In these straitened times, a project on the scale of City of Dreams: Vienna 1900-1935 comes as something of a surprise. The Philharmonia’s series, extending over nine months and travelling to 18 cities, also serves to mark the inaugural season of Esa-Pekka Salonen as Principal Conductor.

And what better way to launch such an endeavour than with Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder. This monumental cantata about death and renewal, demanding massive forces, including 10 horns, eight flutes, seven clarinets, six trumpets and heavy iron chains, doesn’t get performed every day.

The solo roles are taxing, too, not least that of Waldemar, and Stig Andersen rode the orchestral flood admirably. Soile Isokoski as Tove and Monica Groop as the Wood Dove were among the other outstanding soloists.

Part 1 is really a succession of love songs and Salonen did well not to let the lid off too soon. Holding something in reserve for the Wild Hunt and the glorious Hymn to the Sun of Part 3 — terrific contributions from Simon Halsey’s City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and Philharmonia Voices — he brought this extravagant manifestation of late Romanticism to a suitably blazing climax.
Ends 8 October (0871 663 2583, www.philharmonia.co.uk/vienna).