If the pre-concert talk started a little late, it was soon caught up with a firecracking discussion between violinist Sophie Lang and the evening's conductor, John Williams. He comes with a reputation of a man who gets what he wants from his players, and in this way he told us of his admiration of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Sophie Lang was brave enough to produce her violin and play a snippet boringly - allowing John Wilson to tell her how to play it properly.
After a brief welcome from Sophie Lang, on came John Wilson to conduct Ravel's La valse. First performed in 1920 it wonderfully depicts the grand old days of the gentry dancing the waltz, only to be shattered by world war and changed ways. John Wilson undoubtedly gave it extra emphasis.
The grand piano already in place, Sir Stephen Hough played Rachmaninov's first piano concerto, written when the composer was 17. It was naturally a very fine performance which he topped off with a short and delighful encore. He clearly appreciated our applause but showed less emotion than many soloists.
After the interval we were transported south to London for Vaughan William's Second Symphony. Called A London Symphony because it tells of the greatness and, at the same time, the despair of a capital city. The low lying fog over the River Thames and the market traders. Having lived close by, the muffled chimes of Big Ben early on, and towards the end, brought back many memories. I appreciated hearing this symphony without really enjoying it. But it was a critical component of the evening's concert under the ever inspirational John Wilson.
Event: Friday 24th April 2026 at 7.30pm