This week marks the start of a new and exciting relationship for the London Symphony Chorus, as the chorus performs its first concert with Sir Antonio Pappano in his new role as Chief Conductor Designate of the London Symphony Orchestra.
Pappano will take up the role of Chief Conductor of the LSO in September 2024. He will stay Music Director at the Royal Opera House until the summer.
The performances on 28 and 31 January are Mendelssohn’s Elijah — a major work in the British oratorio tradition. But it offers Pappano the chance for a new and exciting approach, by bringing out the more passionate, near-operatic elements of the composition.
Asked by Alice Jones, the chair of the LSC, how he feels about starting this new relationship with the chorus and how it may differ from working with professional singers at the Royal Opera House, Sir Tony said:
“I’m looking forward to the relationship with the London Symphony Chorus because it is not an opera chorus and because it’s a different sound world than perhaps the one I’m accustomed to. But for me, it’s only a positive because I think in different terms, in different colour terms… With this chorus, I can get really good clarity and rhythmic energy and that certainly suits the oratorios, and especially the one we’re doing right now.”
Referring to the current rehearsals, Pappano said:
“The rehearsals that I’ve experienced now with the chorus have been joyous. I’ve tried to enliven the text and the chorus has gone with me all the way.”
In an earlier interview, Mariana Rosas, the LSC’s chorus director, spoke of the two preparatory sessions for Elijah that she had with Pappano last year.
“For Elijah, I had the privilege and honour of meeting LSO’s Chief Conductor Designate, Antonio Pappano, himself. He was very open – in some things we sung it through together to make sure we were understanding each other. That’s something I really like, preparing the piece so someone else can conduct it.”
This is not the first time the chorus has sung with Pappano. It first worked with him in 2000, in a recording of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, with the LSO at Abbey Road Studios, for EMI. More recent concerts include Verdi’s Messa di Gloria (2019) and Dallapiccola’s Il Prigioniero, (2022), both with the LSO at the Barbican. For Elijah, the chorus was thrilled and excited to be working with Pappano and is looking forward to more concerts with him and the LSO.