In 1848, for a French-language production of Nabucco at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, Giuseppe Verdi was asked to compose ballet music—a requirement of French grand opéra.

On the evidence of the 83-year-old maestro’s performance with the same orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall last night, the answer would have to be a resonant affirmative. The Philharmonia Chorus ...