London Symphony Orchestra
g rin Sp 13 20 WHAT’S ON LSO St Luke’s 10th Birthday
Celebrating a decade of music-making with twelve days of festivities UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica
Meet the 21st century composers BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts
Vienna Piano Trio Residency
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UBS SOUNDSCAPES: ECLECTICA Eclectica is an acclaimed genre-bending series hand-picking the most innovative collaborations from across the globe and placing them into the spellbinding setting of the Jerwood Hall at night. To kick off 2013, we bring in two of this century’s most popular contemporary composers: mesmerising, provocative John Adams and the full-of-flair and funky Mark-Anthony Turnage. Page 4
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March 2013 marks ten years since the birth of LSO St Luke’s. Join us for twelve days of festivities and bask in the sheer diversity of this unique venue – from elegant chamber works to world music, with effervescent displays from community ensembles and a bounty of participation opportunities for all. Pages 10–17
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The Jerwood Hall’s arresting blend of heritage and state-of-the-art has long proved a hit with the great and the good of the entertainment industry, from Sting to KD Lang and Corinne Bailey Rae. This January LSO St Luke’s welcomes the sublime Sinéad O’Connor for a strippeddown acoustic set. Page 5
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Special Guests
‘A livewire impossible to pigeonhole’ (The Times), British composer Tansy Davies’ work is lined with a gritty darkness that captivates as it unsettles. Davies’ urban sound takes centre stage in her UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica concert, which forms part of a wider LSO Futures week, taking place both at the Barbican and LSO St Luke’s. Page 16
BBC RADIO 3 Lunchtime conCerts LSO St Luke’s and BBC Radio 3’s established partnership continues to thrive with a month-long residency from one of Austria’s premier chamber ensembles, the Vienna Piano Trio, complete with new violinist, Bogdan Boˇzovi´c. Page 8
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LSO FUTURES
LSO DiscoverY LSO St Luke’s is the beating heart of the LSO’s education and community programme, LSO Discovery, giving everyone the chance to make and be moved by music. Be part of our first ever Singing Day, observe masterclasses with LSO Principals, hear the LSO On Track Orchestra from the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony re-unite, and much more.
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Wed 16 Jan 6.30–8.30pm LSO DISCOVERY
CENTRE FOR ORCHESTRA MASTERCLASS: Tim Hugh LSO Principal Cello Tim Hugh gives a masterclass for musicians from the Guildhall School. Free entry, booking essential
‘I’ve always been open to influences, even from rock and pop music, which is a bit of a can of worms for some people. But as an artist, if you can’t open a can of worms, what can you do?’
John Adams
Fri 18 Jan 10am–12pm LSO DISCOVERY
CENTRE FOR ORCHESTRA MASTERCLASS: Dawn Upshaw
Mark-Anthony Turnage
Join soprano Dawn Upshaw as she works on Debussy’s Le Livre de Baudelaire with musicians from the Guildhall School. Free entry,booking essential
Wed 23 Jan 8pm Tim Hugh UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica
Thu 17 Jan 7.30pm
Meet the 21st century composers: Mark-Anthony Turnage and John Adams UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica
January and February’s UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica concerts focus on two of the most celebrated composers today – John Adams and Mark-Anthony Turnage – leaders of a generation who are just as likely to take their inspiration from rock and jazz as they are from the classical giants. Both composers’ Eclectica evenings sit alongside residencies with the LSO at the Barbican in the new year, with the informal, jazz café atmosphere of the Jerwood Hall proving the perfect setting to explore some of their more intimate, experimental offerings. In January, Pulitzer-Prize winning American composer John Adams conducts a selection of works showcasing the colourful, imaginative style that he has become known for. An early champion of minimalist music, Adams took the movement’s shifting moods and
textures as a point of departure, throwing elements of pop, rock, jazz and classical into the mix. While the Barbican concerts examine his orchestral music, January’s Eclectica is dedicated to two of his smallerscale masterpieces: the richly textured String Quartet, with its original performers the St Lawrence String Quartet returning, and the hypnotic Shaker Loops, so-called because of the ‘shaking’ effect of its oscillating string lines. The following month sees an Eclectica curated by British composer Mark-Anthony Turnage. For this one-off performance, jazz-devotee Turnage is joined by Grammy-winning bass player John Patitucci, who showcases his formidable improvisation skills in A Prayer Out of Stillness, a concertante for double bass, along with jazz-classical pianist Gwilym Simock, who has composed a piece especially for the evening. The evening reflects Turnage’s famously diverse influences, which have seen references to Beyoncé, Led Zeppelin and Miles Davis find their way into his music: ‘People have an idea of classical music as pure and untouchable, but if you get closer to it you realise composers have always begged, borrowed and stolen from elsewhere’, says Turnage.
Special Guests
Sinéad O’Connor An intimate acoustic set from one of music’s most sublime and influential voices. Sinéad O’Connor returns to the stage accompanied by keyboard and guitar, to present songs from her latest album, How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? alongside classics and a few rarities. Tickets £20 £30 SOLD OUT, returns only
John Adams John Adams Shaker Loops String Quartet
John Adams conductor St Lawrence String Quartet LSO String Orchestra One of Canada’s premier chamber ensembles, the St Lawrence String Quartet, and LSO string players present some of John Adams’ key chamber works. Tickets £10 £15 £22
Promoted by the Barbican
John Adams appears with the LSO on the Barbican stage on Thursday 17 and Sunday 27 January, to conduct his own works alongside music by Bartók, Debussy, Copland, Ives and others. For more, visit lso.co.uk.
6 JANUARY – FEBRUARY
lso.co.uk 7 Sat 2 Feb 1pm
Sat 16 Feb 10.30am–4.30pm
Special Guests
LSO DISCOVERY
– Toru Takemitsu Rain Spell – Takemitsu Tree Line Toru Jo Kondo Surface, Depth and Colour Dai Fujikura Secret Forest
Newly appointed LSO Choral Director Simon Halsey leads a singing workshop on Brahms’ Requiem followed by an informal performance which friends and family can watch. Whether you sing in a local choir, or haven’t sung since school, this is an exciting opportunity to get to grips with a classic work. Some sight-singing ability is required.
Total Immersion: Sounds from Japan
Tickets £12 This event is part of the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s Total Immersion: Sounds from Japan.
Sun 3 Feb 6–9pm Music Explorers
Fri 25 Jan 7.30pm Special Guests
Guildhall Chamber Orchestra Shostakovich (arr. Barshai) String Quartet No 10 arranged for String Orchestra Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings Mozart Symphony No 40 Candida Thompson director Joshua Mills tenor Alexander Edmundson horn Guildhall Chamber Orchestra Guildhall musicians present Britten’s nocturnal song cycle and Shostakovich’s Tenth String Quartet, performed here in an arrangement for chamber orchestra by Rudolf Barshai. Guildhall alumna and Artistic Director of the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Candida Thompson, directs. Tickets £10 £15 (£5 concessions) Promoted by the Guildhall School
Sat 26 Jan 10am–12pm Workshops 12–12.30pm Concert LSO DISCOVERY
Music Explorers For families with under-8s
Join our musical circus for the whole family for a chance to meet LSO musicians, try out instruments, take part in a Gamelan workshop and make your own props to use in the concert at the end of the morning. Tickets £3 children, £5 adults (under 12 months free, no ticket required)
Fri 1 Feb 12.30–1.15pm LSO DISCOVERY
Lunchtime Concert Suitable for all ages over 5
This spring, the Discovery lunchtime concerts, presented by Rachel Leach, focus on collaborations between LSO Principals and invited guests. Today LSO Principal Percussionist Neil Percy is joined by jazz pianist Nikki Isles to perform a selection of their favourites, ranging from jazz standards to the altogether more unusual. Free entry, no ticket required Supported by the Coutts Charitable Trust and LSO Friends
Joost Bosdijk
Thu 14 Feb 6–8.30pm LSO DISCOVERY
CENTRE FOR ORCHESTRA MASTERCLASS: Joost Bosdijk LSO bassoonist Joost Bosdijk teaches Guildhall bassoon players. Free entry, booking essential
LSO DISCOVERY
LSO Open Rehearsal LSO Principal Guest Conductor Daniel Harding puts the Orchestra through their paces as they prepare for a Barbican concert of Sibelius, Beethoven and Turnage (Tuesday 5 February, 7.30pm) with special guest trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger. Tickets £4, telephone booking only
LSO DISCOVERY
Mark-Anthony Turnage
Tickets £17 (includes music hire) Afternoon spectator tickets £5 (from 3pm) Get £5 off the Singing Day if you also book tickets for the LSO performance of Brahms’ Requiem at the Barbican on 30 or 31 March.
Mark-Anthony Turnage A Prayer Out of Stillness Gwilym Simcock new work for piano and string orchestra plus jazz by Gwilym Simcock and John Patitucci Gwilym Simcock piano John Patitucci double bass/bass guitar LSO String Orchestra Leading creative light Mark-Anthony Turnage complements his LSO concerts at the Barbican with this jazz-infused Eclectica, featuring jazz legends John Patitucci and Gwilym Simcock. Expect a ‘bass off’ between Patitucci and an LSO double bass player … Tickets £10 £15 £22
Part of the LSO and LSC Choral Development Programme which is generously supported by the J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust
Fri 15 Feb 12.30–1.15pm LSO DISCOVERY
Lunchtime Concert Suitable for all ages over 5
LSO Principal Keyboard John Alley performs alongside pianist Elizabeth Burley with a concert of works for four hands at the piano, presented by Rachel Leach. Free entry, no ticket required
Wed 13 Feb
UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica
LSO SINGING DAY: Brahms Requiem
Sian Edwards conductor Guildhall Music Ensemble From Takesmitsu’s beguiling vision of slender acacias in Tree Line to the dizzying evocation of birds and insects in Fujikura’s Secret Forest, this concert presents a fragile, shimmering acoustic world.
Tue 19 Feb 8pm
Mark-Anthony Turnage is the LSO’s Composer Focus in the 2012/13 season. His works will be performed by the LSO at the Barbican on Tuesday 5 and Thursday 7 February, conducted by Daniel Harding. For more, visit lso.co.uk.
Disco
Supported by the Coutts Charitable Trust and LSO Friends
Centre for Orchestra Masterclasses 2.30–5.30pm Gareth Davies LSO Principal Flute John Alley LSO Principal Keyboard 6.30–8.30pm Chris Richards LSO Principal Clarinet Two opportunities to watch LSO Principals coach talented young musicians from the Guildhall School. Free entry, booking essential
The best of LSO Discovery LSO DISCOVERY
The words ‘music education’ may conjure up all sorts of images for you, almost all involving children. But learning is for life, and no one is ever too old to make and be moved by music. That’s why the LSO has introduced two new in-depth participation opportunities for adults: Singing Days and the Not(e) Perfect Orchestra. All-day immersion is the name of the game – participants will work with world-class conductors and musicians to develop their own musicality and perform for friends and family. These new activities complement our existing masterclasses and open rehearsals, which allow for up-close-and-personal observation of the pros.
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lso.co.uk 9 Thu 7 Mar 1pm
Festival Lunchtime Concert Pass
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts
Buy the Festival Lunchtime Concert Pass and experience all six BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts in the 10th Birthday Week for just £25, plus gain guaranteed entry to the LSO Discovery Lunchtime Concert on Monday 25 March. Visit lso.co.uk/festival.
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Special Guests
Vienna Piano Trio
The Song Guild
Beethoven Variations in E-flat major Op 44 Piano Trio in B-flat major Op 97 (‘Archduke’)
Graham Johnson director Guildhall School Musicians
Fri 8 Mar 7.30pm
Graham Johnson is a leading accompanist and Senior Professor in Vocal Accompaniment at the Guildhall. His recent work on Schubert songs launches at the Wigmore Hall in April; as a taster, The Song Guild presents this programme of Schubert settings of British writers, including Sir Walter Scott and Colley Cibber.
LSO DISCOVERY
Tickets £15 (£5 concessions)
The Vienna Piano Trio begin their month-long residency with seminal works by Beethoven. Tickets £10 (£9 concessions)
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Fri 15 Mar 7.30pm
Soundhub
SOUNDHUB SHOWCASE: THE RIOT ENSEMBLE PRESENTS THE NAVARRA QUARTET String Quartets from around the world by Henri Dutilleux (France), Chris Theofanidis and Aaron HollowayNahum (US), Giovanni Albini (Italy) and Gustavo Penha (Brazil), accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video with the Navarra Quartet. A wine reception with musicians will follow this concert. Tickets £10 (£5 concessions)
Story telling with Hannah Conway
Vienna Piano Trio Residency BBC Radio 3 lunchtime concerts
Bogdan Božovic´ violin Matthias Gredler cello Stefan Mendl piano Thu 7 Mar 1pm Thu 14 Mar 1pm Thu 21 Mar 1pm Fri 22 Mar 1pm The new year brings a fresh series of BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts to LSO St Luke’s, with the Vienna Piano Trio arriving in March for a month-long residency. As well as offering four opportunities to spend a lunch-break immersed in the group’s performances, the second half of the series will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 as part of the LSO St Luke’s Tenth Birthday Festival.
The Trio has been a fixture of the international chamber music scene since its formation in 1988, performing to audiences around the world, earning rave reviews for its recordings and picking up several Editor’s Choice awards and an Echo-Klassik along the way. This season sees violinist Bogdan Božovic´ join the ensemble’s ranks, and March’s concerts offer one of the first opportunities to hear the Trio’s new line-up. The series of four concerts gives a picture of the Piano Trio’s evolution over the centuries, from the elegant Classicism of Haydn to the present day, in the form of a new work by Austrian composer Reinhard Fuchs. Two very different masterpieces in the genre are surveyed – Beethoven’s landmark ‘Archduke’ Trio and Ravel’s poetic, 20th-century offering – and the series concludes in a concert devoted to Schubert, described by pianist Stefan Mendl as Vienna’s ‘greatest native composer’.
Promoted by Riot Ensemble in association with LSO Soundhub, which is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Fri 8 Mar
Thu 14 Mar 1pm
LSO DISCOVERY
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts
Concerts for Under-5s: Story telling with Hannah Conway Join Hannah Conway and LSO players as they re-tell a popular children’s story through music. 10.30–11.15am Nurseries & Children’s Centres Tickets £2 per person Booking opens Tue 22 Jan, limited to 50 places per nursery / children’s centre To book call Natalie Chivers on 020 7382 2535 or email natalie.chivers@lso.co.uk 12.30–1.15pm Families Tickets £3 per person via Barbican Box Office (under 12 months free, no ticket required) Supported by AXA Investment Managers
Vienna Piano Trio
Mozart Piano Trio in G major K11 Reinhard Fuchs new work Dvorˇák Piano Trio No 2 in G minor Hear the endless possibilities of the Piano Trio come to life with music ranging from 18th century Mozart to a brand new commission.
Promoted by the Guildhall School
Sun 17 Mar Special Guests
Camden Music Spring Festival Some of Camden’s most talented pupils, aged eight to 18, return to LSO St Luke’s for inspiring performances of a wide range of music. 1pm Camden Concert Band 7.30pm Camden Big Band Camden Sunday Saxes New Camden Jazz Ensemble Camden Youth Jazz Band Tickets £8 £12 for both concerts if booked at the same time. £4 for under-18s, over-65s and students Promoted by Camden Music Service
Tickets £10 (£9 concessions)
Fri 15 Mar 12.30–1.15pm LSO DISCOVERY
Lunchtime Concert Suitable for all ages over 5
A chance to hear a pair of Guildhall musicians in performance, with the usual Q&A opportunities and lively discussion led by LSO presenter Rachel Leach. Free entry, no ticket required Supported by the Coutts Charitable Trust and LSO Friends Camden Youth Jazz Band
10 LSO St Luke’s 10TH BIRTHDAY
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‘If any building could be said to encapsulate the hopes, the ambitions and the dreams of not just a single orchestra but an entire profession, this is it. It is not only a landmark in LSO history, but also a lantern lighting the path into the future.’ Richard Morrison, The LSO: A Century of Triumph and Turbulence
Celebrating a decade of music-making with TWELVE days of festivities LSO St LUKE’s 10th Birthday, 21 MARCH – 1 APRIL 2013 Imagine a ruined church with a vast hole where a roof should be, naked and flung open to the sky. Wind whistles through gaping doors and windows; weeds cling greedily to cold stone. Once upon a time it was glorious: a gleaming jewel with a spire so quirky – a fluted obelisk – it could only have been designed by one of Christopher Wren’s most promising students, Nicholas Hawksmoor. It played a pivotal role in the neighbourhood, supporting some of London’s poorest families and schools, alongside local businessmen and their workers. The church was full to the rafters, flooded with the chatter of a diverse local community against a backdrop of stirring hymns and life-altering liturgy. Then, in 1959, this great building fell silent. 27 March 2013 marks exactly a decade since the LSO took on one of the biggest challenges of its life: to transform the crumbling 18th-century church within view of their home at the Barbican Centre into a thriving music education centre and state-of-the-art performance venue, with community at its heart. Ten years on, the founders’ dreams have come true: LSO St Luke’s stands as a physical embodiment of the Orchestra’s core mission to engage the broadest mix of people in evocative music-making. Every day LSO St Luke’s welcomes people of all ages and from all walks of life to experience a rich diet of music, in a myriad of innovative ways. The past decade has seen some truly outstanding music-making take place at LSO St Luke’s. The building has welcomed Lang Lang as Artist-in-Residence for a week; seen Sting perform on the lute as part of the Eclectica series; presented a free LSO Discovery lunchtime concert with violin superstar Midori; hosted BBC sessions with James Brown,
Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Norah Jones and Annie Lennox (to name but a few); acted as a base for countless LSO rehearsals, many open to the public; and opened its doors to the community with a plethora of performances from local children and adults, one of the most memorable being a specially commissioned oratorio (Alasdair Nicolson‘s Two Sisters, A Rose, A Flood and Snow). In celebration of all these achievements and more, LSO St Luke’s flings open its doors for twelve days of festivities from 21 March to 1 April, around the theme of ‘Rites of Passage’. True to form, there’s a huge range of events to get involved in: BBC Radio 3 will broadcast daily lunchtime concerts, featuring outstanding chamber artists, live from the building presented by Fiona Talkington. The LSO’s renowned education and community programme, LSO Discovery, will be toasted in style with a series of showcases, interactive events, masterclasses and open days. And it wouldn’t be a birthday party without a few special guests, so we’ve invited the awardwinning and utterly unique Aurora Orchestra and middle-eastern jazzer, singer and oud player Dhafer Youssef along for the ride. Now, over half a century since the church closed, it’s plain to see that St Luke’s has been well and truly resurrected. Find out more and book online at lso.co.uk/lsostlukes10
12 MARCH
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Schubert Trio movement in B-flat major Notturno in E-flat major Piano Quintet in A major (‘Trout’) The final concert in the Vienna Piano Trio residency pays homage to one of Vienna’s greatest composers: Franz Schubert. Quintet includes Rachel Roberts (viola) and Chi-Chi Nwanoku (double bass). Tickets £10 (£9 concessions)
LSO DISCOVERY
Gamelan Concert Andy Channing director Gamelan Lila Cita LSO Community Gamelan Group Immerse yourself in a vibrant performance of traditional and contemporary Balinese music; plus, hear some new arrangements to celebrate the 10th birthday of LSO St Luke’s.
Thu 21 Mar 1pm
Thu 21 Mar 7pm
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts
LSO DISCOVERY
Vienna Piano Trio
Haydn Piano Trio in C major Beethoven Allegretto in B-flat major Ravel Piano Trio The Vienna Piano Trio perform the third in their four-concert series. Today, they explore Ravel’s virtuosic Piano Trio, alongside classical masters Haydn and Beethoven. Tickets £10 (£9 concessions)
Sat 23 Mar 7.30pm Special Guests
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Aurora: New Moves Insomnia Vivaldi Flute Concerto in G minor ‘La Notte’ (The Night) James MacMillan A Deep but Dazzling Darkness Ligeti Poème symphonique for 100 metronomes Britten Nocturne Ivor Gurney (arr. Iain Farrington) Sleep
Fri 22 Mar 7.30pm
The LSO and LSO On Track were at the heart of the London 2012 Olympic Ceremonies
Hilary Finch, The Times, on Aurora Orchestra
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‘There seems to be no end to what this young ensemble is willing, hungry and able to do.’
Au ro ra
Fri 22 Mar 1pm
Tickets £7 (£5 concessions)
LSO ON TRACK: Olympic Orchestra Matthew Gibson conductor LSO musicians & LSO On Track young musicians
Nicholas Collon conductor Allan Clayton tenor Thomas Gould violin William Reynolds designer / lighting designer Aurora Orchestra Aurora’s award-winning New Moves series put the ensemble at the cutting edge of orchestral performance, with eclectic programming and inspiring cross art-form collaborations. For Insomnia, Aurora collaborates with outstanding young British tenor Allan Clayton to create a haunting theatrical concert charting a course through the darkness of a troubled night. This concert includes James MacMillan’s A Deep but Dazzling Darkness, commissioned for the opening of LSO St Luke’s in 2003. Tickets £12 £18 £25 £30 (20% student discount)
The LSO On Track Orchestra from the London 2012 Opening Ceremony comes together to re-live the Olympic magic. Tickets £3 children, £5 adults On sale Mon 11 Feb
Aurora’s New Moves series is supported by Arts Council England and the Jerwood Charitable Foundation
LSO On Track is supported by the Clore Duffield Foundation, the Hedley Foundation, Sir John Cass’s Foundation and UBS
Promoted by Aurora in association with LSO St Luke’s
Gamelan
The AURORA STORY For an ensemble that is still two years away from its own tenth birthday, Aurora Orchestra has lost no time in making a name for itself, bringing an unrivalled blend of youthful energy, outstanding musicianship and adventurous, ambitious programming to each concert. Founded in 2005 by Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon, the ensemble was formed out of a simple desire to play together. ‘There was absolutely no real thought about the long-term,’ Collon explains, ‘we just knew we wanted to be an orchestra’. Yet just eight years on, Aurora is one of the most celebrated young ensembles in London, and in 2011 became the youngest ever recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Ensemble Award. As LSO St Luke’s Associate Orchestra, Aurora benefit from a close relationship with the LSO. The Orchestra has won a crowd of followers – both classical aficionados and new recruits – through its innovative, imaginative programmes and one-of-a-kind cross-arts collaborations. Previous New Moves concerts at LSO St Luke’s have featured everything from breakdance, tango and capoeira to film and experimental theatre.
14 MARCH
lso.co.uk 15 Tue 26 Mar 7.30pm
Thu 28 Mar 1pm
LSO Discovery
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts
LSO Community Choir Concert As part of the LSO St Luke’s birthday celebrations, the Community Choir celebrates its own anniversary with a programme of highlights drawn from ten happy years of music-making. Tickets £7 (£5 concessions) Part of the LSO and LSC Choral Development Programme which is generously supported by the J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust
Nicholas Angelich
Ravel Extracts from ‘Miroirs’ Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition Nicholas Angelich piano Ravel was a remarkable arranger as well as composer, and is responsible for the glittering orchestral version of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition that many of us know and love. Here, Nicholas Angelich performs the original piano version. Tickets £10 (£9 concessions)
‘Our gigs together are not about what happens for an hour on stage … how we are as musicians comes as much from the time we spend hanging around: waiting at airports, travelling together, being on the road, in a bus, sharing good food.’ Dhafer Youssef
Meet DHAFER YOUSSEF UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica
Wed 27 Mar 1pm BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts
LSO String Ensemble Soundhub composer, Ayanna Witter-Johnson
Sun 24 Mar 10am–5.30pm Barbican and LSO St Luke’s
Mon 25 Mar 7.30pm LSO Discovery
LSO Discovery
Brahms DISCOVERY DAY
present. Curate. Collaborate. Innovate.
Find out more about Romantic composer Johannes Brahms with exclusive access to an LSO rehearsal followed by a lecture and a one-off performance of Brahms’ String Sextet by LSO string players.
The LSO’s new initiative for emerging composers, LSO Soundhub, joins forces with teenage members of the Digital Technology Group. Curated by MOBO-nominee and Soundhub composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson.
