Friday 15th of March 2024, Sir James Macmillan, the BBC Symphony orchestra and the BBC Symphony choir lit up the Barbican centre with four outstanding pieces of music. Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten, Sinfonia da Requiem, Into the Heart of Light ‘Canto V’ and Fiat Lux. Fiat Lux was the highly anticipated performance of the night, being the UK premiere and also having the composer James Macmillan himself conduct it. 

 

The first performance of the night was Cantus in memory of Benjamin Britten, written by Arvo Part. It was a magical start to the concert as the string orchestra and the tubular bells created an atmospheric and calm sound which filled up the hall. Being sat at the very front row near the double basses and cellos, I was able to hear the deep, warm timbre contrasting with the high harmonics from the violins at the start which was truly breathtaking. The ending of the piece was a big juxtaposition with all instruments playing sustained low notes which ended with a small flourish and a tiny echo of the tubular bell. It was a great start to the evening concert.

 

The second piece was also very memorable as it completely contrasted the first performance. Sinfonia Da Requiem by Britten started off with big, accented timpani notes which lowered to a faint sound whilst the cellos played an anticipatory tune which created tension straight away to the piece which completely changed the mood. I found the fast tempo section very exhilarating, starting with muted trumpets and leading into an intense string rhythm motif. With the timpani also accompanying this it was very exciting and enjoyable to listen to. I also liked the comical glissando effect using the harps and brass and overall this piece was packed with many incredible musical ideas.

 

Just before the interval ended, Sir James Macmillan was awarded with an Ivor. This was  the Academy Fellowship which is the highest honour given to by the academy. He joined the list of other immensely impactful musicians who have won this award such as Elton John, Paul McCartney, John Adams and many more. Witnessing this moment in this audience was a great experience as we were all able to acknowledge Macmillan’s work for his influential composing and conducting.

 

We were able to see James Macmillan showcase his skills in the final performance Fiat Lux which he composed. I believe this performance was truly special as we got to see the original composer also conduct the piece exactly how it was supposed to sound. Joined by the BBC symphony choir and two vocal soloists: Mary Bevan and Roderick Williams, the music was awe-inspiring. The whole piece felt like a story, with contrasts between tentative playing and singing, loud fanfares, dancing strings and finally a conclusive ‘Amen’ which ended the performance and the concert. Fiat Lux was definitely a memorable moment of the night.

 

Overall, with all four performances exceeding expectations and witnessing a musical legend win a renowned award, the night was very enjoyable and was a great musical journey.