Stormclouds and Spring Flowers | London Philharmonic Orchestra

You never know where inspiration will strike. For Dvorák, the sight of a train arriving in Prague suggested the opening of his Seventh Symphony. Personal tragedy did the rest, and the result is one of the most stirring of Romantic symphonies: tense, stormy and pulsing with heartfelt emotion. It’s a perfect match for guest conductor Kazushi Ono – described as ‘a phenomenon’ by Le Figaro – just as the soaring tunes and primary colours of Copland’s Clarinet Concerto could have been written for the glorious sound and effortless flair of Andreas Ottensamer, clarinettist extraordinaire. And to begin, spring flowers from Claude Debussy: fresh, fragrant, and delivered with love.