Tickets £17 (£13.50 concessions). Afternoon-only £12 (from 2.30pm)
Tickets £7 (£5 concessions)
Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings Roman Simovic leader LSO String Ensemble A rare chance to hear LSO string players outside their usual orchestral context as they perform a work Tchaikovsky claimed to be ‘violently in love with’ alongside Schoenberg’s sextet, ‘Transfigured Night’. Tickets £10 (£9 concessions)
LSO Digital Technology Group is supported by David and Alexandra Scholey. LSO Soundhub is supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Wed 27 Mar 3.30–5.30pm LSO Discovery
Mon 25 Mar 12.30–1.15pm LSO Discovery
Lunchtime Concert
Tue 26 Mar 1pm BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts
Suitable for all ages over 5
Wihan Quartet
To mark LSO St Luke's 10th birthday, LSO Principal Flute Gareth Davies has invited the Tempest Flute Trio, all LSO Woodwind Academy graduates, to join him in a performance of works for Flute Quartet, including a commission from a Soundhub Composer. Presented by Rachel Leach.
Mozart String Quartet in D minor Dvorˇák String Quartet in F major (‘American’)
Free entry, no ticket required
Tickets £10 (£9 concessions)
Supported by the Coutts Charitable Trust and LSO Friends
The Wihan Quartet, founded in 1985, are heirs to the great Czech musical tradition. Who better to perform one of Dvorˇák’s most gloriously melodic works?
Centre for Orchestra Masterclass: Roman Simovic LSO Leader Roman Simovic focuses in on chamber music with musicians from the Guildhall School. Free entry, booking essential
Thu 28 Mar 8pm UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica
Dhafer Youssef
Dhafer Youssef voice, oud Eivind Aarset electric guitar Kristjan Randalu piano Phil Donkin bass Chander Sardjoe drums The oud is a pear-shaped guitar characteristic of Middle Eastern music. Its captivating sound finds an ideal exponent in Dhafer Youssef, who as a boy in Tunisia was so poor that he crafted his own instrument out of scraps, and who has gone on to dominate the world music and jazz scenes. Tickets £10 £15 £25
Oud player and vocalist Dhafer Youssef taught himself to play on an instrument he crafted from washed-up scraps of wood and metal found on the Tunisian shoreline. Absorbing the sounds of his homeland and his radio’s constant supply of pop, jazz and classical music from across America and Europe, Dhafer taught himself to play by ear, blending sounds and tying traditions together: ‘It was just music. That’s all I knew. I didn’t know what was classical and what was jazz’. Moving to Vienna, Dhafer met viola player Tony Burger who taught him to write down his music and before long Dhafer was invited to guest at the Porgy and Bess jazz club. With the musicians he met there, Dhafer recorded his first album, Malak, which led to new collaborations the world-over. Dhafer has a special relationship with the LSO, having already performed in previous UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica concerts to great acclaim. He will appear with the LSO and conductor Kristjan Järvi at the Barbican on 24 April 2014, as part of the Orchestra’s on-going commitment to supporting musicians from diverse genres.
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16 March – April
lso.co.uk 17 Fri 29 Mar 1pm
Mon 1 Apr 10am–2pm
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts
LSO Discovery
Nash Ensemble
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Family OPEN Day
Schubert Octet
Vanessa King animateur plus special guests
Taking a full hour to perform, Schubert’s Octet is a feat for even the best musicians. Scored for clarinet, bassoon, horn, two violins, viola, cello and double bass, the piece is in good hands with the Nash Ensemble, who have previously enjoyed a residency at LSO St Luke’s.
Bring the whole family to peek behind the doors of this very special music venue. Find out more about what goes on here and have fun joining in our musical easter egg hunt, hear music performed by LSO players and do some music-making of your very own.
Tickets £10 (£9 concessions)
Tickets £3 children, £5 adults (under 12 months free, no ticket required) Families can explore LSO St Luke’s together
Fri 5 Apr 7.30pm
LSO Discovery
Special Guests
For all ages over 18
Sinfonia d’Amici Hansel and Gretel
Paul Rissmann animateur
Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel
Wish you hadn’t given up your instrument all those years ago? Paul Rissmann and members of the LSO will work with you and your new band-mates to refresh your skills and prepare an informal concert for family and friends, including Elgar’s Nimrod. We invite all adults who haven’t played recently, or never get to perform with others.
