The Southbank Centre's artistic director, Mark Ball, warned the audience, "You're in for a very loud evening," to whoops of approval. While true by classical music standards, the decibel levels were likely unremarkable for rock and heavy metal regulars. This latest programme in Multitudes, the centre's annual "orchestra-powered" multi-arts extravaganza, drew a crowd where band T-shirts, black lipstick, and leather mingled with office wear and fleeces.
A Spectacular Orchestral Experience
The Philharmonia Orchestra swapped white tie and tails for leather jackets and band merchandise. Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali reappeared after the interval wearing industrial quantities of eyeliner. This concert served as a reminder of the spectacular power of a big orchestra. As one audience member marvelled after the first half, "You think, 'where's that sound coming from, then?'"
The performance revelled in the power of sound. In Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, the Philharmonia strings sounded disconcertingly tinny due to heavy amplification. However, the payoff came when the orchestra was joined by two electric guitars, electric bass, and a drumkit, positioned behind thickets of protective Perspex, in an arrangement that simultaneously amplified Wagner's bass and the rhythmic drive.
Classical Hits and Rock Favourites
Other classical hits, including Holst's Mars, an unexpected blast of the Adagietto from Mahler's Fifth, and the Presto from Vivaldi's Summer, jostled with symphonic arrangements of rock favourites. The Philharmonia's strings and harp provided live cosmic shimmer in Metallica's Orion, and delicious trumpet squeals in Suzi Quatro's Can the Can. Quatro delivered more punk than pitch in her own song, but her alto profundo was surprisingly effective in Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heaven's Door. The Kills' Alison Mosshart and Finnish rocker Mr Lordi added additional star power, with the latter commanding audience clap-alongs.
Rouvali's Energetic Leadership
That this gently anarchic mashup was so persuasive was ultimately thanks to Rouvali. Energetically engaged through classical and rock numbers, the sometime rock drummer swapped his podium for the drumkit in Lordi's 2006 Eurovision-winning Hard Rock Hallelujah, deftly driving the concert to its close from rock's own engine room.
The Multitudes festival continues at the Southbank Centre, London, until 30 April.
