From Our Audience, With Love
THE NINTH
A triumphant performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the London Symphonia at Metropolitan United Church tonight! The very talented students and faculty of the Don Wright Faculty of Music - Western University were wonderfully represented in our faculty soloists Bethany Horst, Sophie Louise Roland Luti, alum Bud Roach, Giles Tomkins, the London Symphonia fellows, and our instrumental faculty. Live music is alive and well in London - and the enthusiastic response of the overflowing crowd was a testament to the power of live music to enrich and transform the human condition and experience. A huge shout to our massed choirs (Amabile Choirs of London, The London Singers and the H.B. Beal Secondary School Singers) and their directors, what a choral sound! Purple and Proud, bravi tutti!!
Dean Michael Kim
Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University
JAMES AND THE GIANTS
What a magnificent performance! We are so fortunate and grateful to have such brilliant musicians in our City.
Jerry Pribil
Ward 5 Councillor, City of London
LOVE IN THE AGE OF MELANCHOLY
The concert was wonderful - Julie Boulianne has a fantastic voice which served the music well. And the Schubert, well, that symphony is always a thrill to hear - energy, melody, complexity - you name it - everything is there. And speaking of energy, Tania Miller has it in abundance, occasionally lifting off the podium!!!
Renée Silberman, Serenata Music
The concert was absolutely wonderful! The Berlioz was particularly brilliant and I was spellbound in spite of having heard it many times. The placing of the microphones was excellent and the recording crisp and at the same time full of warmth. Julie Boulianne's beautiful rendition of Les nuits d'eté and the relatively small orchestra seemed to me a perfect match - I could talk about that performance for hours!
John Albers
BENEATH A SUMMER SKY
I really enjoyed the London Symphonia rehearsal last week. Matthias Maute was dynamic and communicated well and the string playing was brilliant.
Peter Lyndall Whitby
It was AWESOME!! I can't wait till the next one.
Terry Meyer, KKP
My sister and I have been watching the livestreamed concerts. Beneath a Summer Sky was the best ever! The orchestra sounded excellent and we enjoyed the program.
Emilie
WE ARE ALL ONE
There were many thoughts going through my head before the concert, like, was I going to like it and are they going to be good? Every expectation got blown away. It was fantastic and I enjoyed it very much. This was my first time ever going to an orchestra and listening to the beautiful music first hand and it was a very cool experience. Not only was the music interesting but the whole church presence made it very cool as well. This was the first time the orchestra played in the new-built church, so it meant a lot to the musicians who were up on that stage. Not only did it mean a lot to the people playing, but it also meant a lot to the city of London. I felt that it made the connection between the musicians and the audience stronger.
Amirmohammad, Student, Listening to Music course at Western
This was the first time I attended a live symphony, and I must say I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. London Symphonia’s performance was very ear and eye catching, but it wasn’t the only eye-catching thing in the Metropolitan United Church. The architecture and lighting of the church was also impressive. I’ve planned to keep an eye on the London Symphonia’s website and their schedule and attempt to attend different events and push friends and family to attend as well.
Anonymous, Student, Listening to Music course at Western
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
We just wanted to say thank you so much for such an excellent performance of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It was totally unique.
Your symphony did an incredibly beautiful performance. We were in the 3rd row and could see the conductor's laptop as it pulsed to keep everything in time with the movie. It was fascinating to watch. We loved that we were encouraged to laugh, cheer and boo!!
We commend everyone on your skills. It really made for an unforgettable evening. It was so fun! Thank You everyone!
Sandy
RHYTHMS OF THE CITY
The concert was a thrill in all directions - the music and musicianship was perfection. We had nice comments from friends and were thrilled by the audience reaction. Stewart is a genius artist, and a fine individual. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to making this concert a great success! A great experience all around.
Long may the orchestra thrive!
Renée Silberman and Ted Medzon, Serenata Music
The whole programme was wonderful! So nice to see and hear! A fine performance from everyone! Congratulations!! All the Best for the Orchestra’s continued success!
Janet, former Orchestra London member (1974-1994)
THE RITE OF SPRING
What a fabulous concert. I first heard Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in 1960 at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden when I was a graduate student at University College in London. It was presented as a multi-coloured ballet, it was stunning, and I have listened to it many times since. I was blown away by the way in which London Symphonia, with limited resources, was able to give us a top-drawer reading of The Rite and the way Tania Miller was able to hold everything together was truly impressive.
Garth Kidd
It was a remarkable event! I’ve been thinking about the wisdom it imparted - and remembering the wonderful music - ever since. Thank you all so much!
Emily
A moving and beautiful concert!
Patricia
We saw it in-person. It’s remarkable.
Mary
Great concert. Glad I was there.
Bernie
TIFERET
“I thought the concert was very well done and the musical selections sung by Aviva were lovely. It’s apparent that a lot of work went into preparing for this very interesting program.”
Teresa
“I was there last night to hear this captivating and moving program! Wow, was it ever good - everything was perfect!”
Joris
THE HOCKEY SWEATER + CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
"My whole family adored the concert on Saturday evening, The Hockey Sweater and Carnival of the Animals! The music was superb. Tom Allen was a tour de force with his acting and facial expressions! You will notice my grandchildren 8 and 6 thoroughly engrossed with the book on their knees, reading along with Tom. Please pass on my congratulations to all."
