In a remarkable display of artistic versatility, Barbara Hannigan captivated audiences at London's Barbican Centre, seamlessly transitioning from soprano to conductor in a single evening. The LSO associate artist began by performing Laura Bowler's emotionally charged monodrama, 'The White Book', before taking the podium to lead the orchestra through demanding works by Ligeti and Richard Strauss.
A Profound Vocal Performance
Hannigan opened the concert with a visceral 36-minute rendition of 'The White Book', based on Han Kang's autobiographical meditation. The composition sets five chapters for voice, orchestra, and live electronics, exploring themes of loss and the colour white, inspired by Kang's sister who died shortly after premature birth. The music occupies a haunting borderland between life and death, with vast chords rolling like ocean waves and delicate percussion creating an ethereal atmosphere.
Swathed in spectral silk, Hannigan's gently amplified soprano voice demonstrated extraordinary control, rising to empyrean heights before plunging into emotional depths. Her performance was enhanced by Matthew Fairclough's electronics, which caught and multiplied vocal phrases, creating swirling auditory effects reminiscent of murmuring starlings. The conclusion, under conductor Bar Avni's guidance, left the audience in stunned silence.
Masterful Conducting Display
Following this intense vocal performance, Hannigan assumed the conductor's role with equal command. Her physicality proved remarkably elastic as she sculpted Ligeti's 'Lontano' with sensual fluidity, revealing new dimensions in this study of glacial microtonality. She brought similar erotic intensity to Strauss's 'Also sprach Zarathustra', transforming what can sometimes feel episodic into a cohesive musical journey.
Despite occasional balance issues, Hannigan demonstrated complete mastery of the Strauss work, from its monumental sunrise opening to the hushed final bars. She fearlessly took her time, focusing on the music's yearning intensity and coaxing the London Symphony Orchestra to unprecedented heights of passion. Particularly memorable moments included the bone-chilling Grave Song delivered by double basses and a lavishly swung Dance Song that oozed Viennese elegance.
Artistic Versatility on Display
The evening served as a powerful testament to Hannigan's exceptional talent and versatility. Few musicians could navigate such demanding repertoire in both vocal and conducting roles within a single performance. Her ability to inhabit Bowler's emotionally devastating composition before immediately shifting to command an orchestra through complex 20th-century works demonstrated remarkable artistic range and technical prowess.
The London Symphony Orchestra responded magnificently to Hannigan's direction, particularly in the Strauss where the fugal Of Science and Learning section maintained pedantic ponderousness while the unstable closing harmonies created deliberate disquiet. This Barbican performance confirmed Hannigan's status as a truly extraordinary musician capable of profound emotional expression through multiple artistic disciplines.