Harry Ogg conductor Rozanna Madylus Hansel Maud Millar Gretel Barney Rea Father Sara-Lian Owen Mother Raphaela Papadakis Sandman / Dew-Fairy Sinfonia d’Amici
Tickets £10, booking essential To apply visit lso.co.uk/note-perfect or call 020 7382 2584
Meet TANSY DAVIES UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica
‘You get sparks of life where things conflict’ says composer Tansy Davies, whose musical wares gleefully cluster on the edges of funk, experimental rock, industrial techno, atonalism and electronica. Taking as her inspiration the skewed structures and hallucinogenic lights of the city, club doorways and cracking whips, alongside an inhabitation of the worlds of Bach, Prince, Stravinsky and the Greek composer and architect Xenakis, for Tansy Davies, these ‘conflicts’ give us the chance to ‘get out of the human condition and appreciate the thrilling mechanisms of nature’. Her Eclectica concert at LSO St Luke’s in April journeys through her latest album, Troubairitz. Its title is taken from the female equivalent to
the twelfth-century troubadours – travelling musicians whose songs told of anything from courtly love to the metaphysical, and whose poetry forms the centre of an album that through its flickering, ever-shifting alignments and collisions is always travelling – on the move from one snapshot to the next, as though each member of the audience is listening strapped to the back of a motorcycle. ‘Tansy Davies’ music jolts and pulses’, one critic comments, ‘You may think you see a city crossroads at night – people rushing, people still, warm air thumping from a club doorway … But blink and the scene shifts’. Tansy Davies’ Eclectica and the Panufnik Composers Workshop are part of LSO Futures week, celebrating young and emerging composers with a series of showcases, Barbican concerts and more. For details, including how to purchase a Week Pass and save 25%, visit lso.co.uk/futures.
LSO Discovery
Panufnik Composers Workshop François-Xavier Roth conductor London Symphony Orchestra Workshopping new music by emerging composers Patrick Brennan, Leo Chadburn, David Coonan, Bushra El-Turk, Ryan Latimer and Aaron Parker. Plus, a special commission from Matthew Kaner. Free entry, booking essential Part of LSO Futures Week Supported by the Helen Hamlyn Trust
Sat 30 Mar 10am–5pm Workshops 5.30–6pm Concert
Not(e) Perfect Orchestra
Thu 11 Apr 1.30–5.30pm & 6.30–9.30pm
With the help of animated projections and story telling, Sinfonia D’Amici bring to life this opera for children and adults alike. Prepare yourself for a surprise at the end of Act Three! Tickets £15 (£8 concessions) Promoted by Sinfonia D’Amici
Tue 9 Apr 8pm UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica
Tansy Davies: TROUBAIRITZ
Tansy Davies’ darkly powerful and acclaimed album Troubairitz will be recreated by the Azalea Ensemble, duo Anna Snow and Damien Harron, and conductor Chris Austin. Ensemble New Noise will give a rare performance of Aquatic, while percussionist Joby Burgess will play ritualistic funk hybrid Dark Ground, and Rolf Wallin’s energetic Stonewave. Tickets £10 £15 £22
Panufnik Young Composers Workshop
Sun 14 Apr 1pm & 7.30pm Special Guests
Camden Music Spring Festival 1pm Camden Guitars Camden SuperGroups Camden Philharmonia 7.30pm Camden Percussion Ensemble Camden Philharmonic Band Camden Youth Orchestra Junior and senior young musicians from Camden Music Service perform their end-of-season concerts. Tickets £8 £12 for both concerts if booked at the same time. £4 for under-18s, over-65s and students Promoted by Camden Music Service
Part of LSO Futures Week
18 LSO DISCOVERY
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Shake, Rattle and Roll! For 1- to 5-year-olds
The LSO Early Years team and LSO players help little ones sing, listen, move and groove their way through interactive and creative music sessions. For more information email natalie.chivers@lso.co.uk
LSO Community Gamelan Group For all over 16
Explore the hypnotic and dynamic world of Balinese gamelan. Beginners and experienced musicians alike come together to play gongs, metallophones, drums and bamboo flutes, and work towards termly showcases. For more information email natalie.chivers@lso.co.uk
Always on: LSO Discovery’s regular activities and how you can be part of them LSO Discovery is the LSO’s music education programme, bringing great music to over 60,000 people each year. As well as the various performances and workshops listed in this Guide, Discovery offers a range of weekly clubs for those living or working locally. Making music is only half the story – coming together as a community is at the heart of these groups, and LSO St Luke’s simply wouldn’t be the same without them. Why not give one a go? To find out more about LSO Discovery visit lso.co.uk/lsodiscovery
LSO Community Choir For adults who live or work locally
Now a decade old, the Community Choir is an integral part of LSO St Luke’s. Founded by TV star Gareth Malone, the choir rehearses weekly and performs regularly with professional artists, including the LSO. For more information email andra.east@lso.co.uk
LSO Create
LSO Youth Choir
For adults with learning difficulties
For children aged 7–18
Participants and their carers take the spotlight in these interactive workshops which introduce adults with learning difficulties to creative music-making.
A fantastic path for young people to hone their singing talents, make friends and be part of something bigger, with regular chances to perform at diverse venues, including the world-famous Barbican.
