We might not be up to hosting the Olympics, but Timothy Walker, Artistic Director of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, reckons London is the classical music capital of the world. Speaking after a sell-out performance of The Lord of the Rings score, conducted by its composer Howard Shore, Walker told reporters: "London's five great orchestras are all thriving and successful," adding that with "five great orchestras and two opera houses", London's classical output shadowed those of other major cities including Paris, New York and Berlin.
Clive Gillinson, chief executive of the London Symphony Orchestra, agreed with his colleague about the healthy shape of the classical scene in the capital, but warned there was a creeping conservatism in the musical tastes of audiences, which wasn't healthy. He told reporters: "In the last two to three years audiences have become slightly less willing to take risks with contemporary repertoire. The South Bank orchestras are definitely programming very conservatively. There is very little contemporary music in the programme. We are all having to respond to the marketplace - when we programme new, edgier work, and younger artists, the risks are higher. But we need to be careful in the balance between the commercial and creative aspects of the orchestra."