Beth Taylor’s commanding Sea Pictures with the London Philharmonic

Beth Taylor, Edward Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Edward Gardner conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

By Nick Boston, 27 November 2025

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“a superlative performance”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 26 November 2025

Elgar, In the South (Alassio) - Concert Overture for orchestra, Op.50

Elgar, Sea Pictures, Op.37

Elgar, Sospiri for string orchestra and harp, Op.70

Elgar, Enigma Variations on an Original Theme for Orchestra, Op.36

Edward Gardner, Conductor

Beth Taylor, Mezzo-soprano

London Philharmonic Orchestra

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Paavo Järvi demonstrates just why the London Philharmonic Orchestra has chosen him as its next Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor.

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Mengguang Huang, 24th February

Anne-Sophie Mutter’s commanding presence meet the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s exceptional adaptability, yielding a concert that balances tradition-steeped authority with modern transparency, rhythmic vitality and the orchestra’s own electrifying spontaneity.

****1

Phoenix Lands: the London Philharmonic blazes with energy

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Edward Gardner’s Bacewicz, Martinů, Lutosławski and Janáček set the Royal Festival Hall ablaze.

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Peter Quantrill, 24th January

Retrospection held at bay by the conductor’s unusual choice of Rudolf Barshai's completion to Mahler’s last symphony.

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Explosive performances from Vladimir Jurowski and the LPO

Chris Garlick, 21st January

Jurowski took a full-on approach in the first movement, grinding through the discords without shame and only pulling back in those rare moments in the score where everyone is catching their breath.

****1

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The LPO tackled California wildfires and star-crossed lovers in a theatrical evening at the Royal Festival Hall.

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Nick Boston

Nick has an MA in Music, specialising in performance and repertoire. His particular passions are choral music, chamber music and opera, with a particular interest in early music. He sings in a number of choirs in the south east of England, plays the piano and occasionally dusts off the violin. He writes about music here.

Beth Taylor’s commanding Sea Pictures the highlight of the LPO’s all-Elgar evening