The Southbank Centre's Multitudes festival delivered a thunderous evening as the Philharmonia Orchestra, led by conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, joined forces with rock icons Suzi Quatro, Mr Lordi, and Alison Mosshart for a concert that fused classical masterpieces with heavy metal anthems. The event, titled Forged in Sound: Heavy Metal Orchestrated, took place at the Royal Festival Hall and drew a diverse crowd blending band T-shirts, black lipstick, and leather with office wear and fleeces.
A Loud Evening Ahead
Mark Ball, the Southbank Centre's artistic director, warned the audience, "You're in for a very loud evening," prompting cheers from the crowd. While the decibel levels might not have been extreme for rock veterans, the concert highlighted the spectacular power of a full orchestra. Attendees marveled at the sound, with one remarking after the first half, "You think, 'where's that sound coming from, then?'"
Orchestral Power Meets Rock Energy
The Philharmonia swapped traditional white tie and tails for leather jackets and band merchandise, while Rouvali appeared after intermission with heavy eyeliner. The performance reveled in the power of sound, from Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, where amplified strings initially sounded tinny, to a thunderous arrangement with electric guitars, bass, and drums behind Perspex shields that boosted Wagner's bass and rhythmic drive.
Classical hits like Holst's Mars, Mahler's Fifth Adagietto, and Vivaldi's Summer Presto were juxtaposed with symphonic rock arrangements. The strings and harp provided cosmic shimmer in Metallica's Orion, while trumpet squeals enlivened Suzi Quatro's Can the Can. Quatro delivered more punk than pitch in her own song but impressed with her alto profundo in Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door. Mosshart and Mr Lordi added star power, with Lordi commanding audience clap-alongs.
Rouvali's Dynamic Leadership
The concert's success ultimately rested on Rouvali's energetic engagement. A former rock drummer, he swapped his podium for the drumkit during Lordi's Eurovision-winning Hard Rock Hallelujah, driving the concert to a close from the engine room of rock. The Multitudes festival continues at the Southbank Centre until 30 April.
