Lowell Liebermann: Flute Concerto No 2 // Anja Bihlmaier, Gareth Davies & London Symphony Orchestra

LSO Principal Flute Gareth Davies performs Lowell Liebermann's Flute Concerto No 2 with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Anja Bihlmaier. Recorded live at the Barbican, this performance marks the UK premiere of a concerto written in 2023 and first performed in 2024. One of today's most celebrated composers for the flute, Lowell Liebermann has built a devoted following through music that combines virtuosic brilliance with expressive lyricism. His Flute Concerto No 2 exemplifies many of the qualities that have made his music so popular: soaring melodies, vivid orchestral colours and a direct emotional appeal that places communication with the listener at its heart. Rather than following a programme or telling a specific story, Liebermann describes his music as being about 'the notes and the abstract emotions that they evoke'. Throughout the concerto, the solo flute acts as an expressive singing voice, moving effortlessly between moments of introspection and dazzling displays of virtuosity. The influence of Franz Schubert, whom Liebermann cited as an inspiration while composing the work, can be heard in the concerto's long-breathed melodies and lyrical character. Across its three movements, the concerto explores the full range of the instrument, from dark, mysterious sonorities and meditative passages to exhilarating flights of technical brilliance. Yet this is far more than a solo showpiece. Liebermann treats the orchestra as an equal partner, creating an engaging musical dialogue filled with colour, energy and imagination. The result is a compelling contemporary concerto that is both sophisticated and immediately approachable. Recorded live at the Barbican on 26 March 2026. Performers Anja Bihlmaier conductor Gareth Davies flute London Symphony Orchestra Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:00 I. Largo – moderato 09:37 II. Largo 19:27 III. Animato #LondonSymphonyOrchestra #Flute #ContemporaryMusic ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subscribe to the LSO's channel: http://bit.ly/LSOsubscribe Subscribe to LSO newsletter: https://smarturl.it/lsonewsletter Follow the LSO on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsymphonyorchestra Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/londonsymphonyorchestra TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@londonsymphonyorchestra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-symphony-orchestra/ Website: https://lso.co.uk/ Apple Music: http://geni.us/yH0sXY Spotify: http://spoti.fi/291cCk0 LSO Live: https://lsolive.lso.co.uk/