Upon simply stepping into the Philharmonic hall there is a sense of calm to be felt and the concerts in this grand venue are a welcome outing to be had.
The afternoon’s concert was principal cellist Jonathan Aasgaard’s last with the orchestra and so the afternoon began with a celebration of his career and a speech from the man himself. Here he celebrated his colleagues and noted how lucky Liverpool is to house the orchestra in the city. Aasgaard also noted how the musicians make playing look easy, but that they all work incredibly hard. The audience shared their agreement and the concert began on a high after a wonderful community moment.
Conducted by Domingo Hindoyan, the afternoon focused around Mozart’s last symphony No.41 Jupiter which is split into four movements. Surprisingly, there is not much known about the creation and performance history of this symphony, even though it is arguably one of the most influential pieces. Indeed, even the name Jupiter itself is a mystery. Yet the music suits its name with its powerful opening through to its then questioning strings. One of the most powerful parts being the solo woodwinds which feel magical and airy in tone.
Prior to Mozart’s symphony, the orchestra performed Haydn’s Overture, L’isola Disabiata (The Deserted Island) a concise piece which depicts storms and the power of the natural world. The concert then ended with Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra piece, known most notably from Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey. This was exceptional and showcased the wide range of instruments on offer and the incredible audio infrastructure. Hearing the musicians playing live offers many goosebump moments which recordings cannot rival. The concert lasted approximately 90 minutes and was a treat in its entirety, offering an afternoon of culture, calm and captivation.
The information the Philharmonic shares within the online programme offers great insight into the composers lives along with the inspiration for their music. A useful detail for those who are less familiar with their work and would like to find out more. The programme also shares the arrangements meaning such as with Strauss’s work, ‘The tempo increases, with cockcrows on high trumpets (promise of a new dawn), leading to a luxuriously elegant waltz, ‘The Dance-Song’ – the absolute opposite of the sombre, rigid gravity of the ‘Of Science’ section.’ In offering such insights it allows further understanding of the powerful mood and emotion that each composer is showcasing and the meaning behind their writing. Although we each bring with us our own sense and emotion of what the music is about, it is fascinating to hear what the composers were planning on delivering when creating their pieces.
This was a beautiful Sunday afternoon event that warms the soul and Liverpool Philharmonic concerts are highly recommended to step out of busy modern life and take a moment to calm and cherish the musicians and composers talents.
Domingo Hindoyan – Conductor
Reviewer: Beth Easton
Reviewed: 2nd November 2025
North West End UK Rating: