‘Magical’. ‘Flawless’. ‘A hypnotic presence at the keyboard’. The critics ran out of adjectives when Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson played at the Royal Festival Hall last year, and if you’ve heard him in action, you’ll understand why.We’re thrilled to welcome Víkingur back for Brahms’s tempestuous First Piano Concerto: a volcano of poetry and emotion from the wounded heart of a young genius. It could have been written for Ólafsson – but there’s no letting up after the interval, as Edward Gardner conducts Bartók’s kaleidoscopic ballet, and celebrates the special magic of one of the 21st century’s true sonic alchemists: Freya Waley-Cohen.
*Commissioned by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
A spotlight on Romanticism with three beautifully contrasting pieces: Liszt in fine form, late Mendelssohn and ‘Great’ Schubert.
Glowing colours and grand passions: Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra join violinist Ilya Gringolts in Szymanowski’s gorgeous concerto – plus music by Wagner, Strauss and Dora Pejačević.
Live music meets pre-recorded material in a boundary-pushing experience from Resident Artist Lawrence Power, with guests Héloïse Werner and Sergio Bucheli.
A Nordic Soundscapes discussion
Our former Principal Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to conduct three works by fellow-Finns to close our Nordic Soundscapes series.
The masked stranger, the mysterious commission; the dying Mozart frantically composing as his life ebbs away… If you’ve seen Amadeus, you’ll know the legend behind Mozart’s unfinished Requiem. For once, though, the reality is even more incredible than the myth – as music’s greatest genius comes to terms with the ultimate mystery of human existence. Mozart finds sorrow, courage and deep compassion, then pours it all out in music of unforgettable beauty and power. Understandably, any performance is something of an occasion; it’s one of those masterpieces that you simply have to hear live, and today at Cadogan Hall the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is joined by the glorious voices of the City of London Choir – one of the capital’s longest-established (and most respected) non-professional choruses.
Four Philharmonia string players give a free performance of Ravel’s String Quartet, widely regarded as one of the pinnacles of the chamber music repertoire.
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Joy, warmth and irrepressible energy: Sirocco is a great storm of music from across the world, played with heart and virtuosity.
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Composer Rufus Isabel Elliot and artists Miek Zwamborn and Rutger Emmelkamp from KNOCKvologan Studies bring the Isle of Mull’s wild Atlantic rainforest of Tireragan to LSO St Luke’s.
Conducted by Rafael Payare, the Montréal orchestra’s Barbican concert launches a European tour. Preceding symphonic Berlioz, Javier Perianes is the soloist in Beethoven’s playful Piano Concerto No 1.
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The LSO is joined by the Mercury Prize-nominated ensemble seed., led by saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi, for an evening of new music and collaboration.
Revered conductor Herbert Blomstedt, still sharing the delight he finds in music-making in his late nineties, conducts Mahler’s Ninth Symphony.
Three composers cry out in the void. Confronted by unimaginable horror, Schoenberg rediscovered his Jewish roots, and created a musical drama of savage, defiant courage, in tribute to the Holocaust victims. In Soviet Russia, the authorities expected Shostakovich to write a propaganda symphony: but what they got was a searing denunciation of man’s inhumanity to man – more potent, and more urgent than ever in 2024. As part of our exploration of memory, Andrey Boreyko conducts three testaments from a dark century – with the incomparable Gidon Kremer as soloist in the Violin Concerto by Mieczysław Weinberg: composer, survivor and Shostakovich’s most devoted friend.
*Please note the change in artist from originally advertised.
Two sound worlds, two centuries apart: Lachenmann’s Melodies meets Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.
The RPO’s Principal Associate Conductor Alexander Shelley has been called ‘a natural communicator’ – and tonight he has a joyous story to tell. He kicks off with the whirlwind energy and homespun high-spirits of Smetana’s irresistible comedy overture. He finishes with the blazing trumpets and big, sunlit melodies of Brahms’ Second and happiest symphony – it was written while the composer was on his summer holidays, and you can tell! In between, we’re making musical history, with the first UK performance of a new piano concerto written by the Hungarian sonic conjuror Peter Eötvös in homage to György Cziffra, a family friend of the composer who survived communist brutality to become one of the 20th century’s most dazzling pianists. It’s played by János Balázs – who gave the world premiere in Paris, in 2021.
A handsome prince, a wicked wizard and a swan princess: Swan Lake might be a ballet about black magic and doomed love, but the real sorcery comes from Tchaikovsky’s ravishing score. That’s the climax of this concert – but make no mistake, tonight there’s wonder from first note to last. Weber’s fairytale overture opens the portals of enchantment, and the award-winning young American cellist Zlatomir Fung sprinkles his own brand of stardust on the delightful Rococo Variations. Tchaikovsky meets Mozart, with a twinkle in his eye.
Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life), Haydn’s Nelson Mass and pure sonic wonder from Samy Moussa. Hannu Lintu conducts a concert of outsize emotions and truly spectacular sounds.
Ebullient saxophonist Jess Gillam joins the Philharmonia and our Principal Conductor Santtu for an irresistible Sunday matinee.