For more information email natalie.chivers@lso.co.uk
Digital Technology Group For 12- to 18-year-olds
A chance for teenagers to make the most of the high-tech studio equipment at LSO St Luke’s, and develop their creativity under the guidance of digital music experts. For more information email chris.rogers@lso.co.uk
For more information email andra.east@lso.co.uk
20 LSO ST Luke's CafÉ
LSO ST LUKE’S CafÉ LSO St Luke’s runs its own in-house Bar and Café service. Our Bar and Café Manager, Stuart Connery, and his team look forward to welcoming you. A selection of hot and cold drinks including a well-stocked bar, sandwiches, snacks, cakes and pastries are available for the majority of public events, opening one hour before concerts begin and during the interval (unless otherwise advertised). Hot food is available before and after BBC Radio 3 Thursday Lunchtime Concerts. To find out more come along to the Café on your next visit to LSO St Luke’s and look out for special offers!
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Access You can get this guide in large print, audio and electronic format. Call 020 7490 3939, email access@lso.co.uk or visit lso.co.uk
Hearing facility We have personal receivers for use with or without a hearing aid in the Jerwood Hall and Clore Gamelan Room. Please call 020 7490 3939 in advance to reserve a personal receiver as numbers are limited. Membership Visitors who have joined the Barbican Access Membership scheme can inform us of their access requirements, receive information in alternative formats and may be eligible for reductions on tickets. Contact the Box Office or visit barbican.org.uk.
22 HIre LSO St LUKe's
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YOUR MONEY, OUR MISSION Support us
Hire LSO ST LUKE’S YOUR EVENT
An impressive and stylish building in the heart of central London, LSO St Luke’s offers flexible contemporary spaces to hire for arts, corporate and private events. Award ceremonies Banquets Parties Wedding receptions Civil partnerships Meetings Conferences Seminars Training Public and private performances Rehearsals Filming Recording There’s no better time to hire this unique heritage space and with our experienced team on hand you can organise the perfect event in no time at all. Call our events team on 020 7566 2871 to find out how we can help turn your ideas into reality. the Jerwood hall
The Jerwood Hall is a distinctive central space that can accommodate a broad spectrum of activity. The original interior has been retained and the acoustic banners that flank the walls and ceiling are designed to provide maximum versatility. Environmentally friendly venue
LSO St Luke’s is a member of the Islington Climate Change Partnership, an organisation set up five years ago with a commitment to achieve a 15% reduction in carbon emissions across this busy London borough.
London Symphony Orchestra is a registered charity and for us to continue to thrive each year we seek support from companies, individuals and charitable trusts and foundations. Thanks to our funders, we can continue to offer many LSO Discovery activities at little or no cost to participants. Through your support, we can continue to invest in music education and ensure that LSO St Luke’s, the UBS and LSO Music Education Centre, remains at the heart of the local community. To find out more about how you can help, visit lso.co.uk/supportus
BOOKING INFO lso.co.uk (reduced bkg fee) Phone 020 7638 8891 (10am–8pm Mon–Sat, 11am–8pm Sun, bkg fee) In person at the Barbican Advance Box Office, Silk Street entrance (10am–9pm Mon–Sat, 12–9pm Sun and Bank Holidays)
HOW TO find lso st luke’s LSO St Luke’s UBS and LSO Music Education Centre 161 Old Street London EC1V 9NG LSO St Luke’s is situated on Old Street, in the heart of central London. It is easy to get to by public transport. Underground Old Street (Northern Line). Take Exit 7 when leaving the station, walk straight ahead and the spire of LSO St Luke’s will become visible. LSO St Luke’s is on the right hand side of the street and the main entrance is on Helmet Row. Buses Old Street – 55 & 243 City Road – 21, 43, 76, 141, 205, 214 & 271 Goswell Road – 4 & 153 National Rail Old Street, Liverpool Street, Moorgate & Farringdon stations Car Parking The nearest NCP parking is at the Barbican Centre
Group Booking (for 10 or more people) Call our dedicated group booking line on 020 7382 7211 or email groups@barbican.org.uk To find out more visit lso.co.uk/groups LSO St Luke’s, the UBS and LSO Music Education Centre, is the home of LSO Discovery and a venue for a unique range of concerts and events. To find out more visit lso.co.uk/lsostlukes Latecomers are normally admitted during a suitable break in the performance. On occasion, this may not be possible once the performance has started. Some performances are unsuitable for babies or young children. Customers are advised to check before booking. Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult. Concession ticket prices apply to wheelchair users, disabled patrons, over-60s, students, under-16s and the unemployed. All bookings and discounts are subject to availability. All events promoted by, or in association with, the LSO. Photography Nancy Horowitz, Matt Stuart, Kevin Leighton, Barry McCall, Rikard Österlund, Igor Emmerich, Steve Bainbridge (Islington Council), Gabriele Koch, Alberto Venzago, Bill Robinson, Camden New Journal, Mario De Sa, Simon Weir, Jessica Chaney & Vincent Knapp, Gautier Deblonde Design PIN Creative
lso.co.uk/yourvisit
GET IN TOUCH Join us on Facebook facebook.com/lsostlukes LSO St Luke’s Principal Donors: Follow us on Twitter @lsostlukes
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LSO is funded by Arts Council England in partnership with the City of London Corporation, which also provides the Orchestra’s permanent home at the Barbican