Last modified on Wed 19 May 2021 07.17 EDT If ever a musical occasion mattered more than the music itself, here it was. Social distancing meant the hall could not be completely full on Tuesday afternoon for the London Symphony Orchestraâs post-pandemic return. But the mere public address announcement âWelcome back to the Barbican Hallâ drew loud and prolonged cheering from the LSOâs first audience in 14 months, as well as answering applause and waving from the players themselves. For everyone, it was good to be back. âI never speak before concerts,â said a beaming Simon Rattle as he took to the podium, microphone in hand, âbut if there was ever an occasion to break the habit of a lifetime, here it is.â The sense of grateful reunion was palpable throughout, even if the cold truth for the LSO and London is that Brexit and reduced arts spending mean Rattle is soon to relocate back to Germany at the head of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra.