Classical Mixtape: A Live Takeover review – one queue after another mars orchestral jamboree

2026-02-06 - 16:45

Southbank Centre, London Six world-class orchestras in one night sounds like a surefire hit – but the programming was uninspired and there was far too much standing in line ‘Hear music in different ways in our cross-site takeover,” ran the marketing blurb. “You can choose to listen again, skip and move on to another orchestra or pause to catch up with friends at one of our bars.” The idea is to create a live mix tape in which the six world-class orchestras based at the Southbank Centre each play a short set, repeated throughout the evening, with audiences free to roam between them. The site’s summer’s dance takeover had been imaginative and engaging. Why not do the same for classical music? It began in the Royal Festival Hall, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra “playing the unforgettable ‘da-da-da-dum’ of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony”. And, indeed, the opening movement was brisk and the da-da-da-dums were present and correct. Vogue Williams, media personality, model and presenter of Send Nudes: Body SOS welcomed us to the event. “Wasn’t that incredible,” she gushed after the six minutes of the opening movement. “You must be wrecked,” she told an orchestra who routinely perform 90-minute Mahler symphonies and four-hour operas, but conductor Ed Gardner smiled gamely and moved on to a short medley of Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings film music. Continue reading...