Bacchanalia Magazine

by Cara Maclean

Lead singer of Florence + The Machine, Florence Welch, took to the stage to unleash a euphoric spectacle upon London on September 11th alongside music legend Jules Buckley and London Contemporary Orchestra to perform ‘Symphony of Lungs’.

Nothing but exhilaration and ecstasy was present in Royal Albert Hall as Welch took to the stage on home soil to unleash the reimagined take on her debut album ‘Lungs’ 15 years later. Not only was Welch adorned in the medieval fashion of her lacy red gown and melodramatic sleeves – but so too was the crowd – they brought folklore to modern day society, and for an evening we were whisked away to a land of fairy lights, flower crowns and even lungs to match the album cover.

The 60 piece orchestra added to the mythical masterpiece that ‘Lungs’ is. Welch delved into the album as a whole as she opened with the unfathomably grand resonance of songs such as ‘Drumming Song’ and the operatic take of Candy Stanton’s ‘You’ve Got The Love’. Florence states “This album is truly an exhalation and a gasp – a cacophony of ideas and influences.”

Welch has continued to prove throughout the years that she is a force to be reckoned with and has continuously proved herself reliable on stage. With influences such as Patti Smith and Kate Bush, ‘Symphony of Lungs’ was nothing short of iconic.

The orchestral palette was shaped in a way that left audiences stunned and bewildered as Welch and Buckley continued to deliver. Album singles such as ‘Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) and ‘Dog Days Are Over’ left the entirety of the crowd on their feet as they created a symphony of claps to the beat of the songs. A sky full of stars was present that night, as flickers of phone lights circled the room for the siren song ‘Cosmic Love’.

Welch continued to thank the audience for their support over the past 15 years, and how she couldn’t quite fathom that she is back singing the bombastic revival of ‘Lungs’. Florence left the stage on a lighthearted note, closing with track 17 – ‘Falling’. A cathartic ending to an emotional and enrapturing night.