Sinfonia of London and John Wilson earn five stars for Technicolor masterpieces concert

The Sinfonia of London orchestra, conducted by John Wilson, delivered an outstanding concert at the BBC Proms, receiving a five-star rating. The programme featured works by Verdi, Walton, and Respighi, showcasing the orchestra's rich sound and discipline.

The evening opened with Verdi's overture to "La Forza del Destino", where the beautifully articulated rustle of strings underpinning the poignant clarinet melody was particularly noted. John Wilson, known for his enthusiasm for the golden age of MGM, drew out the potential of every musician while maintaining a superb ensemble blend.

The second part featured Walton's Cello Concerto, performed with generous tone and technical immaculacy by principal cellist Jonathan Aasgaard. The piece's golden Mediterranean canvas was undercut with sinister ticks and jittery cross-rhythms reminiscent of Hitchcock films.

The concert concluded with Respighi's Roman Trilogy, where Wilson skillfully used the acoustic of the Royal Albert Hall. The audience could vividly imagine the pomp of the Circus Maximus, Neptune's chariot emerging from the Trevi Fountain, and nocturnal whispers on the Janiculum hill. As the Roman army marched down the Via Appia, the audience rose to its feet. The concert ended with Rossini's William Tell overture as an encore.