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]
Waterloo
London Symphony Orchestra Lyrics
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At Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah
And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo
My my
I tried to hold you back, but you were stronger
Oh yeah
And now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo
So how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo
The lyrics to the London Symphony Orchestra's song "Waterloo" describe a personal experience of surrender and defeat in love, drawing a parallel to the historical Battle of Waterloo where Napoleon was defeated. The singer reflects on their encounter with destiny, acknowledging that just as Napoleon surrendered at Waterloo, they have also succumbed to their fate in a similar manner. The repetition of history is portrayed through the metaphor of the history book on the shelf always repeating itself.
The lyrics convey a sense of being overpowered by love, unable to resist or escape its grasp. The singer confesses their attempted resistance but acknowledges that the other person was stronger. They come to the realization that their only chance now is to give up the fight, as refusing would be futile. They express conflicting emotions, feeling like a winner even in their loss, suggesting that surrendering to love brings a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction despite the defeat.
The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the theme of surrender and facing one's Waterloo, suggesting a final acceptance of their destiny to be with the other person. Overall, the song conveys a bittersweet sentiment of surrendering to love, acknowledging defeat, but finding solace and fulfillment in that surrender.
Line by Line Meaning
My my
Oh dear
At Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
In the famous battle of Waterloo, Napoleon gave up and surrendered
Oh yeah
Absolutely
And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
And I've experienced a similar fate
The history book on the shelf
The book containing past events
Is always repeating itself
Is constantly replaying
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo represents my defeat, and you emerged victorious in the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo signifies my promise to love you forever
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo represents the impossibility of escaping from my fate
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo symbolizes my awareness that my destiny is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo
Waterloo is the moment when I'm confronted with my ultimate challenge
I tried to hold you back, but you were stronger
I attempted to prevent you from progressing, but you proved to be stronger
And now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
Now it appears that my only option is to surrender and stop resisting
And how could I ever refuse
And how could I possibly reject
I feel like I win when I lose
I have a sense of victory even in my moments of defeat
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benny Goran Anderson, Bjoern K. Ulvaeus, Stig Erik Leopold Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind