Conductor: Karina Canellakis
As part of the London Philharmonic’s 2024/25 season, Moments Remembered is a series of concerts that sits at the crossroads between music and memory, pieces that are inspired by the past or enable us to remember and reflect on our history. The season includes pieces that address many major historical events and people, from the holocaust to Napoleon, but also more intimate and private reflections and memories. Over the course of 15 programmes that blend the iconic with the relatively unknown, Moments Remembered aims to create a ‘curated gallery of sonic memory’.
In this evening’s performance, we’re taken on a journey from dark introspection to grand romantic nostalgia through two acclaimed, but rather different composers. Proceedings kick off with Schumann’s Overture, Manfred, inspired by Lord Byron’s dramatic poem, Manfred. The overture reflects the hero grappling with loss, guilt, and memory, something that closely mirrored Schumann’s own experiences with inner turmoil.
It’s followed by Schumann’s Cello Concerto, featuring lead cellist Truls Mørk. It’s a deeply lyrical piece that conveys a reflective journey composed when Schumann was, briefly, at personal peace. It captures moments of gentleness and longing, interweaving themes of melancholy and hope.
The concert takes a significant shift in its conclusion by moving from Schumann to Bruckner. His Fourth Symphony, known as the “Romantic”, is a big, bold, grand exploration of nature and spirituality. From its hunting themes to its regal fanfares, it evokes memories of an idyllic past and drives to a transcendent, almost futuristic celebration. If they ever crossed Star Wars and National Velvet, this could be its soundtrack.
As a whole, the evening takes us on a journey from painful reflections to cherished memories as Schumann’s intense introspections give way to Bruckner’s communal remembrance. The performances are led by Karina Canellakis, Chief Conductor at the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Principal Guest Conductor at the London Philharmonic. Her widespread acclaim for balancing technical control with vibrant energy is perfect for the migration from Schumann to Bruckner, bringing both the depth and intensity of the former with the expansive grandeur of the latter.
As an evening dedicated to memory, the Schumann/Bruckner double-bill is an evocative journey from inner memories to shared experiences.
Reviewed on 30 October 2024
The Reviews Hub Score
Reflective and evocative
