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Home , London Symphony Chorus, Richard Hickox, Simon Halsey

Wednesday 12 February 2020 2 Half Six Fix Welcome to tonight’s Half Six Fix, a different way to experience the Orchestra, with introductions from our Music Director and tonight’s conductor Sir , screens showcasing the performers, and programme notes on your phone. Grab a drink, take your seat and enjoy the concert!

12 February 2020 3 Tonight’s Concert Wednesday 12 February 2020 6.30pm, Barbican

THE PROGRAMME DIGITAL PROGRAMME NOTES

Beethoven Symphony No 9, ‘Choral’ Explore the stories behind tonight’s music with our digital programme notes. You can Sir Simon Rattle conductor & presenter access these on your phone by visiting Iwona Sobotka soprano lso.co.uk/notes, connecting to the ‘LSO Half Anna Stéphany mezzo-soprano Six Fix’ WiFi network in the , Robert Murray tenor and following the on-screen instructions. Florian Boesch baritone Feel free to scroll through and learn about chorus director tonight’s music as we play. But so that London Symphony Orchestra everyone can have the best experience, we ask that you set your phone to silent and don’t use other apps during the music.

Let us know what you think using #LSOHalfSixFix Part of Beethoven 250 at the Barbican Please Note Photography, recording and filming are not permitted during the performance. Phones and devices may be used to access the programme notes, and photographs may be taken during applause at the end of the concert. We ask that audience members set their phones to #LSOHalfSixFix silent and turn notifications off.

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

We’d love to get your thoughts on this evening’s concert. Visit lso.co.uk/halfsixfix to fill out our short survey.

4 Half Six Fix Half Six Fix Coming Up

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT Wednesday 18 March 6.30pm, Barbican

There are bars on all levels open before and Bartók Dance Suite after tonight’s concert – and you can bring Bartók The Wooden Prince your drinks into the hall. The Martini Bar on Level 1 is open until 10.30pm. François-Xavier Roth conductor & presenter

There is also a range of restaurants and cafés on-site, including the cafeteria-style Wednesday 22 April 6.30pm, Barbican Barbican Kitchen on Level G, restaurant and bar Bonfire on Level 1, and Italian fine Bartók Concerto for Orchestra dining at Osteria on Level 2. Sir Simon Rattle conductor & presenter

LSO PIONEERS Half Six Fix is recommended by Classic FM

The LSO has launched a membership programme aimed at those aged under 45 LSO STRING EXPERIENCE SCHEME who share our belief in the transformative power of music and want to be a part of Since 1992, the LSO String Experience our future success. Scheme has enabled young string players from the London music conservatoires While supporting the Orchestra’s at the start of their professional careers vital work, LSO Pioneers will have the to gain work experience by playing in opportunity to meet like-minded young rehearsals and concerts with the LSO. professionals, to grow and share their The musicians are treated as professional appreciation of classical music, and ‘extra’ players (additional to LSO members) to build valuable social and business and receive fees for their work in line with networks. To find out more, please LSO section players. visit lso.co.uk/pioneers. The Scheme is supported by: The Polonsky Foundation Derek Hill Foundation Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust Thistle Trust Idlewild Trust

Performing tonight are: Anthony Poon Henry Hargreaves Harry Atkinson

12 February 2020 5 Composer Profile 1770–1827

n his early twenties Beethoven left his native Bonn for Vienna, where he became established as a composer, piano virtuoso and improviser of great ability. Largely following the Classical models of Haydn and Mozart in his ‘early’ period, he recognised signs of his impending deafness as early as 1796.

In 1802, he set out his suffering and alienation, his thoughts of suicide and his creative resolve in his Heiligenstadt Testament. His ‘middle’ period was characterised by a broadening of form and an extension of harmony to suit his proto-Romantic expression, spawning the Nos 2 to 8, notable piano sonatas, several string quartets and his only opera, Fidelio.

He produced less music in his ‘late’ period (from 1813) but his last years saw his mould-breaking ‘Choral’ Symphony and an exploration of increasing profundity in the more intimate mediums of the string ‘There is no other symphony quartet and piano sonata. I know of that starts from such enormous, crushing weight and gets lighter and lighter. ’

Sir Simon Rattle

6 Half Six Fix

Symphony No 9 in D minor Op 125, ‘Choral’ 1823–24

1 Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso BEETHOVEN 250 AT THE BARBICAN 2 Scherzo: Molto vivace 3 Adagio molto e cantabile This season the Barbican, London 4 Presto – Allegro ma non troppo – Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Vivace – Adagio cantabile Orchestra, Academy of Ancient Music and Guildhall School celebrate 250 Almost 200 years after its first performance, years since the birth of Beethoven. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony remains one of the most radical statements in Visit barbican.org.uk/beethoven250 classical music. The symphonic arena in for details of forthcoming concerts. Beethoven’s time was no place for voices, but four soloists and a gatecrash the symphony’s finale to hymn the message of Friedrich Schiller’s poem ‘Ode to Joy’. By the end, joy is unbounded, ecstatic: a force that promises to join all humankind ‘in one embrace’.

But the Ninth’s power doesn’t rest on its finale alone. The first movement opens in a formless void, pierced by thunderbolts that can belong only to the elemental force of Creation. The second movement has the light, playful elements of a traditional scherzo while in addition suggesting supernatural forces at play; it also features barking timpani. The third-movement Adagio brings a lyricism that looks forward to the Romanticism of Mahler.

Then comes the finale. It bursts in with a storm, out of which cellos and double basses desperately aspire to vocal expression. Snatches of themes from each PROGRAMME NOTES BY EDWARD BHESANIA of the three previous movements return, Edward Bhesania is a writer and editor but they are rejected in favour of a new who reviews for The Strad and The Stage. song. This is the unifying ‘Ode to Joy’ tune. He has also written for The Observer, You’ll probably be humming it on your way BBC Music Magazine, International Piano, home tonight. The Tablet and Country Life.

12 February 2020 7 Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No 9, ‘Choral’ Text

4 Finale 4 Finale O Freunde, nicht diese Töne! O friends! Not these sounds! Sondern lasst uns angenehmere anstimmen But let us strike up more pleasant sounds und freundenvollere! and more joyful!

Freude, schöner Götterfunken, Joy, o wondrous spark divine, Tochter aus Elysium, Daughter of Elysium, Wir betreten feuertrunken, Drunk with fire now we enter, Himmlische dein Heiligtum. Heavenly one, your holy shrine. Deine Zauber binden wieder, Your magic powers join again Was die Mode streng geteilt; What fashion strictly did divide; Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Brotherhood unites all men Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt. Where your gentle wings spread wide.

Wem der grosse Wurf gelungen, The man who’s been so fortunate Eines Freundes Freund zu sein, To become the friend of a friend, Wer ein holdes Weib errungen, The man who has won a fair woman – Mische seine Jubel ein! To the rejoicing let him add his voice. Ja – wer auch nur eine Seele The man who calls but a single soul Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund! Somewhere in the world his own! Und wer’s nie gekonnt, der stehle And he who never managed this – Weinend sich aus diesem Bund! Let him steal forth from our throng!

Freude trinken alle Wesen Joy is drunk by every creature An den Brüsten der Natur, From Nature’s fair and charming breast; Alle Guten, alle Bösen Every being, good or evil, Folgen ihre Rosenspur. Follows in her rosy steps. Küsse gab sie uns und Reben, Kisses she gave to us, and vines, Einen Freund, geprüft im Tod, And one good friend, tried in death; Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben, The serpent she endowed with base desire Und der Cherub steht vor Gott. And the cherub stands before God.

8 Half Six Fix Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen Gladly as His suns do fly Durch das Himmels prächt’gen Plan, Through the heavens’ splendid plan, Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn, Run now, brothers, your own course, Freudig wie ein Held zum Siegen. Joyful like a conquering hero

Seid umschlungen, Millionen! Embrace each other now, you millions! Diesen Kuss der ganzen Welt! The kiss is for the whole wide world! Brüder – überm Sternenzelt Brothers – over the starry firmament Muss ein lieber Vater wohnen. A beloved Father must surely dwell.

Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen? Do you come crashing down, you millions? Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt? Do you sense the Creator’s presence, world? Such ihn überm Sternenzelt, Seek Him above the starry firmament, Über Sternen muss er wohnen. For above the stars he surely dwells.

12 February 2020 9 Sir Simon Rattle Iwona Sobotka Conductor Soprano

ir Simon Rattle was born in Liverpool wona Sobotka achieved and studied at the Royal Academy international acclaim as the of Music. From 1980 to 1998, he was Grand Prize winner of the Queen Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser of Elisabeth International Music Competition the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Belgium.Other awards include First and was appointed Music Director in 1990. Prize at the Warsaw Polish Art Song In 2002, he took up the position of Artistic Competition and First Prize at the East Director and Chief Conductor of the Berlin & West Artists International Auditions Philharmonic where he remained until the in New York, resulting in her debut at end of the 2017/18 season. He became Carnegie Hall. Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra in September 2017. Highlights of her 2019/20 season include, among others, concerts with the Berlin Sir Simon regularly tours within Europe, Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle in North America and Asia, and has long- Beethoven’s Christ on the Mount of Olives, standing relationships with the world’s the LSO at Festspiele Baden-Baden, the leading orchestras. Initially working closely Orchestre Philharmonique de Luxembourg with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and under Marek Janowski in Strauss’ Vier Boston Symphony Orchestras, Simon has letzte Lieder, her debut at the Tokyo also recently worked with the Philadelphia Spring Festival under Marek Janowski Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera. in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis and at Sir Simon is also a Principal Artist of the the Bayreuther Festspiele under Marek Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Janowski in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. and Founding Patron of Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. She will perform as Pamina in world famous Barrie Kosky’s production of Mozart’s The Sir Simon Rattle was knighted in 1994. In the Magic Flute with the Komische Oper Berlin New Year’s Honours of 2014 he received the on tour to Macao, Taiwan and Spain. Order of Merit from Her Majesty the Queen.

10 Half Six Fix Anna Stéphany Robert Murray Mezzo-soprano Tenor

nglo-French mezzo-soprano Anna obert Murray won second prize in Stéphany studied at the Guildhall the Kathleen Ferrier Awards 2003 School of Music, where she was a and was a Jette Parker Young Artist recipient of the Gold Medal. She represented at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. England at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and is a Kathleen Ferrier Award winner. He has sung for the Royal Opera House, , Opera North, Anna was previously a member of the Garsington, Welsh National Opera, ensemble at Opernhaus Zürich, where Norwegian Opera, Hamburg State Opera she frequently returns as a guest artist. and Salzburg Festival; in concert and Further operatic appearances include Sesto recital for Wigmore Hall, the Newbury, Two (Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito) and Sesto Moors, Brighton, Aldeburgh and Edinburgh (Handel’s Giulio Cesare) at the Glyndebourne festivals, London Symphony Orchestra with Festival, and Octavian (Strauss’ Der Sir Simon Rattle, Simón Bolívar Symphony Rosenkavalier) at the Bolshoi in Moscow, Orchestra with Gustavo Dudamel, Le the Royal Swedish Opera, Covent Garden Concert D’Astrée with Emmanuelle Haïm, and in Zürich. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra with Sir , Rotterdam In her 2019/20 season, Anna returns Philharmonic Orchestra with Yannick to Glyndebourne Festival as Ruggiero Nézet-Séguin, Philharmonia Orchestra with (Handel’s Alcina). On the concert platform Esa-Pekka Salonen and the BBC Symphony performances include Mendelssohn’s Orchestra with Sir . Elijah with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducted by Masaaki Engagements for the 2019/20 season Suzuki, Mozart’s with Stiftung include the Royal Opera House, Covent Mozarteum Salzburg and Elgar’s The Dream Garden, the title role in Mozart’s Mitridate of Gerontius with the City of Birmingham for Garsington Opera, and concerts with Symphony Orchestra. the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

