A Match Made in Mozart

The London Symphony Orchestra’s initial partnership with the Music Academy of the West officially came to its pandemic-paused close a couple of summers ago. But the relationship between the two classical music institutions continues with a three-event, two-day residency starting on February 17. President’s Day kicks off at 1 pm with a violin master class led by LSO principal second violin Julián Gil Rodríguez, featuring three MAW alums and a Q&A session. At 7:30 pm, four LSO musicians – violinists Clare Duckworth and Thomas Norris, violist Malcolm Johnston and cellist Salvador Bolón – are joined by MAW alums Elissa Brown (flute), Kaitlin Miller (harp) and Katelyn Waffer Poetker (clarinet), who are all LSO-MAW exchange winners, for a chamber music concert boasting works by Mozart and Ravel.

On Tuesday night, the full LSO performs at the Granada in a CAMA co-sponsored stateside debut with new Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano, the former Music Director of the Royal Opera House, who took over from Sir Simon Rattle just last year. Dutch violinist Janine Jansen joins to solo on Bernstein’s “Serenade, after Plato’s ‘Symposium’” before the ensemble plays Mahler’s “Symphony No. 1, ‘Titan;’” works by two composers long associated with the LSO.

“We’re all really looking forward to the residency,” said Duckworth, who was part of the LSO’s two most recent visits to town. “Everyone is always quite blown away by the gorgeous campus and facilities, and the students (fellows), who are really great to work with.” 

Even if they can be a bit intimidating. 

“These young players who are just coming out of conservatory, they’re the ones we’re terrified of because they’re at the top of their game,” said Duckworth with tongue-in-cheek, as she not only participated in similar experiences as a young player in London dreaming of and eventually joining the LSO, but has also extensively worked with youth orchestras as a professional. “They’re playing at an incredibly high level at that stage… But it’s also very exciting to see a piece or a conductor through their eyes.”

While Pappano has previously guested with the LSO, having him as music director has been an exciting shift, Duckworth said. 

“His enthusiasm for the orchestra and the organization and just music in general is really infectious. Tony has that same gift of breaking down music for anybody, the way Bernstein did. He’s an amazing storyteller through music with the ability to shape a story within a piece. He is always investigating, always willing to try something different or push a little further. He’s genuinely excited to see where we can go with this repertoire.”

Meanwhile, Monday’s chamber concert on campus will be a chance for Duckworth and her colleagues to shine on classics of the repertoire, but also a chance to reconnect with the MAW alums. 

“Hopefully this is a connection we’re going to be able to maintain,” she said. “Because it’s been close to a lot of people’s hearts over the last few years.”