Sinfonia of London/Wilson review – night of Technicolor masterpieces from one of the finest orchestras on the planet

Royal Albert Hall, LondonVerdi’s La Forza del Destino felt vital, cellist Jonathan Aasgaard was immaculate in Walton’s Concerto but it was John Wilson’s wizardly conducting through Respighi’s Roman Trilogy that brought the audience to their feet Another Sinfonia of London Prom, another five-star concert. Admittedly this programme of Technicolor masterpieces played into the wizardly hands of John Wilson, a conductor whose respect and enthusiasm for the golden age of MGM is legendary. None of this was movie music, however, and Hollywood panache is only a part of what makes this hand-picked ensemble one of the finest orchestras on the planet. First, there’s that full-fat sound, where every musician is a potential soloist, yet the blend is to die for. Then there’s the parade ground discipline and a willingness to follow Wilson – who seldom lingers – into the very fires of Mordor. The spirit, too, is palpable. Whole sections sway as one, occasionally with broad grins on their faces, such is their delight in the music making. If the conductor has a superpower, it’s an instinct for homing in on tiny details, not just drawing them out but making them really mean something