Berlioz and Blue Sky : LSO OpenAir Classics

On Monday evening I found myself sitting cross-legged on the stone slabs of Trafalgar Square with several hundred other people, listening to classical music reverberating through the warm summer air.

I'd decided to go along to the London Symphony Orchestra's free Bank Holiday concert, put on as part of the BMW Open Air Classics 2013.

The first open air free concert was held last year, and it was so successful the LSO decided to continue their partnership with BMW and the Mayor of London by returning to Trafalgar Square this year.

Several thousand people packed the square, sitting on the steps and around the fountains with picnics, drinks (no glass) and soaking up the atmosphere. The weather was perfect, and there were large TV screens either side of the stage so you could get close-ups of the orchestra.

Principal conductor Valery Gergiev and the LSO performed Berlioz's Overture Le corsaire, and Symphonie fantastique. I didn't really know the pieces although I recognised a few strands of the melodies, but it was still amazing to sit back and enjoy the music.

For one piece the LSO were also joined on stage by eighty Guildhall School and "On Track" (LSO partnership programme in East London) young musicians which was great to see, and there were obviously several proud parents in the crowd!

It was a fantastic evening and I'm really glad I made the effort to go along - for just the price of a train fare I got to listen to one of the best orchestras in the world in an iconic setting. Not a bad Bank Holiday! 🙂