On a brisk November evening, the London Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Ilan Volkov, presented a daring program at the Barbican featuring Helmut Lachenmann’s enigmatic composition My Melodies. The 2018 work, subsequently revised and expanded in 2023, challenges the very boundaries of musical form and orchestral techniques.
Despite its title, My Melodies is strikingly devoid of any discernible melodic lines. Instead, the piece immerses the audience in a landscape of dissonant textures, eerie mutterings, and abrupt eruptions of brutal force. The vast orchestral forces, reminiscent of Strauss’s Alpine Symphony or Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder, include eight horns, multiple brass and woodwinds, two pianos, electric guitars, and an army of percussionists.
Unconventional Techniques and Sounds
Lachenmann’s composition pushes the orchestra to its limits, demanding virtuosic performances from every section. The horns, seated in a horseshoe formation around the conductor, dominate the restless textures, alternating between conventionally played notes and unpitched sounds. Valves and mouthpieces are removed and blown independently, creating haunting whispers and gasps that evoke a struggle for air.
The piece unfolds as a series of fragmentary chorales and brief, fiendishly difficult toccatas. Silences gradually fill with eerie mutterings, taps, and whispers, only to be shattered by sudden outbursts of violence and cacophony. The LSO musicians navigated this treacherous score with precision and unwavering commitment, delivering a performance that was as impressive as it was challenging to digest.
“Lachenmann’s My Melodies is an immensely taxing work for performers and audience alike, battering with dogged persistence at the limits of form and technique.”
– Tim Ashley, music critic
A Graceful Beethoven Pairing
After the intensity of Lachenmann, Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony served as a welcome contrast in the program’s second half. Volkov led the LSO in a lean and lithe interpretation, marked by taut rhythms, sensible tempos, and gracious playing from every section. The oboes delivered lovely solos in the slow introduction, while the brass and strings brought vibrancy and poise to the famous Allegretto.
The symphony’s energy and exhilaration emerged not from breakneck speeds but from Volkov’s carefully calibrated sense of tension and release. The scherzo danced with fleet-footed buoyancy, and the finale built to a triumphant conclusion without ever feeling rushed or frantic. It was a refreshing and masterful performance that cast new light on a well-worn masterpiece.
A Night of Musical Extremes
The pairing of Lachenmann and Beethoven made for an evening of stark contrasts and musical revelations. While My Melodies pushed the boundaries of what an orchestra can do and what audiences might endure, the Seventh Symphony reminded us of the enduring power and beauty of the classical tradition. Together, these works showcased the remarkable range and versatility of the London Symphony Orchestra and the visionary leadership of Ilan Volkov.
For adventurous listeners and devotees of contemporary music, this concert was an unforgettable experience. It challenged preconceptions, tested limits, and ultimately affirmed the importance of bold, uncompromising artistic visions. As the final notes faded away, one was left both exhausted and exhilarated, with a renewed appreciation for the boundless possibilities of orchestral sound.
