London Symphonia invites audiences to embark on a journey of discovery with its presentation of The Brahms Effect with Tom Allen. Allen is a musician and storyteller, a CBC Radio 2 host, and he’ll be leading the audience in an examination of the creative force behind Brahms’ Clarinet Quintet on April 18.
“We are delighted to welcome back Tom Allen, one of Canada’s most captivating storytellers to our stage in this concert dedicated to the music and influence of composer Johannes Brahms,” said Andrew Chung, Artistic Producer of London Symphonia, in a statement.
“Tom will tell the intriguing story of how Brahms’ incredible Clarinet Quintet came to be and how it changed the music that came after as we sample works by Gerald Finzi, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Steve Reich. His weaving of the stories behind these compositions and their connections back to Brahms will enhance our emotional understanding and enjoyment of the music, and our appreciation of Brahms’ genius.”
The Music
Brahms Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op.115 was composed in 1891, after the composer had been impressed by a private performance by clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld. With him in mind, he also composed his Clarinet Trio, Op. 114, and premiered both works the same year. Mühlfeld performed both pieces, and Brahms himself performed in the trio. Both pieces were immediately successful, and added weight to the few such works that had been written for the configuration previously.
It was a hit with audiences then, a popularity that continues today. The work has influenced generations of composers who came after Brahms.
Graham Lord, principal clarinet, and London Symphonia’s String Quartet will perform Op. 115, along with selections from works that were inspired by Brahms’ masterpiece, including Steve Reich’s rarely performed New York Counterpoint.
“I’ve performed the Brahms Clarinet Quintet twice before and am thrilled to be presenting it alongside my dear colleagues from London Symphonia,” said Graham Lord, principal clarinet, London Symphonia.
“A highlight of this concert for me will be performing Steve Reich’s New York Counterpoint for live clarinet plus taped clarinets. This complex work is not often performed. I’ll be playing all the parts – including a recording of myself from almost 20 years ago! I’m absolutely delighted by all the pieces on the program, and so happy to share them with the audience here in London. I hope you can join us.”
Performers
Tom Allen
Born in Montréal, Tom Allen worked as a bass trombonist in New York City, and toured with the Great Lakes Brass. He later added broadcasting to his CV, and began working for the CBC, where he now hosts a show on CBC Radio 2.
Allen’s career has expanded to include authoring several books, creating and hosting shows for both theatre companies and orchestras, and touring chamber musicals with his wife, harpist Lori Gemmell. His latter includes The Missing Pages, Being Lost and JS Bach’s Long Walk in the Snow.
Tom was recently granted an honorary Doctoral degree from Brandon University. Recently, he published an 18th century-style Classical Musick Almynack, created with illustrator Ian Bell.
Graham Lord
A native of the Vancouver area, Graham Lord is the principal clarinetist of both London Symphonia and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. He is also a busy freelance musician who works across Canada. He’s been invited to perform as guest principal with the symphony orchestras of Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Nova Scotia, and Thunder Bay.
Lord has also performed internationally, including at the Scotiabank Northern Lights Music Festival (Ajijic, Mexico), Yale University’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival (Connecticut), and the COSI summer opera program (Sulmona, Italy). He has also given masterclasses at Western University, the University of Manitoba, Acadia University, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Performance Details
Audiences can experience The Brahms Effect with Tom Allen, the London Symphonia String Quartet, and Graham Lord in person, or online via London Symphonia’s new Watch and Listen channel, featuring high quality 4K HDR videos of 2025-26 concerts along with a treasure trove of past seasons.
Live performance of The Brahms Effect takes place April 18 at the Metropolitan United, 468 Wellington St, London, ON.
- Find show details and tickets [HERE].
- Find information about London Symphonia’s Watch and Listen channel [HERE].
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