The Barbican Hall witnessed an extraordinary evening of contemporary classical music as the London Symphony Orchestra presented three world premieres in a programme showcasing the very best of its LSO Futures initiative.
A Triumph of New Music
Under the assured baton of conductor Maxime Pascal, this landmark concert demonstrated the LSO's commitment to nurturing new compositional talent. The programme featured debut works by Omri Kochavi and Sasha Scott, both commissioned through the Helen Hamlyn Panufnik Composers' Scheme, which celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year.
The evening also featured South Korean virtuoso Seong-Jin Cho as part of his LSO Artist Portrait series, delivering a spectacular performance in the world premiere of Donghoon Shin's Piano Concerto.
Compelling Premieres Take Centre Stage
Israeli composer Omri Kochavi's Gilufim (Hebrew for 'carvings') presented a fascinating musical transformation. The piece evolved from dense orchestral textures, gradually sculpted by the persistent rhythms of an effervescent marimba and the crackling sounds of a nut shaker representing fire.
Sasha Scott's Sly explored the unsettling territory between sleep and consciousness. The work enveloped listeners in woozy sound masses punctuated by sinister orchestral slides and nightmarish passages, before a vibraphone introduction triggered a shift towards uneasy awareness.
Shin's Piano Concerto Stuns Audience
The evening's centrepiece proved to be Donghoon Shin's arresting new Piano Concerto, featuring Seong-Jin Cho as soloist. The opening movement paid homage to Robert Schumann's famous musical personalities, with Cho's virtuoso display vividly portraying the struggle between the impulsive Florestan and contemplative Eusebius.
The concerto's crushing funeral march demonstrated both the pianist's muscular power and manual dexterity, while the capering finale cast him as the willing protagonist in a surreal orchestral farce. Cho's performance cemented his reputation as one of today's most dynamic and compelling pianists.
Boulez Masterpiece Concludes Evening
The programme concluded with Pierre Boulez's Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna, marking the grand finale of the LSO's Boulez centenary celebrations. This intricate masterpiece featured seven verses and responses performed by eight spatially separated ensembles, backed by an immense array of Chinese funeral gongs.
Conductor Maxime Pascal, who worked closely with Boulez, directed the complex instrumental groups with precision and authority. Though fundamentally a sad work, its extraordinary palette of colour and light provided a compelling tribute to the deeply respected artist Bruno Maderna.
This concert represented the LSO Futures programme at its most effective – championing new voices while maintaining the highest standards of musical excellence that have made the London Symphony Orchestra one of the world's leading ensembles.