Moira Stewart
FROST, FIRE & BRASS
Fran and I enjoyed Frost, Fire and Brass. The combination of the Celtic and orchestral instruments was excellent; very skillfully woven together!
David & Fran Brown
What a lovely way to spend part of a Sunday afternoon!
Jane & Alex Mills
SARAH SLEAN
The concert was simply magical! The wonderful way the program flowed from one song to the next, the constantly rising emotional engagement and the fact that all of the above, including the technical challenges, were happening at a time of a near lockdown with increasing need of connection through music . . . ! All to say that this was the musical equivalent of what Frontline Workers do for all of us daily. It restored broken faith in humanity and showed us all how important music produced by humans is in times like ours. THANK YOU.
Christos Hatzis, composer of Despair, Sarah Slean program
HUGE kudos to all! Such a truly phenomenal achievement! I was particularly impressed with the SOUND throughout the night, so major props to Geoff Warder! This entire broadcast was truly one of the best COVID shows I have seen. So much to be proud of, all of you! Sarah's and Christos' arrangements so beautifully sang in the hands and chops of my dear friends! And as expected, Sarah sang like an angel, and was a perfect host for the occasion. It would really be wonderful if there was a way to view that entire night again, but I am so very grateful that I was completely in the moment that night! Much love to you all!
Larry Larson, Trumpet, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony
What I admired most was the tenacity and passion of everyone involved, even including the devout fans. It was all a reminder that we can step forward in positive ways anytime we're pushed back. There's hope yet!!
Bill Wittur
Congratulations! What a breathtaking virtual concert tonight and a spectacular performance by Scott Good as Conductor/Musician/Composer extraordinaire, compelling singer Sarah Slean and the rich sounds of the London Symphonia. Simply brilliant scores of pulsing music, dramatic crescendos and inspirational diminuendos. Really felt the music in my soul. My sister and I adored it live-streamed from two different households. Bravo!
Genevieve D'Souza
THE SEASONS
There is nothing like LIVE music. After six months of performance drought, last evening was sheer delight. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons was a perfect piece to begin and Joe Lanza's performance as soloist more than pleased me. Bravo! Piazzolla’s Seasons is an interesting, amazing and exciting work. Scott St. John excelled - as expected. A perfect pairing of the two works.
A tremendous amount of planning and work went into the production for the evening. Thanks to all whose passion for music made it happen.
Susan Agranove
Having sung the choral version of Piazolla's Seasons and other compositions by him, I was familiar with some of his work. But this one blew me away! Scott St. John, as always, was his brilliant virtuosic self, and the orchestra gave him tremendous support. I should also mention Joe Lanza's beautiful and exciting violin-playing in Vivaldi's Seasons. What a treat this concert was!
Ernest Henry Redekop
LIVE AT AEOLIAN HALL
Last night's concert by Joe Lanza and Clark Bryan was a lovely introduction to London Symphonia's new partnership with Aeolian Hall. It was such an enjoyable, informative concert by two consummate professionals. Warmest thanks to them for sharing their talents in bringing us such a delightful introductory event!
CRC
MOZART & HAYDN: A Musical Friendship
London Symphonia has a unique approach among Canada's symphonies, combining modern playing and programming with the knowledge and skills of historic performance practice. This unique approach creates a place where beauty manifests itself on a grand scale!
Matthias Maute, conductor, Mozart & Haydn program
LOVE STORY
My husband and I LOVED your recent concert – it was so imaginatively conceived and performed by all the participants, with sensitivity and grace. Just superb – I cannot imagine a concert anywhere in the world to top this! It was truly magnificent.
Just wanted to say also, that London Symphonia has brought a new life and innovative spirit to the symphonic scene here in London. Orchestra London was good, but the Symphonia is superb in most of its performances, and exciting in the programming. An entrepreneurial spirit shines through the enormous effort it has taken to keep symphonic music in front of audiences here in London, and it is appreciated beyond your knowing – and the new spirit that the collapse of Orchestra London has engendered in the Symphonia is inspiring!
We’ll keep coming and bringing friends.
Hilary Alderson Moon
MERRY & BRIGHT
Please forward our thanks, praise and congratulations to everyone involved for such a wonderful performance yesterday afternoon. It was full of energy, diverse, and uplifting. The featuring of high profile local musicians and massed choirs under the creative direction of David Weaver, not only broadens the horizons of the regular audience but also introduces newcomers to Symphonia's versatility. Scott Good's enthusiasm was contagious and surely his wishes for first time attenders to return, will come to fruition. Our Best Wishes to all for a safe and Happy Holiday Season.
Elizabeth and Bill
That was such a great concert yesterday!!! I feel honoured to have had my song included!
Warmest regards, Steven Hardy
COMMUNITY CONCERT with Forest City String School
We had a great concert last weekend – the Senior Orchestra at the Forest City String School under the direction of Mark Payne performing with nine London Symphonia players on the Banting stage! We played the entire Haydn Symphony No.1 in D major amazingly well sitting side by side with professional musicians.
We are so pleased and thankful for your outreach program – London Symphonia is making a significant difference in the London community for young musicians and for the future!!
Patrick Burroughs, Director, FCSS, Professor Emeritus, Western University