As the BBC Proms have finished, the rest of London’s classical music scene can now grind back into life. Last night, the London Symphony Orchestra launched, not only its 2023/24 season, but also a new era for the LSO: having taken up a post in Munich, Simon Rattle is no longer its music director.
Antonio Pappano becomes its chief conductor next year so the honour of conducting this season opener went to the orchestra’s associate artist Barbara Hannigan. She also sang one of the works on the programme: not many conductors can do that.