12 February 2020 11 Florian Boesch Simon Halsey Baritone Chorus Director

ustrian baritone Florian Boesch imon Halsey occupies a singular is one of today’s foremost Lieder position in classical music. He is the interpreters with appearances at trusted advisor on choral singing to Wigmore Hall, Vienna’s Musikverein and the world’s greatest conductors, orchestras Konzerthaus, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and choruses, and also an inspirational Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Philharmonie Cologne, teacher and ambassador for choral singing Edinburgh and Schwetzingen Festivals, to amateurs of every age, ability and Maifestspiele Wiesbaden, Konzerthaus background. Making singing a central part Dortmund and Philharmonie Luxemburg of the world-class institutions with which as well as in the US (including Carnegie Hall) he is associated, he has been instrumental and Canada. Florian Boesch was an artist in in changing the level of symphonic singing residence at the Wigmore Hall (2014/15) and across Europe. at the Konzerthaus in Vienna (2016/17). Simon is a highly respected teacher As a frequent concert guest, Florian Boesch and academic, nurturing the next has worked with leading orchestras and generation of choral conductors on conductors, and on the opera stage, he his post-graduate course in Birmingham compels as a great singer-actor, most and through masterclasses at Princeton, recently in a new production of Handel’s Yale and elsewhere. Orlando. He worked very closely with Nikolaus Harnoncourt, with whom he Simon Halsey was made Commander of performed many concerts at the Wiener the British Empire in 2015, was awarded Musikverein styriarte Festival, Salzburg The Queen’s Medal for Music in 2014, and Festival, in Berlin and in Japan. received the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Florian Boesch received his initial vocal in 2011 in recognition of his outstanding trainings from KS Ruthilde Boesch and later contribution to choral music in Germany. studied Lied and oratorio with KS Robert Holl in Vienna.

12 Half Six Fix London Symphony Orchestra On Stage

Guest Leader Violas Flutes Horns Andrej Power Rebecca Jones Gareth Davies Timothy Jones Gillianne Haddow Patricia Moynihan Eirik Haaland First Violins German Clavijo Clare Childs Angela Barnes Carmine Lauri Stephen Doman Alexander Edmundson Clare Duckworth Robert Turner Piccolo Jonathan Maloney Ginette Decuyper Michelle Bruil Sharon Williams Laura Dixon Luca Casciato Trumpets Julian Gil Rodriguez May Dolan Oboes David Elton Gerald Gregory Jenny Lewisohn Juliana Koch Gustav Melander Maxine Kwok Cynthia Perrin Olivier Stankiewicz Toby Street William Melvin Sofia Silva Sousa Rosie Jenkins Claire Parfitt Heather Wallington Trombones Laurent Quenelle Cor Anglais Mark Templeton Harriet Rayfield Cellos Christine Pendrill James Maynard Colin Renwick Rebecca Gilliver Sylvain Vasseur Alastair Blayden Clarinets Timpani Rhys Watkins Jennifer Brown Chris Richards Nigel Thomas Lyrit Milgram Noel Bradshaw Chi-Yu Mo Eve-Marie Caravassilis Melissa Youngs Percussion Second Violins Daniel Gardner Duncan Gould Neil Percy David Alberman Hilary Jones David Jackson Thomas Norris Laure Le Dantec Bassoons Sarah Quinn Amanda Truelove Rachel Gough Miya Väisänen Francois Thirault Daniel Jemison David Ballesteros Joost Bosdijk Matthew Gardner Double Basses Naoko Keatley Colin Paris Contra Bassoon Alix Lagasse Patrick Laurence Dominic Morgan Belinda McFarlane Matthew Gibson Iwona Muszynska Thomas Goodman Csilla Pogany Joe Melvin Andrew Pollock José Moreira Paul Robson Jani Pensola Mariam Nahapetyan Simo Väisänen

Cover Image: Scott Rodgerson Artist Images: Jim Rakete; Michal Heller; Marco Borggreve; Gerard Collett; Lukas Beck; Matthias Heyde

