Composers: Antonín Dvořák, Ryan Carter and Camille Saint-Saëns
Conductor: Lidiya Yankovskaya
Piano: Tomoko Mukaiyama & Bizjak Piano Duo
There’s humour and warmth in Saint-Saëns colourful Carnival of the Animals – and in a night including a journey across the Czech countryside and a contemporary piano concerto, the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s exploration of music and nature provides a charming evening of harmony and animation.
It is fitting for the Southbank Centre’s ‘Harmony with Nature’ programming that upon entering the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Zoological Society of London is celebrating 200 years of the ZSL with a concert in the lobby. The archival footage of tigers and elephants in the zoo feels an appropriate starter for the evening ahead.
But first, inside the QEH, it is the sweeping countryside of Dvořák’s native Bohemia to which the audience is transported. The LPO, helmed by Lidiya Yankovskaya, is in full force across the movements of the lesser-known Symphony No.7. The phrases move from lyrical to driving, and the drama, mixed with sweetness, makes for a very engaging 40 minutes.
Dvořák is followed by a world premiere of Ryan Carter’s piano concerto, with the extremely capable Tomoko Mukaiyama on the keys. Mukaiyama brings energy to Carter’s fresh creation, and with the full force of the LPO, the music moves quickly from dramatic and dynamic to sinister and sparse. It’s an intriguing and sometimes unsettling new work that leaves an impression.
It is not often you hear the audience at a concert like this giggling, but that is the effect of Carnival of the Animals, the headline act of the evening, as it were. From the waltzing elephant to a tussle with a donkey, and the lithe swan, the mischief and beauty of the music are balanced wonderfully. The Serbian sisters who make up the Bizjak Piano Duo (Lidija & Sanja Bizjak) are a force with the LPO. Sandra Albukrek’s animations are saturated with colour and spectacle, and equally balance the humour and beauty of Saint-Saëns’ playful pieces. It is lovely and entertaining, and perfect for any age.
Both instances of animation are interesting, but they don’t flow like the music. The electronic and spare animation accompanying Carter’s piano concerto feels slightly out of sync, or at least slightly unexplained. Taking the audience’s eyes away from the LPO and Mukaiyama somewhat makes it feel like the equivalent of the Gen Z phenomenon of only being able to watch a long video if it is a split screen of someone playing a game. In short, a good move for those with shorter attention spans. It isn’t necessarily a bad effect, just a surprising one – and perhaps not needed. Albukrek’s colourful creations are lovely, but they would feel more polished if they flowed between the 14 short movements.
But it’s a wonderful night of music and nature, and the Southbank Centre’s programming doesn’t fail to entertain and educate.
Reviewed on 15 April 2026
