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, USA. Supported by Cockayne Grants for the Arts, a Donor Advised Fund, held at The Prism Charitable Trust.
Friday 17 April 2026 Terence Blanchard: A Requiem for Katrina Duke Ellington The River Suite Terence Blanchard A Tale of God’s Will: A Requiem for Katrina Daniela Candillari conductor Terence Blanchard trumpet The Terence Blanchard Quintet 6.00pm | Free pre-concert talk Harmony with our Changing Planet With Gail Whiteman: See page 6 Saturday 25 April 2026 Wozzeck: Wretches Like Us Berg Wozzeck (semi-staged) Edward Gardner conductor Stéphane Degout Wozzeck Annette Dasch Marie Peter Hoare Captain Brindley Sherratt Doctor Christopher Ventris Drum Major Eirik Grøtvedt Andres Adrian Thompson The Fool Kitty Whately Margret London Voices Concert supported by a syndicate of donors. Part of the Southbank Centre’s Multitudes Festival.
Sunday 17 May 2026 | 12 noon FUNharmonics Family Concert: Stan and Mabel and the Race for Space Nefeli Chadouli conductor Polly Ives presenter Join music-loving dog and cat Stan and Mabel for an orchestral adventure for all the family. Free pre-concert foyer activities from 10am–12 noon (concert ticket-holders only).
TUNE IN – SPRING / SUMMER 2026 –
LPO SPRING 2026
CONCERT LISTINGS Wednesday 15 July 2026 | 7.30pm Queen Elizabeth Hall Debut Sounds
Sunday 15 February 2026 | 3.30pm Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden Programme as 14 February Brighton
LPO Young Composers 2025/26 debut their new works, performed by LPO players and Foyle Future Firsts, conducted by William Cole.
Saturday 14 March 2026 | 7.30pm Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Tickets on sale from later in the spring LPO Debut Sounds 2025/26 receives support from Luke Gardiner.
AROUND THE UK Thursday 15 January 2026 | 6.30pm St John’s Church, Waterloo, SE1 8TY The Chamber Sessions: More than meets the eye Book via LPO Ticket Office (see page 13) Langlais Suite Bretonne Stanley Selection from Six Concertos in Seven Parts Sarah Lianne Lewis the blue and the dim and the dark Holst St Paul’s Suite Ben Lunn conductor Players from the LPO Generously supported by TIOC Foundation
Sunday 18 January 2026 | 3.00pm Congress Theatre, Eastbourne Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5, K219 (Turkish) Beethoven Symphony No. 2 Erina Yashima conductor Maria Włoszczowska violin Sunday 8 February 2026 | 3.00pm Congress Theatre, Eastbourne Elgar Sospiri; Cello Concerto; Enigma Variations Edward Gardner conductor Jan Vogler cello Saturday 14 February 2026 | 7.30pm Brighton Dome Concert Hall Selection of songs by Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter and more. Wilson Ng conductor* Danielle de Niese soprano 6.45pm | Free pre-concert event Join us for a special free performance in the foyer, given by young musicians from Create Music, part of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival and the Hub Lead Organisation for the Sussex Music Hub.
Felix Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune Stravinsky Firebird Suite (1919 version) Dionysis Grammenos conductor Lukas Sternath piano Sunday 15 March 2026 | 3.00pm Congress Theatre, Eastbourne Programme as 14 March Brighton Sunday 29 March 2026 | 5.00pm Symphony Hall, Birmingham Tan Dun Choral Concerto: Nine Beethoven Symphony No. 9 Tan Dun conductor Elizabeth Watts soprano Hongni Wu mezzo-soprano John Findon tenor Dingle Yandell bass-baritone London Philharmonic Choir London Chinese Philharmonic Choir Saturday 11 April 2026 | 7.30pm Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden Dvořák In Nature’s Realm Brahms Double Concerto for violin and cello R Schumann Symphony No. 4 Jonathon Heyward conductor Pieter Schoeman violin* Kristina Blaumane cello† *LPO chair supported by Neil Westreich. †LPO chair supported by Bianca & Stuart Roden.
Sunday 19 April 2026 | 3.00pm Congress Theatre, Eastbourne Price Andante moderato for string orchestra Barber Knoxville: Summer of 1915 Gershwin Selections from Porgy and Bess Sibelius Symphony No. 1 Nefeli Chadouli conductor* Nadine Benjamin soprano *LPO Fellow Conductor 2025/26. The LPO Conducting Fellowship is generously supported by Dunard Fund.
