LSO, Gardiner, Barbican Hall | reviews, news & interviews
LSO, Gardiner, Barbican Hall
LSO, Gardiner, Barbican Hall
Explosive Beethoven from Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the LSO
18th-century manners, 21st-century instruments - the best of both worlds or a clear conflict of purpose? One would hardly expect a period specialist of Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s calibre and London’s most dynamic orchestra, the LSO, to be citing irreconcilable differences – and last night they didn’t. Their accounts of Beethoven’s first and last symphonies were, to say the least, explosive. But they were a good deal more, too, and the Ninth Symphony might well have startled, certainly thrilled, even Beethoven.
18th-century manners, 21st-century instruments - the best of both worlds or a clear conflict of purpose? One would hardly expect a period specialist of Sir John Eliot Gardiner’s calibre and London’s most dynamic orchestra, the LSO, to be citing irreconcilable differences – and last night they didn’t. Their accounts of Beethoven’s first and last symphonies were, to say the least, explosive. But they were a good deal more, too, and the Ninth Symphony might well have startled, certainly thrilled, even Beethoven.
Add comment
The future of Arts Journalism
You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!
We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d
And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
more
![](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Screenshot%202024-10-30%20at%2017-39-09%20theartsdesk.com%20%28%40the_arts_desk%29%20%E2%80%A2%20Instagram%20photos%20and%20videos.png?itok=W02US5i5)
![Rats on Rafts' 'Deep Below': the 4AD-style sleeve image may be no coincidence](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Rats%20on%20Rafts%20Deep%20Below_1000.jpg?itok=V-IPY6mG)
![A whole new ballgame: Leonie Benesch and John Magaro in 'September 5'](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Munich%201.jpg?itok=nA5LU0SH)
![Dysfunctional family: Count Almaviva's household loses its grip on sanity in Joe Hill-Gibbins' production](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/rsz_the_cast_of_eno%E2%80%99s_the_marriage_of_figaro_2025_%C2%A9_zoe_martin_1.jpg?itok=48dgt3uM)
![To life: Tim McMullan and Alison Halstead in rehearsal](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/morelife1.jpg?itok=Kudmr4l5)
![Mismatch: Rami Malek as Oedipus and Indira Varma as Jocasta](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Rami%20Malek%20%28Oedipus%29%20and%20Indira%20Varma%20%28Jocasta%29%20in%20Oedipus%20at%20The%20Old%20Vic%20%282025%29.%20Photo%20by%20Manuel%20Harlan_0.jpg?itok=51b1i5d7)
![Twlight: woozy](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Hi_Fi_Sean_David_McAlmont_Twilight.jpg?itok=2_Bw-1Fm)
![Boyd's doorstop of a book](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/boyd.jpg?itok=6iWELHRb)
!['The personal stories of life in the city and self-realisation sneak up on you '](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/unnamed-8_2.jpg?itok=P0JhC-6n)
![Miriam Grace Edwards in 'Mrs President' - What? He's won again?](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Miriam%20Grace%20Edwards%20in%20Mrs%20President%20%28credit%20Pamela%20Raith%29.jpg?itok=GeE5e6CJ)
![Beneath notice: Reece Clarke as Eugene Onegin and Marianela Nuñez as Tatiana in John Cranko's 1965 ballet 'Onegin'](https://theartsdesk.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/mastimages/Reece%20Clarke%20%28Eugene%20Onegin%29%2C%20Marianela%20Nun%CC%83ez%20%28Tatiana%29%20in%20Onegin%20%C2%A92025%20ROH.%20Ph%20Andrej%20Uspenski%20%283%29.jpg?itok=lc8fkuJx)
Comments
...
...
...