Made in America: Mälkki, Josefowicz and the LSO in a fine showcase

Leila Josefowicz and the London Symphony Orchestra

Susanna Mälkki conducts the London Symphony Orchestra

By Roy Westbrook, 19 May 2025

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“Josefowicz seemed quite untroubled by any such technical hurdles in her highly accomplished reading”

Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 18 May 2025

Perry, A Short Piece for Orchestra

Stravinsky, Violin Concerto in D major

Bartók, Concerto for Orchestra, Sz 116

Susanna Mälkki, Conductor

Leila Josefowicz, Violin

London Symphony Orchestra

Han Kang’s The White Book takes on a compelling new life

Peter Quantrill, 5th March

At the Barbican, Laura Bowler's new work for Barbara Hannigan translates Han Kang's novel into a soundscape of icy stillness

****1

A curious evening from Noseda, Kopatchinskaja and the LSO

Mark Valencia, 26th February

Good, bad, but never ugly, a curious evening unfolds at the Barbican, inspired at times, ill-judged in places.

***11

Borodin steps into the symphonic limelight: Noseda and the LSO

Mark Pullinger, 15th February

Seong-Jin Cho continues his Artist Portrait series with the LSO by performing Chopin's poetic Second Piano Concerto.

****1

Rattle and the LSO sell a travel package to Hungary and Spain

Roy Westbrook, 18th January

Opening her LSO Artist Portrait series, Patricia Kopatchinskaja plays Béla Bartók’s Second Violin Concerto before Rattle and the LSO whisk the audience to Falla’s Andalusia.

****1

Rare Vaughan Williams from Pappano and the LSO

Chris Garlick, 7th December

Tchaikovsky and Vaughan Williams make rare bedfellows, but Pappano's grip on these disparate scores impresses, with the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra on wondrous form.

****1

Top drawer French music from Ott, Bloch and the LSO

Roy Westbrook, 27th November

Debussy and Ravel frame a performance of Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra as Alexandre Bloch guests with the London Symphony Orchestra.

****1

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.

Made in America: Susanna Mälkki, Leila Josefowicz and the LSO in a fine showcase