Freya Waley-Cohen's Mother Tongue Premieres Amidst Empty Seats

On November 6, 2024, the London Philharmonic Orchestra held a concert featuring the world premiere of Freya Waley-Cohen's piece titled Mother Tongue, conducted by Edward Gardner. The performance was highlighted by Vikingur Ólafsson's interpretation of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, which drew a significant portion of the audience, resulting in many leaving before the premiere. Despite the focus on Brahms, those who left early missed out on both Mother Tongue and a vibrant rendition of Bartók’s Miraculous Mandarin ballet. While the premiere featured four dynamic sections, the connection between its themes of language and culture was not always clear, with the music sometimes lacking focus amidst its energetic passages. Overall, the concert's reception indicated a disparity in audience engagement with the new composition compared to the more established Brahms piece.