ON TOUR
Friday 20 February 2026 | 8.00pm Philharmonie, Cologne, Germany Sibelius Pohjola’s Daughter Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Beethoven Symphony No. 7 Karina Canellakis conductor Anne-Sophie Mutter violin Saturday 21 February 2026 | 8.00pm Tonhalle, Düsseldorf, Germany Sunday 22 February 2026 | 7.30pm Philharmonie, Luxembourg Tuesday 24 February 2026 | 8.00pm Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany Wednesday 25 February 2026 | 8.00pm Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, Germany Beethoven Overture, The Creatures of Prometheus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 Karina Canellakis conductor Alexander Malofeev piano Thursday 26 February 2026 | 7.30pm Congress Centrum, Hanover, Germany Friday 27 February 2026 | 8.00pm Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Germany Saturday 28 February 2026 | 7.30pm Musikverein, Vienna, Austria Programmes as 20 February Thursday 5 March 2026 | 7.30pm National Concert Hall, Budapest, Hungary Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 Sibelius Symphony No. 2 Paavo Järvi conductor Alexandre Kantorow piano Saturday 7 March 2026 | 8.30pm Megaron Concert Hall, Athens, Greece Programme as 5 March Monday 25 May 2026 | 8.00pm Kulturpalast, Dresden, Germany Elgar Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 1 Edward Gardner conductor Nicola Benedetti violin Tuesday 26 May 2026 | 7.30pm Kulturpalast, Dresden, Germany Hannah Kendall The Spark Catchers Elgar Cello Concerto; Symphony No. 2 Edward Gardner conductor Jan Vogler cello
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LPO FAMILY
BACKSTAGE Your first appearance with the LPO was in 2022, when – still a student at the Royal Academy of Music – you stepped in at short notice as the soloist in Knussen’s Horn Concerto in a Royal Festival Hall concert with Ed Gardner. How did it feel to get that call? How long did you have to prepare, and what was it like stepping onto the stage that day?
Your performance received fantastic reviews, and clearly made a great impression, as shortly afterwards you were appointed joint Principal Horn of the Orchestra. How have you found your first two seasons with the LPO – any standout moments or surprises? I’ve really enjoyed my first few seasons, and I’ve definitely learnt a lot since I started. It’s been fun to experience lots of things for the first time, both in terms of repertoire and touring destinations – I’d never been to Japan or America before, for example. There are some amazing horn parts in the orchestral repertoire, so my standout moments would be getting to play those – works like Mahler 5, Tchaikovsky 5 and Beethoven 3, to name a few.
Physically, it’s always about finding a balance between practising enough to feel prepared and stay in shape, but not playing too much and exhausting the muscles – it’s quite a fine line! Mentally, if I know I’ve practised and prepared enough, then I can usually overcome the nerves and trust that it will go well. And if something does go wrong – which it inevitably sometimes will, as that’s just the nature of the instrument – then I just try to accept it and not let it put me off. Last month saw a major LPO tour to South Korea. Do you enjoy touring?
ANNEMARIE FEDERLE
Annemarie has been Principal Horn of the LPO since 2023. She is also Principal Horn of Aurora Orchestra, and since reaching the final of the 2020 BBC Young Musician competition has also enjoyed a diverse solo career. You’ve achieved so much at such a young age, having had successes in BBC Young Musician and many other international competitions, and appeared with prestigious orchestras across the UK and Europe – what drew you to the horn in the first place? How did your musical journey begin? My parents aren’t professional musicians, but they love music and both play the violin, so I was always surrounded by music during my childhood. In Cambridge, where I grew up, there was a local brass ensemble called Prime Brass who gave lots of family concerts that we would go to, and I think l just liked the look of the horn. Supposedly I also had very strong lungs as a baby, so I was told l would make a good wind player! As I grew up, I played in many local ensembles, including three years in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, after which I went to study at the Royal Academy of Music.
I love touring, especially when we travel to amazing places like South Korea. The best things are eating delicious local cuisine – in Korea that was bibimbap, Korean barbecue and fried chicken, to name a few – or having time to do some sightseeing and exploring the local culture and nature, if the schedule allows it. Often, however, we travel from city to city with back-to-back concerts, and, combined with jetlag and difficult repertoire, it can be tricky to find the time to enjoy the new cities! Which LPO Royal Festival Hall concerts this spring are you particularly excited about? I’m especially looking forward to our concert with Vladimir Jurowski on 24 January, when we’re playing a completed version of Mahler’s Tenth Symphony. I played this once in a local orchestra when l was still at school, and I remember it being one of the best horn parts I’ve ever played. I love Mahler’s music, so I’m really excited to be doing it again. Do you have a favourite piece for horn – either as a performer or listener? One of my favourite pieces, both to perform and to listen to, is Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. It’s so cleverly written – the sound of the horn and the tenor voice work together really well, and combined with Britten’s harmonic language and the beautiful poetic texts, it produces a truly unique, atmospheric soundworld. ANNEMARIE’S CHAIR IN THE LPO IS SUPPORTED BY VICTORIA ROBEY CBE.
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 – 16 –
Photograph © Olivia Da Costa
It was all a bit of a whirlwind! The booked soloist had to drop out a day before the concert due to COVID, so the LPO were desperately trying to find a replacement. The Knussen isn’t one of the ‘standard’ horn concertos and is notoriously quite tricky, but my teachers at the time knew that I’d prepared it for a competition about a year earlier, so they passed on my name. This felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I had nothing to lose, really – so I agreed to do it! I had about three hours to remember how the piece went before heading to the LPO rehearsal that evening. The next morning we had a rehearsal in the Royal Festival Hall, followed by the concert in the evening. It was definitely nerveracking, but of course everyone in the Orchestra and the audience knew that I was a last-minute replacement, so I just thought, if it doesn’t go perfectly then people will understand … but it ended up going very well! I’d only played the piece with piano accompaniment before then, so being able to perform it with the LPO and Ed Gardner was a thrilling experience!
How do you mentally and physically prepare for performances – especially when the horn can be such an unpredictable instrument?