Riot Symphony; L’Olimpiade; LSO/Tilson Thomas review – humanity and hope

From wartime ballroom to boxing arena and venue for political meetings, Belfast's Ulster Hall has a grand and stormy history, dating back to 1862. Charles Dickens performed there; Protestant loyalist Ian Paisley gave fiery speeches; Led Zeppelin played Stairway to Heaven for the first time. Since 2009 it has been home to the Ulster Orchestra, Northern Ireland's only professional symphony orchestra, which played during the Troubles of the 1970s and 1980s and never canceled a concert. Where better to organize the world premiere of a work whose title contains an activist commitment?

Riot Symphony, composed by Conor Mitchell, was the ...