Rating: 4.5/5
Venue: Sinfonia Smith Square, London
The Orchestral Forest is yours to explore. Wander between the trees, open your ears and listen. Really listen.
As you experience an orchestra from within, free to move between the instruments, discover a story of beauty, patience, peril and hope. Take control of the mixing desk and choose how you want to encounter extraordinary nature-inspired music by Felix Mendelssohn, Dobrinka Tabakova, Nadia Boulanger, Michael Nyman and more.
The Orchestral Forest: A Journey Through Music, Nature, and Emotion
Tucked into the heart of Westminster lies one of the city's most beautiful concert venues, Smith Square Hall, an ideal setting for The ConcertLab: The Orchestral Forest. This evening proved to be more than a performance; it was an exploration of music’s power to evoke the beauty and fragility of nature.
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed through the venue's Crypt and led upstairs to the main hall, where it becomes instantly clear that this would be no typical concert experience. The hall was set with empty music stands scattered around the room, forest-themed lights casting a soft glow, and the sounds of wildlife and birdsong echoing throughout the space. This immersive atmosphere made a fitting prelude to one of the most stunning and evocative orchestral performances I have attended.
The performance began with a wash of green lighting and growing birdsong, creating an instant sense of the forest. Musicians took their places on elevated platforms as if to embody towering trees, surrounding the audience. We were told, “Now this orchestral forest is yours to explore… let the sounds lead you,” a sentiment that set the tone for the entire evening as we drifted through this forest of sound.
Audience involvement in this concert was like nothing I’d ever experienced. Initially mesmerized, we soon began to wander, enchanted by the unfolding music that seemed to guide our movement in the room. This engagement was bold and refreshing, a testament to how The ConcertLab challenges norms and transforms the concert experience. Even with audience members strolling around, the atmosphere remained reverent; a testament to the boundary-pushing yet respectful ambiance that defined the evening.
The performance was profoundly emotional, especially for someone like myself who grew up learning and listening to classical music. It brought out memories and feelings that only music can evoke. In one especially poignant moment, the sound of trees being cut down was accompanied by low cello notes, creating a starkly moving experience as musicians symbolically “fell” to the ground. The narrator’s voice declared, “no trees are left standing,” as we watched the musicians lie motionless. The piano played a haunting solo, leaving us to consider: is this what humanity has done? Yet, hope returned as the musicians slowly rose, the piano lifted into a more hopeful tone, and birdsong resumed—a powerful reminder of nature's resilience.
Throughout the evening, recordings of real-world voices echoed reminders of our responsibility to protect these natural spaces, adding depth to the performance. These moments stood out, blending musical storytelling with urgent environmental messages, and I found myself wishing for even more of these real-life perspectives to be woven in. As the music rose, the message was clear: this wasn't simply an observation of nature but a mirror to humanity's impact on it.
The Orchestral Forest stretched the boundaries of traditional performance, infusing each note with purpose and emotion, creatively unlocking new ways for audiences to connect with classical music. It challenges the question, "Why should orchestral music remain confined to tradition?" and brilliantly explores what might lie beyond those limits.
The musicians’ talent and professionalism were astounding, especially given that many were recent graduates who had only been playing together for three weeks. Their ability to remain fully present and in character, even as audience members moved close by or observed them lying on the floor, was impressive and added another layer of intensity to the performance.
While I was thoroughly captivated, a few additional touches could have enhanced the production. More expressive lighting changes, additional voice recordings, and a dramatic closing would have added even greater emotional depth and polish to an already remarkable experience. And on a practical note—an immersive standing concert calls for comfortable footwear!
This evening was a stunning and deeply memorable experience, one that will stay with me for some time. I look forward to seeing how The ConcertLab series continues to innovate and redefine classical music.
You can find out more about The Orchestral Forest, here.
Review by Alex
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