★★★★★ Initially, I thought about lowering the rating for this vibrant concert as the Barbican audience was not presented with anything particularly profound or contemplative. However, why seek deep, soul-searching symphonies when Gustavo Dudamel was at the helm, expertly guiding the London Symphony Orchestra through a series of Ravel and Strauss pieces that radiated sensuality and highlighted the orchestra’s remarkable virtuosity?

Often, the atmosphere of a concert is set from the very first notes. This event began with a burst of sound that was thrilling yet impeccably executed, making one forget the challenges some conductors face in starting Strauss’s Don Juan. From that moment on, it was clear that this would be a display of artistic mastery.

Dudamel, despite his renowned status, shows great loyalty to the orchestras he conducts. Next year, he will transition from the Los Angeles Philharmonic to the New York Philharmonic. Yet, this LSO concert marked his first performance with the ensemble in a decade. His guest performances are clearly a treat. Throughout the evening, the atmosphere was daring and adventurous, filled with lush textures and exhilarating fortissimos.

Conducting four intricate late-Romantic pieces entirely from memory, Dudamel inspired a fearless vibrancy in the players, showcasing the orchestra at its finest: the horns roared in Don Juan and Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier suite, the strings delivered a rich tapestry of tones during Ravel’s Rapsodie espagnole, and the woodwind principals excelled in a series of solos that were both lively and beautifully tranquil. Although I had some doubts about Latvian soprano Marina Rebeka’s performance in Ravel’s Shéhérazade, as her tone was somewhat sharp for such languorous music, she executed these enchanting songs with notable elegance.

As for Dudamel? He appeared to be relishing the moment, as if shedding the burdens of his responsibilities for an evening. It reminded me of the jubilant concerts he led two decades ago, before the weight of numerous obligations began to shape his career.