12 February 2020 13 London Symphony Chorus On Stage

Sopranos Altos Tenors Basses Frankie Arnull Lauren Au Jorge Aguilar Simon Backhouse* Liz Ashling June Brawner Paul Allatt* Roger Blitz Anna Byrne-Smith Gina Broderick* Matteo Anelli Angus Bruce-Gardyne Laura Catala-Ubassy Jo Buchan* Erik Azzopardi Gavin Buchan Carol Capper* Janik Dale Joaquim Badia Andy Chan Elisa Franzinett Maggie Donnelly Paul Beecham Matt Clarke Joanna Guerits Linda Evans Philipp Boeing Giles Clayton Maureen Hall Emma Fox Peter Bridgwood Damian Day Isobel Hammond Christina Gibbs Oliver Burrows Roc Fargas Sophie Hill Joanna Gill Michael Delany Ian Fletcher Denise Hoilette Rachel Green Ethem Demir Robert Garbolinski* Claire Hussey Kate Harrison Colin Dunn Josue Garcia Debbie Jones Elisabeth Iles Matt Fernando Rupert Gill Esther Kippax Ella Jackson Andrew Fuller* John Graham Ruth Knowles-Clark Kristi Jagodin Patrzio Giovannotti Bryan Hammersley Luca Kocsmarszky Gilly Lawson* Simon Goldman Owen Hanmer* Mimi Kroll Freja Leveritt Euchar Gravina J-C Higgins Debbie Lee Anne Loveluck Matthew Journee Elan Higueras Marylyn Lewin Aoife McInerney Jude Lenier Nathan Homan* Christine Long Jane Muir Kameron Locke Peter Kellett Doris Nikolic Caroline Mustill John Marks Alex Kidney Emily Norton Dorothy Nesbit Alastair Mathews Thomas Kohut Gill O’Neill Siu-Wai Ng Matthew McCabe Andy Langley Maggie Owen Helen Palmer Davide Prezzi Alex Mackinder Janina Pescinski Lucy Reay Michael Scharff George Marshall Liz Reeve Natalia Riley Peter Sedgwick James Nageotte Jasmine Spencer Lis Smith Chris Straw William Nicholson Deborah Staunton Erika Stasiuleviciute Richard Street* Alan Rochford Jessica Villiers Linda Thomas Malcolm Taylor Jesus Sanchez Olivia Wilkinson Rafaela Tripalo Simon Wales Rod Stevens Rachel Wilson Kathryn Wells James Warbis Richard Tannenbaum Hannah Wisher Robert Ward* Dan Thompson Paul Williams-Burton Gordon Thomson Jez Wareing Anthony Wilder Vocal Coaches Assistant Chorus Norbert Meyn Master Anita Marrison Lucy Hollins Rebecca Outram Robert Rice * denotes LSC Council member

14 Half Six Fix London Symphony London Symphony Orchestra Chorus

t the London Symphony Orchestra, he London Symphony Chorus was we believe extraordinary music formed in 1966 to complement should be available to everyone, the work of the London Symphony everywhere. We were established in 1904, Orchestra and is renowned internationally as one of the first orchestras shaped by for its concerts and recordings with its musicians. the Orchestra. Their partnership was strengthened in 2012 with the appointment Today, we’re ranked among the world’s top of Simon Halsey as joint Chorus Director orchestras. As resident orchestra at the of the LSC and Choral Director for the LSO, Barbican, we perform over 70 concerts here and the Chorus now plays a major role in every year. Our family of artists include furthering the vision of LSO Sing, which Music Director Sir Simon Rattle, Principal also encompasses the LSO Community Guest Conductors Gianandrea Noseda Choir, LSO Discovery for young and François-Xavier Roth, and Conductor people and Singing Days at LSO St Luke’s. Laureate . The LSC has worked with many leading Through our world-leading learning and international conductors and other community programme, LSO Discovery, we’re major orchestras, including the Berlin connecting people from all walks of life to Philharmonic, , Leipzig the power of great music. The programme is Gewandhaus, Los Angeles Philharmonic, based at LSO St Luke’s, our community and New York Philharmonic, the National Youth music education centre, and leading music Orchestra of Great Britain and the European performance venue in Old Street. From Union Youth Orchestra. It has also toured there, LSO Discovery’s reach extends extensively in Europe and has visited the across east London, the UK and the world. US, Israel, Australia and south-east Asia.

In 1999, we formed our own recording The partnership between the LSC and label, LSO Live, and revolutionised how live LSO, particularly under orchestral music is recorded. We’ve put out in the 1980s and 1990s, and later with over 150 recordings so far – and overall, the the late Sir , led to its large LSO has made more recordings than any catalogue of recordings, which have won other orchestra. numerous awards.

Through inspiring music, learning The Chorus is an independent charity run by programmes and technological innovations, its members. It is committed to excellence, our reach extends far beyond the concert to the development of its members, to hall. And thanks to the generous support diversity and engaging in the musical of The Corporation of the City of London, life of London, to commissioning and Arts Council England, and our corporate performing new works, and to supporting supporters and individual donors, we’ll the musicians of tomorrow. For more continue to share extraordinary music with information, please visit lsc.org.uk. as many people as possible.

12 February 2020 15 The LSO is funded by Arts Council England in partnership with the City of London Corporation, which also provides the Orchestra’s permanent home at the Barbican.

LSO registered charity in England number 232391