More recently, its principal conductors have included Pierre Monteux (1961–64), Istvan Kertesz (1965–68), André Previn (1968–79) and Claudio Abbado (1979–88). From 1988-1995, the American Michael Tilson-Thomas took over, and in 1995, became principal guest conductor. Sir Colin Davis served as the LSO's Principal Conductor from 1995-2006, and in 2007 took the post of President of the orchestra. On 1 January 2007, Valery Gergiev became the LSO's Principal Conductor. Previn holds the title of Conductor Laureate. In 2006, Daniel Harding became the co-principal guest conductor alongside Tilson Thomas. Richard Hickox is the Associate Guest Conductor of the LSO.
The LSO became the first British orchestra to play overseas when it went to Paris in 1906. The LSO was due to sail on the RMS Titanic for a concert in New York in April 1912 but fortunately had to change the booking at the last minute. It was also the first to play in the United States, in 1912, and in 1973 it was the first to be invited to take part in the Salzburg Festival. It continues to make tours around the world.
In 1966 the London Symphony Chorus (LSC) was formed to complement the work of the LSO. with more that two hundred amateur singers, the LSC maintains a close association with the LSO; however it has developed an independent life, which allows it to partner other leading orchestras.
The LSO has long been considered the most extraverted of the London orchestras. For most of its life it refused to allow women to become members, ostensibly on the grounds that women would affect the sound of the orchestra (there has been a similar controversy at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra). There is an air of youthful high spirits to much of its music-making that is shown off in performances of such composers as Berlioz and Prokofiev. The LSO has often had internationally-known players as wind soloists, including such artists as James Galway (flute), Gervase de Peyer (clarinet), Roger Lord (oboe), Osian Ellis (harp), John Georgiadis (violin) and Barry Tuckwell (horn). Like most ensembles, the orchestra has a great ability to vary its sound, producing very different tone colours under such diverse conductors as Stokowski (with whom it made a series of memorable recordings), Adrian Boult, Jascha Horenstein, Georg Solti, André Previn, George Szell, Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, John Barbirolli, and Karl Böhm, who developed a close relationship with the orchestra late in his life. Böhm and Bernstein each held the title of LSO President in their later years.
Clive Gillinson, a former cellist with the orchestra, served as the LSO's Managing Director from 1984 to 2005, and is widely credited with bringing great stability to the LSO's organization after severe fiscal troubles.[1] Since 2005, Kathryn McDowell is the Managing Director of the LSO.[2]
Overture
London Symphony Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Didn't come home
His unborn child
Will never know him
Believe him missing
With a number of men
Don't expect
To see him again
The lyrics to the Overture by the London Symphony Orchestra convey a story of loss and absence. Captain Walker is a military man who didn't return home, and as a result, his unborn child will never know him. The lyrics express the sentiment of the soldiers being missing with a number of men, and there is no expectation of seeing him again. There is a sense of sadness and longing conveyed in the lyrics for a man who is absent, especially for a child who will never know their father.
The Overture, by the London Symphony Orchestra, is a hauntingly beautiful instrumental piece that conveys the emotions and sentiments through the music. The lack of lyrics allows for the listener's interpretation, and for them to draw their own conclusion as to the message conveyed by the music. The overture is a representation of the transformation of classical music during the 20th century and the various styles and genres that it has influenced. The overture is a perfect example of how music can tell a story without the need for lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Captain Walker
The person known as Captain Walker
Didn't come home
Did not return to his place of residence
His unborn child
The offspring he had not yet fathered
Will never know him
Will not have the experience of knowing Captain Walker
Believe him missing
Hold the belief that he cannot be found
With a number of men
In the company of several other individuals
Don't expect
Do not have an expectation
To see him again
To have the sight of him in the future
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: PETER TOWNSHEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind