37. Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars’ Reception and Talk by Dame Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, 28 September 2023

Joanna Barker, Consort to the Master Arts Scholar, very kindly hosted a Reception for Consorts at the Athenaeum Club, where the Guest Speaker was Dame Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra.

The LSO is of course the City’s very own orchestra, having its home in the Barbican since 1982.  It was formed in 1904 as something of a renegade, by 50 musicians from the Queen’s Hall Orchestra wishing to break away from the dominance of conductors, and appointing their own guest conductors.  It has ever since retained its fierce independent spirit.

Hans Richter was its first conductor, shortly followed by Sir Edward Elgar and then five years later by Sir Thomas Beecham, followed by very many other illustrious names.  The LSO was the first British orchestra to tour abroad, and to visit the United States.  For this trip, players were booked on a new state-of-the-art liner, but last minute hitches meant the maiden voyage of the Titanic was delayed, and the orchestra took an earlier passage to meet their schedule.  The history of the orchestra might have been very different indeed.

They have been at the forefront of musical and technical innovation, with a record contract in 1920 and their first broadcast in 1924, and Vaughan Williams and William Walton conducting premieres of their own compositions.

Andre Previn spent 11 years as Principal Conductor.

The orchestra recorded the soundtracks to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and performed live with special guest soloist Rowan Atkinson in a memorable part of the Opening Ceremony.

Dame Kathryn was full of enthusiasm for her job, a position which she has held for some 18 years.  This proved to be a most interesting evening.