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LSO Season 2013/14 Spring Concert Guide

‘The most important symphonic cycle since Shostakovich.’The Times on Sir Peter Maxwell Davies

2 SPRING HIGHLIGHTS – FULL BOOKING INFORMATION ON BACK COVER

LSO spring highlights

Maxwell DaviesSYMPHONY NO 10 WORLD PREMIERE

February showcases composing talent

and contemporary music from multiple

generations, with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’

Tenth Symphony and works by Andrzej

Panufnik in his centenary year taking

centre stage at the Barbican, plus an

LSO Soundhub Showcase and the annual

Panufnik Young Composers Workshops

at LSO St Luke’s.

Page 4

Scriabin SymphoniesMUSIC IN COLOUR

The complete orchestral works by the

Russian composer Alexander Scriabin,

plus other works by Frenchman and

fellow synaesthete Olivier Messiaen.

Page 10

FamiliesARABIAN NIGHTS

Join us on a magic carpet ride

in this LSO Family Concert, based

on Rimsky-Korsakov’s take on

the tale of Scheherazade.

Page 17

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Yuja WangUBS SOUNDSCAPES: LSO ARTIST PORTRAIT

Described as ‘a force of nature’, Chinese pianist

Yuja Wang is the focus of the 2013/14 LSO Artist Portrait.

As well as much anticipated performances of concertos

by Rachmaninov, Beethoven and Prokofiev, she will also

giving a solo recital as part of the series.

Page 8

LSO St Luke’sUBS SOUNDSCAPES: ECLECTICA

A special London appearance by the critically acclaimed

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir interweaving

Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil (the Vespers) with interjections

from jazzer Gilad Atzmon and Estonian music. Plus, later in

the year we welcome Highlanders ,The Campbells of Greepe.

Page 14

BBC RADIO 3 LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

Two dazzling series of Lunchtime Concerts will brighten

up even the shortest of winter days, with February’s

performances featuring pianist Barry Douglas alongside

his closest musical allies, and March seeing Schubert

chamber works beckoning in springtime.

Page 18

‘The LSO played with

huge virtuosity and it

was undeniably exciting.’ Martin Kettle, The Guardian

Composing BritsHearing brand new music performed for the first time is

an undeniably exciting experience, and the LSO is committed

to bringing everyone opportunities to hear works crafted

by the composers of today, whether that’s a commission from

a revered musical icon or the latest creation from a rising star.

You can experience this first-hand in January and

February as the LSO celebrates some of the best of British

composers, starting with two commissions from the

legendary Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who currently holds

the position of Master of the Queen’s Music (the musical

equivalent of the Poet Laureate). Maxwell Davies first burst

onto the scene in the 1960s, making his name with thrilling,

radical works like the experimental music-theatre piece

Eight Songs for a Mad King; his music since has been

infused with everything from Medieval and Renaissance

influences to the landscape and folk traditions of Orkney,

where he has lived since 1970. January and February

bring the chance to hear the second performance of

his 2012 Fanfare, followed by the world premiere of his

Tenth Symphony, a major LSO commission. Get a crash

course in the man and his music at the LSO Discovery Day

on 2 February.

The New Year also offers the chance to get acquainted

with a younger generation of British composers. Huw Watkins’

Flute Concerto – written for its soloist, LSO Principal Flute

Adam Walker – is premiered by the Orchestra in February,

and there are two opportunities to hear works by the

current crop of participants on LSO Discovery’s schemes

for emerging composers. In January, an LSO Chamber

Ensemble will premiere new works by members of LSO

Soundhub, and on 7 February you can go behind the

scenes at the LSO Panufnik Young Composers Workshops,

where the six participants on the scheme will develop

their pieces with the Orchestra.

4 COMPOSING BRITS

NEW MUSIC AT THE LSO

Celebrating the best in British composing –

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

‘The most important

symphonic cycle

since Shostakovich.’ The Times onSir Peter Maxwell Davies’ symphonies

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Sat 11 Jan 7.30pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

SOUNDHUB SHOWCASESee page 21

Thu 30 Jan 7.30pm UBS Soundscapes: Walton

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies Fanfare: Her Majesty’s Welcome * Brahms Violin ConcertoWalton Symphony No 1

Sir Antonio Pappano conductorJanine Jansen violinLSO On Track * Young Musicians

LSO On Track is supported by the Clore Duffield Foundation, The Hedley Foundation, The Radcliffe Trust, The Saddler’s Company and UBS

Sun 2 Feb 10am–5.30pm Barbican and LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY DAY

SIR PETER MAXWELL DAVIESImmerse yourself in the works of Master of the Queen’s Music Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, with a morning LSO rehearsal at the Barbican followed by talks and Chamber music at LSO St Luke’s.

Full Day Tickets £17 (£13.50 concessions)

2014 marks the centenary of composer Sir Andrzej Panufnik’s birth, an event that the LSO is celebrating with a performance of two of his greatest works on 5 February.

Born in Warsaw, he settled in England in 1954, after Soviet Realism proved restrictive to his creativity. The LSO Panufnik Young Composers Scheme was devised by the LSO in association with Lady Panufnik in memory of her late husband.

The LSO’s Panufnik Centenary Celebrations are supported by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute as part of the Polska Music programme

Sun 2 Feb 7.30pm

MAX & MAXIMElgar In the South (‘Alassio’)Britten Violin ConcertoSir Peter Maxwell Davies Symphony No 10 (world premiere, LSO commission)

Sir Antonio Pappano conductorMaxim Vengerov violinLondon Symphony Chorus

6pm Guildhall Artists at the Barbican

Wed 5 Feb 7.30pm UBS Soundscapes: Dvorák

ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTERPanufnik Sinfonia SacraDvorák Violin ConcertoPanufnik LullabyDvorák Symphony No 9 (‘From the New World’)

Michael Francis conductorAnne-Sophie Mutter violin

6pm Guildhall Artists at the Barbican

Fri 7 Feb 10am–1pm & 2–6pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

PANUFNIK WORKSHOPSFrançois-Xavier Roth conductor

See page 21

Free entry, booking essentialSupported by the Helen Hamlyn Trust

Sun 23 Feb 7.30pm

Huw Watkins Flute Concerto(world premiere) Mahler Symphony No 1 (‘Titan’)

Daniel Harding conductorAdam Walker fluteCommission supported by The Borletti-Buitoni Trust

6pm Guildhall Artists at the Barbican

Mendelssohn

Tue 21 Jan 7.30pm

Mendelssohn Overture: The Hebrides(‘Fingal’s Cave’) Schumann Piano ConcertoMendelssohn Symphony No 3 (‘Scottish’)

Sir John Eliot Gardiner conductorMaria João Pires piano

Sun 23 Mar 7.30pm

Mendelssohn Overture: Ruy BlasSchumann Violin Concerto inD minor Mendelssohn Symphony No 4 (‘Italian’)

Sir John Eliot Gardiner conductorAlina Ibragimova violin

6 MENDELSSOHN ~ LSO BRASS – FULL BOOKING INFORMATION ON BACK COVER

Adored by the British, Mendelssohn made ten visits to Britain over the

course of his short life, beginning with a wildly successful series of appearances

in London in the spring of 1829. However, being a keen traveller wanting

to make the most of his trip, Mendelssohn spent the summer following his

London debut on a walking tour of the Scottish Highlands. Immediately

he found himself both enchanted and creatively inspired by the Highlands’

dramatic landscapes and ancient castles: ‘grass and ivy grow there’, he wrote

of the half-ruined chapel of Holyrood Palace, ‘and at the broken altar Mary

was crowned Queen of England. Everything around is broken and mouldering

and the bright sky shines in. I believe I have found today in that old chapel

the beginning of my Scottish Symphony’.

The rest of the third ‘Scottish’ Symphony, however, did not come

without effort. Mendelssohn continued to sketch it out whilst touring Italy the

following year, but he found it difficult to evoke the ‘misty mood’ of Scotland

while basking on the balmy Italian peninsula, and only completed it in 1842.

The happy months spent in Italy were hardly without fruit, however; there he

found the inspiration for his magnificent fourth ‘Italian’ symphony, described

to his sister Fanny as ‘the jolliest piece I have ever done’.

On 21 January and 23 March Sir John Eliot Gardiner presents a pair

of concerts featuring these two essential Mendelssohn masterpieces.

Hear the ‘Scottish’ Symphony alongside the famous Hebrides overture,

inspired by the same visit to Scotland; savour the ‘Italian’ Symphony alongside

another Mediterranean-themed work – the Overture to Ruy Blas.

‘Not a single dramatic

detail was missed; Gardiner

ensured that everything was

vividly present and straight

to the dramatic point.’ The Guardian onSir John Eliot Gardiner with the LSO

THE TRAVELLING SYMPHONIST

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LSO Brass

Thu 23 Jan 7.30pm

LSO BRASS ENSEMBLEBach Toccata and Fugue in D minorScarlatti SonataEwald Quintet No 1Koetsier KinderzirkusCrespo Suite Americasarr Dudley Bright Brass on Broadway

Philip Cobb trumpetNiall Keatley trumpetTimothy Jones hornDudley Bright trombonePatrick Harrild tuba

Tickets £10 £15 £20

The brass world, perhaps more so than any other circle of instrumentalists,

has its heroes – players who are respected and admired by all, from the

youngest pupil to the most experienced pro. The LSO has been lucky enough

to count many of these brass stars within its ranks, which has helped the

Orchestra to develop its distinctive, some say definitive, orchestral brass sound.

These heroes of the brass section also have a fine history of breaking

out from the Orchestra and taking the stage for themselves. The LSO Brass

Ensemble started in the 1970s with such legendary players as Barry Tuckwell

and Denis Wick, and personnel since then has included the likes of Ian Bousfield,

Eric Crees, Rob Franks and the inimitable Maurice Murphy. Over the years this

‘band within a band’ have undertaken concerts, tours, CD and film recordings

and to many are just as famous as the Orchestra itself.

The Quintet you will hear on 23 January have been playing together since

its youngest member, trumpeter Philip Cobb, joined the Orchestra in 2009,

and have presented concerts in London and around the world, including

a successful tour to Japan in January 2012, and a repeat visit due this year.

From Bach to Broadway, the evening’s programme will showcase a range

of repertoire for this most dramatic of sections and shine a spotlight on this

latest group of heroes, inspiring not just brass fans but all music lovers.

SEE OUR BRASS PLAYERS CLOSE UP

Yuja WangA cosmopolitan twentysomething with a penchant for

fabulous on-stage outfits, and possessing an artistic gravity

that belies her youth, Yuja Wang fits no stereotype. In fact,

her fearless individuality sets her apart. For Yuja, making

great music is about speaking with her own voice and the joy

of self-expression: ‘enjoy life and the art that it is’, she says.

In Yuja’s case, comfort in one’s own skin, fresh insight

and superhuman technique make for a killer combination.

Her meteoric rise has been propelled by a wave of critical

adulation. ‘An artist of dazzling genius’ and ‘one of the most

gifted pianists of her generation’ hail the reviewers, yet Wang

remains down-to-earth. Had she the chance, we ask, what’s

the one piece of advice this jet-setting pianist would give

her younger self at the start of her career? ‘Always remember

to set two alarms. No matter how important you feel a

concert is, the airlines won’t wait for you if you oversleep.’

8 YUJA WANG – FULL BOOKING INFORMATION ON BACK COVER

Yuja’s LSO Artist Portrait series sees her perform three

concertos under three different conductors, in her words:

‘an unusual and great opportunity. I wanted to make sure

that the repertoire was of strength for me – the Prokofiev

and Rachmaninov are two pieces I’ve worked with for years

and I feel that I have a voice for each. The Beethoven acts

almost like a foil to the other two, plus it gives me a chance

to show a different side of my personality on the piano.’

Yuja looks forward to working with the LSO in London.

‘The LSO is one of my favourite orchestras. They have a great

sense of sound as an ensemble and handle a variety of

repertoire with as much flexibility and grace as any orchestra

I know.’ But, of course, London has other attractions too.

Her musical activities aside, what does Yuja look forward

to most about being in the capital? ‘A great restaurant

each night, and nice walks by the Thames.’

NOT YOUR USUAL PIANIST

For Yuja, making great music is about speaking with her

own voice and the joy of self-expression …

‘A force of nature,

contained in the

body of a smiling,

slender nymph.’ The Telegraph on Yuja Wang

lso.co.uk 020 7638 8891 9

UBS SOUNDSCAPES: LSO ARTIST PORTRAIT

YUJA WANG

Sat 8 Feb 2.30–5.30pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

OPEN REHEARSALConductor Jaap van Zweden puts the LSO through its paces, joined by soloist Yuja Wang, ahead of the first concert in Yuja’s UBS Soundscapes: LSO Artist Portrait series at the Barbican. Works include Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3.

Tickets £4 (limited availability)

Sun 9 Feb 7.30pm

Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3Rachmaninov Symphony No 2

Jaap van Zweden conductorYuja Wang piano

Thu 13 Feb 7.30pm

Debussy La merProkofiev Piano Concerto No 2Ravel Daphnis and Chloé – Suites I & II

James Gaffigan conductorYuja Wang piano

Sun 16 Feb 7.30pm

YUJA WANG SOLO RECITALProkofiev Sonata No 3 in A minorChopin Sonata No 3 in B minorKapustin Variations for PianoChopin Nocturne No 1 in C minorChopin Ballade No 3 in A-flat majorStravinsky Petrushka: Three Movements for Piano

Yuja Wang piano

Tickets £10 £15 £20 £28

Thu 20 Feb 7.30pm

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 3Stravinsky Petrushka

Daniel Harding conductorYuja Wang piano

10 MUSIC IN COLOUR – FULL BOOKING INFORMATION ON BACK COVER

Music in colour

‘A composer pushing at the boundaries

of tonality in the first decade of the

20th century. The way the harmonies

revolve and float … is authentically

radical, as is its massive structure,

built from the tiniest fragments.’ Andrew Clements, The Guardian on Scriabin’s Fourth Symphony

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Sun 30 Mar 7.30pm

Scriabin Symphony No 1Liszt Piano Concerto No 2Scriabin Symphony No 4(‘The Poem of Ecstasy’)

Valery Gergiev conductorDenis Matsuev pianoLondon Symphony Chorus

Thu 10 Apr 7.30pm

Messiaen L’ascensionScriabin Symphony No 5(‘Prometheus, Poem of Fire’) Scriabin Symphony No 2

Valery Gergiev conductorDenis Matsuev pianoLondon Symphony ChorusSupported by LSO Patrons

Sun 13 Apr 7.30pm

Messiaen Les offrandes oubliéesChopin Piano Concerto No 2Scriabin Symphony No 3(‘The Divine Poem’)

Valery Gergiev conductorDaniil Trifonov piano

Thu 3 & 10 Apr 1pm, LSO St Luke’sBBC RADIO 3 LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

SCRIABIN SONATASScriabin’s Sonatas Nos 3, 5 & 9 performance by Russian pianists Yevgeny Sudbin and Boris Giltburg.

Fri 24 Jan, 21 Feb, 7 & 21 Mar 12.30pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

LUNCHTIME CONCERTSRachel Leach presenter

Our regular free Friday Lunchtime concerts include works inspired by colour. Featuring LSO players and Guildhall School musicians.

Free entry, no ticket requiredSupported by LSO Patrons and the Rothschild Charities Committee

When you listen to a performance

of Scriabin’s music, you enter a heady

world of swirling soundscapes and

vivid musical colours. While the Russian

composer and pianist’s career took root

amidst the impassioned lyricism of the

Romantic era (born in 1872, he was

a contemporary of Rachmaninov), he

gradually cultivated a musical style that

was thoroughly his own – intense, at

times ethereal or ecstatic, opulently

scored, and built upon a quirky mix of

mystical and philosophical ideas.

At the heart of his music was an

unwavering belief in the spiritual power

of art; Scriabin held that there was

something supernatural about music,

that it could reach beyond everyday

life and transport those experiencing

it into a spiritual realm. As his career

progressed, he became fascinated

by the marriage of the senses between

music and colour, envisioning a multi-

sensory unification of the arts that

would, in his own words, ‘herald the

birth of a new world’.

The cornerstones of Scriabin’s

relatively short career (he died aged 43)

include a large body of piano music

(some of which you can hear in a

series of BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime

Concerts at LSO St Luke’s, also in April)

and five symphonies, which the LSO

and Valery Gergiev delve into this

spring. Three concerts trace a path

through his music – from the First

Symphony, a choral tribute to the

divine power of art, to his otherworldly

‘Prometheus’ Symphony, via the ‘Poem

of Ecstasy’, a brilliantly coloured work

that reflects the composer’s pursuit

of spiritual euphoria through music.

These are matched with works that

complement Scriabin’s mystical

outpourings: two meditative pieces by

French composer Messiaen, inspired

by his Catholic faith, and Romantic

piano concertos by Liszt and Chopin.

THE COMPLETE SCRIABIN SYMPHONIES

A heady world of swirling soundscapes

and vivid musical colours …

12

Crowd out

‘LSO Sing aims to reach

as much of the London

community as possible.’ Simon Halsey, LSO Choral Director

13

Summer 2014 will see three major European epicentres for culture alive

with the sound of Crowd Out. In London, Birmingham and Berlin, a 1,000-strong

choir will take a stage – in East London surrounding the iconic bandstand

in Arnold Circus, inside the epic glass atrium at Birmingham’s Millennium

Point, and on a giant outdoor stage in the centre of Berlin’s Kulturforum –

and perform David Lang’s specially composed work, Crowd Out.

With groups made up of people from all walks of life and backgrounds,

don’t expect an ordinary singing work. Football chants inspired the idea

behind this piece, along with a vast range of vocal styles and public ‘noise’

that we all encounter in everyday life, all situations where a sense of

‘community’ is created through performance, and that’s exactly what the

partners behind this project have set out to do.

Simon Halsey, the LSO’s Choral Director, has been working closely

with composer David Lang to turn his work into a reality, and as Choral

Director at both the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and at

the Berlin Philharmonic as well as his London Symphony Orchestra and

Chorus role, he’ll be taking the helm of the three choirs on three separate

occasions, to bring the world this unique premiere.

The London performance has the East End at its heart, and is also the

final event in the Summer 2014 Spitalfields Festival, bringing the area to

buzzing life with all kinds of music. Working together with the Festival, the

LSO is looking for London voices to take part in this brilliant performance.

Absolutely no singing experience is necessary. The only qualification you

need is a desire to be part of a truly unique event and to make some noise.

The LSO has only 300 places available, so make sure you register your

interest quickly. If you don’t end up as part of the group, you can still join

us for the free performance as crowds fill the streets around the bandstand

in Arnold Circus on 21 June.

HOW IT WORKS

Apply through the LSO and you will be joining 300 other people in rehearsals and workshops with LSO professionals at LSO St Luke’s, before combining with other groups from across London’s East End to make up the 1,000-strong crowd.

Read more about the workshop schedule and apply online at: lso.co.uk/crowdout

It’s free to take part.

The first workshop will be on Saturday 22 March 10.30am Venue to be announced

and the final event will take place on Saturday 21 June in Arnold Circus, Shoreditch E2 7PQ Part of LSO Sing, supported by the J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust

CROWD OUT

Simon Halsey is getting 1,000 Londoners to sing as one.

14 UBS SOUNDSCAPES: ECLECTICA – FULL BOOKING INFORMATION ON BACK COVER

Eclecticas

Continuing this season’s Eclectica series, we have two

concerts with groups singing stories of family and home.

Estonians experienced a ‘Singing Revolution’ (1987–91),

when thousands gathered to sing forbidden patriotic songs,

risking their lives to proclaim their desire for independence

from the Soviet Union. On 22 January the Grammy award-

winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir explores the

mystical soundworlds of Estonian composers Arvo Pärt and

Cyrillus Kreek, and movements from the Russian Orthodox

Rachmaninov All-Night Vigil, with Middle Eastern interjections

from The Clockheads saxophonist and clarinetist Gilad Atzmon.

The Campbells of Greepe on 15 April are one of the

great dynasties of Gaelic song. The family’s roots lie in a tiny

crofting township on the Isle of Skye, where music was the

constant accompaniment to everyday life. Pipers and singers

who love to dance, it’s no surprise that they’re considered

the masters of puirt-à-beul, Gaelic mouth music, and

their songs encompass a whole musical world – pibroch

songs, work songs, and the songs of their own community.

Amongst the special guests joining three generations of

the family are virtuoso American step-dancer, Nic Gareiss,

and award-winning piper, Lorne MacDougall.

GENRE-BUSTING COLLABORATIONS

UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica concerts can be difficult to

describe because they’ve often never been heard before …

lso.co.uk 020 7638 8891 15

Wed 22 Jan 8pm, LSO St Luke’sUBS SOUNDSCAPES: ECLECTICA

AN EASTERN VIGILDaniel Reuss conductorGilad Atzmon clarinet, saxophoneEstonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir presents a programme inspired by the profound passions of Orthodox chant, including Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil, Arvo Pärt’s Two Slavonic Psalms, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis and two lush, Romantic works by Estonian composer Cyrillus Kreek.

In association with

Sat 25 Jan 11am–4.30pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

SINGING DAYRachmaninov All-Night Vigil (‘Vespers’)

David Lawrence chorus director

Rachmaninov’s a cappella All-Night Vigil was one of just two works he counted as his favourites. Join in with this LSO Singing Day (some sight-singing experience is essential) and an informal performance of the work for family and friends.

Tickets £17 (includes music hire)LSO Sing is generously supported by the J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust

Tue 15 Apr 8pm, LSO St Luke’sUBS SOUNDSCAPES: ECLECTICA

GAELIC CONNECTIONSThe Campbells of Greepe Lorne MacDougall pipesNic Gareiss step-dancer

The Campbells of Greepe, a Gaelic singing dynasty who hail from the Isle of Skye in Scotland, bring their live multi-media show to London, featuring music and dance performed by the five professional singers in the family and their regular band.

‘It is hard to imagine

a better performance

than this sensitive

and elegant account

with the Dutch conductor

Daniel Reuss [and] the

Estonian Philharmonic

Chamber Choir.’ The New York Times on theEstonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

16 MYSTIC & SUFI ~ FAMILIES

Youssef & JärviThu 24 Apr 7.30pmECLECTICA AT THE BARBICAN

DANCE OF THE INVISIBLE DERVISHESArvo Pärt FratresArvo Pärt Symphony No 3Dhafer Youssef UK premieres from ‘Birds Requiem’

Kristjan Järvi conductorDhafer Youssef oud / vocalsEivind Aarset electric guitarKristjan Randalu pianoPhil Donkin bassChander Sarjoe drums

As one of today’s most dazzling musicians on the jazz/world music circuit,

Tunisian vocalist and oud player Dhafer Youssef came from humble beginnings.

Growing up as a young boy entirely enthralled to music, but without money

to pay for lessons or buy an instrument, Youssef made his own oud and picked

up by ear a wealth of music, with no concern for being bound by genres.

By 1990 Youssef’s thirst for music had brought him to Vienna, where he eked

out a living while taking advantage of every musical opportunity available to

him, eventually leading to a collaboration with Kristjan Järvi and the Tonkünstler

Orchestra based there. Working with some of the world’s most creative musicians,

he would found a thrilling context in which he could combine the spiritual quality

of Sufi (the inner, mystical dimension of Islam) with contemporary jazz, creating

a distinctive sound that has become synonymous with his name.

Meanwhile, Estonian-American conductor Kristjan Järvi, younger son of the

esteemed conductor Neeme Järvi, and brother of conductor Paavo Järvi, grew up

in a New York household that couldn’t be more musical, and became assistant

conductor to Esa-Pekka Salonen at the LA Philharmonic upon graduating from

Michigan State University. Though equally at home with the classical repertoire,

his curiosity for the non-traditional and passion for collaboration led him to

found the award-winning Absolute Ensemble, noted for its innovative cross-

genre syntheses.

On 24 April these two pioneering eclectics come together in a concert that

eclipses cultural boundaries while honouring both musicians’ parent traditions.

Dhafer Youssef will make the UK premiere of new orchestral works, including

orchestral arrangements from his latest album which traverse the sacred to the

profane, divine to terrestrial, complemented beautifully by the haunting ‘holy

minimalism’ of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s Third Symphony. As thrilling as

it is thought-provoking, this celebration of man mysticism and music promises

to remind us of the rapture all musicians and music-lovers have in common.

ECLIPSING CULTURAL BORDERS

‘The Tunisian singer’s

voice is an extraordinary

instrument, soaring

wordlessly from rapturous

tenor to keening falsetto.’ The Times onDhafer Youssef’s vocals

lso.co.uk 020 7638 8891 17

Arabian Nights

Sun 16 Feb 2.30pmLSO DISCOVERY FAMILY CONCERT

ARABIAN NIGHTS THE ULTIMATE STORYTELLER

FOR 7- TO 12-YEAR-OLDS

Alexandre Bloch conductor Rachel Leach presenter

Featuring music from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.

Pre-concert foyer events and crèche information at lso.co.uk/familyconcerts

Fri 14 Mar 12.30–1.15pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

STORYTELLING WITH VANESSA KINGCONCERT FOR UNDER-5S

Especially for younger children, this concert offers the chance to experience live music in an informal way. Join us as we re-tell stories through music, dance and song.

£3 per person (under 12 months free, no ticket required)Supported by AXA Investment Managers

Get on your magic carpet this February half term and be whisked away from

chilly England to an exotic paradise to meet the greatest storyteller of them all:

Persian Princess Scheherazade. Discover how this beautiful royal stayed awake

for 1001 nights, keeping the evil Sultan enthralled with tales of Sinbad and his ship,

a prince turned beggar, a charming love story and the eye-popping Baghdad

Festival, all underpinned by Rimsky-Korsakov’s luscious score, Scheherazade.

Other family-friendly events this spring include our regular storytelling

concerts with Vanessa King at LSO St Luke’s, and lunchtime concerts

presented by Rachel Leach, exploring music and colour (see page 21):

visit lso.co.uk/bringyourfamily for more.

LSO Family Events

BRING YOUR FAMILY TO MEET OURS

18 LUNCHTIME CONCERTS – FULL BOOKING INFORMATION ON BACK COVER

Lunchtime Concerts

First up, a four-week residency

focusing on collaboration, and the

second an exploration of one

composer’s intense, lyrical music.

In January and February we

welcome back pianist Barry Douglas –

an old friend of the LSO and a previous

soloist at LSO St Luke’s. He’s invited

a host of close musical friends and

colleagues for a series of collaborative

concerts that explore trios and duos,

focusing particularly on Brahms’

chamber music, works that defined

the genre in the late-Romantic era.

The series is bookended by

two solo recitals by Douglas himself, showing off the flair and virtuosic skill

that earned him First Prize in the Moscow Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in

1986. These programmes resound with delicate, intimate music, including two

of the very first Nocturnes ever written for piano, and solo works by Brahms

and Schubert. For Douglas, both composers are defined by the lyricism of

their chamber music. ‘They both write in a very vocal way for piano,’ he says,

‘you have to approach the music in the same way that a singer would

approach a score’.

The second series moves from a performer’s perspective to an exploration

of a single composer, Franz Schubert, with his works played by some of the

most talented among the younger generation of chamber musicians. The four

concerts give a snapshot of some of the music that he wrote towards the end

of his short life, from dramatic pieces for piano duet to duos, piano and string

trios, and the composer’s last String Quartet. The final performance features

the String Quintet in C, Schubert’s last chamber work and, as one of his most

achingly beautiful and spiritual, a fitting way to conclude the spring series.

BBC RADIO 3 LUNCHTIME CONCERTS

This spring, lunchtimes at LSO St Luke’s will be the

setting for two very different musical journeys …

lso.co.uk 020 7638 8891 19

BARRY DOUGLAS AND FRIENDS

Thu 23 Jan 1pm

Brahms Seven FantasiesSchubert Piano Sonata in B-flat major

Barry Douglas piano

Thu 6 Feb 1pm

Beethoven Trio in B-flat majorBrahms Trio in A minor

Michel Lethiec clarinetArto Noras celloBarry Douglas piano

Thu 13 Feb 1pm

Brahms Violin Sonata No 2 in A major Dukas Villanelle for Horn and PianoBrahms Trio in E-flat major

Chloë Hanslip violinRichard Watkins hornBarry Douglas piano

Thu 20 Feb 2014 1pm

Brahms Four Piano PiecesField Nocturne No 8 in E minor;Nocturne No 5 in B-flat major Brahms Piano Sonata No 2 in F-sharp minor

Barry Douglas piano

SCHUBERT CHAMBER WORKS

Thu 27 Feb 1pm

Schubert Duo in A minor (‘Lebensstürme’) Grand Rondo in A major Andantino varié in B minor Fantasy in F minor

Cédric Tiberghien & Christian Ihle Hadland piano duet

Thu 6 Mar 1pm

SchubertNotturno in E-flat major Piano Trio in B-flat major

Benedetti/Elschenbroich/Grynyuk Trio: Nicola Benedetti violinLeonard Elschenbroich celloAlexei Grynyuk piano

Thu 13 Mar 1pm

SchubertString Trio fragment in E-flat major String Quartet in G major

Doric String Quartet

Thu 20 Mar 1pm

SchubertString Quintet in C major

Signum String Quartet Nicolas Altstaedt cello

‘[Barry Douglas’] tone

is a deep velvet cushion,

the rhythms galvanised

with great energy.’ BBC Music Magazineon pianist Barry Douglas

20 DISCOVER MORE – FULL BOOKING INFORMATION ON BACK COVER

Discover more

Springtime always gives a feeling of exploring the ‘new’.

LSO Discovery events offer an abundance of new opportunities,

new music and new experiences.

Composing takes centre stage this spring with chances

to experience at first hand the process that makes a piece

of music become a fully-formed orchestral work in the

annual Panufnik Young Composers Workshop, while

LSO Soundhub composers have committed themselves

to exploring fresh styles, genres and experiences which

have to be seen to be believed.

See the newest generation of professional musicians

hone their skills by working with LSO players in Masterclasses

as part of a new postgraduate course in Orchestral Artistry

at the Guildhall School.

The LSO’s community groups are always striving to

achieve new heights. Their latest concerts feature contemporary

British choral music from the LSO Community Choir,

and an always-different take on both contemporary and

traditional Balinese music with the LSO Community Gamelan

Group. What’s more, these groups are open to new

members – if you live or work close by, why not take part?

WANT TO JOIN IN?

If you live or work in the EC1 area, you can join the LSO Community Choir, LSO Youth Choir or LSO Gamelan Group.

Visit lso.co.uk/lifelonglearning for details on how to apply and for more information.

EVENTS TO EXCITE AND INSPIRE

Try something new this spring and experience different music in a refreshing light …

lso.co.uk 020 7638 8891 21

COMPOSERS

Sat 11 Jan 7.30pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

SOUNDHUB SHOWCASEFeaturing new works by Darren Bloom, Richard Bullen, Collectives & Curiosities, Gregory Emfietzis and Ayanna Witter-Johnson

LSO Chamber Ensemble

Tickets £7 (£5 concessions)Supported by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and The Hinrichsen Foundation

Fri 7 Feb 10am–1pm & 2–6pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

PANUFNIK YOUNG COMPOSERS WORKSHOPSFrançois-Xavier Roth conductor

This year’s Panufnik Composers (Kim Ashton, Ben Graves, Jae-Moon Lee, James Moriarty, Elizabeth Ogonek, Aaron Parker, Richard Whalley) develop their music with the LSO.

Free entry, booking essentialSupported by the Helen Hamlyn Trust

Young musicians from the Guildhall School are coached by LSO Principals as part of the Guildhall School’s postgraduate Orchestral Artistry course in partnership with the LSO. The course is focused on developing the diverse skills required to become professional orchestral musicians, and masterclasses form an invaluable part of this process.

Sit in and see them at LSO St Luke’s.

IN DEPTH

Sat 25 Jan 11am–4.30pmLSO DISCOVERY

SINGING DAY: RACHMANINOVSee page 15

Sun 2 Feb 10am–5.30pmLSO DISCOVERY DAY

SIR PETER MAXWELL DAVIESSee page 5

Sat 8 Feb 2.30–5.30pmLSO DISCOVERY

OPEN REHEARSAL See page 9

Fri 24 Jan, 21 Feb, 7 & 21 Mar 12.30pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

LUNCHTIME CONCERTSFOR ALL AGES OVER 5

Rachel Leach presenter

This spring’s Friday Lunchtime Concerts explore the marriage of senses between music and colour, alongside LSO concerts at the Barbican.

Free entry, just turn up!Supported by Coutts Charitable Trust, Rothschild Charities Committee & LSO Patrons

Fri 21 Mar 7.30pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

COMMUNITY CHOIR CONCERTDavid Lawrence conductorLSO Community Choir

In its spring concert, the LSO Community Choir showcases the creative talents of British composers and arrangers, with music by Craig McLeish, Ruairi Edwards, Jay Stannard and more.

Tickets £7 (£5 concessions)LSO Sing is generously supported by the J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust

Sat 8 Feb 7–10pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

VIOLA MASTERCLASS: PAUL SILVERTHORNEFree entry, just turn up on the day

Thu 13 Feb 3–6pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

FLUTE MASTERCLASS: ADAM WALKERFree entry, just turn up on the day

MASTERCLASSES

LSO DISCOVERY CONCERTS

Sat 22 Mar 7.30pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

GAMELAN CONCERTAndy Channing director

LSO Community Gamelan Group plus special guests Lila Cita & Lila Bhawa

Immerse yourself in a mesmerising performance of Balinese music and dance, both traditional and contemporary, played on the LSO’s beautiful Gamelan.

Tickets £7 (£5 concessions)

Mon 31 Mar 7.30pm, LSO St Luke’sLSO DISCOVERY

YOUTH CHOIR CONCERTLucy Griffiths & David Lawrence conductors LSO Youth Choir

Come and hear the LSO Youth Choir in their end-of-term concert, in which the Juniors and Seniors will journey through a wide variety of music, led by their newly appointed conductors Lucy Griffiths and David Lawrence.

Under-16s £3, Adults £5LSO Sing is generously supported by the J Paul Getty Jnr Charitable Trust

LSO Youth Choir is supported by Slaughter and May Charitable Trust

22 THE BARBICAN ~ HOW TO FIND US

The Barbican

OUR HOME AT THE BARBICAN

Set in the City Cultural Quarter funded by

the Corporation of London, the LSO,

Barbican and Guildhall School are an alliance

leading the world in arts and learning.

lso.co.uk 020 7638 8891 23

Silk Street

Bunhill R

owM

oor Lane

Whitecross Street

Bath Street

Helm

et Row

St Luke’s Close

Golden Lane

Chiswell Stre

Milton Court

etBeech Street

FIND USBARBICAN CENTRE Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS

LSO ST LUKE’S UBS and LSO Music Education Centre 161 Old Street, EC1V 9NG

The Barbican is in the heart of the City of London with LSO St Luke’s just a short walk away.

Underground and Train stations The Barbican is closest to Moorgate and Barbican, with Liverpool Street, Bank and Farringdon nearby. For LSO St Luke’s use Old Street (Exit 7).

Bus routes 153 Beech Street; 21, 43, 76, 141, 205, 214 City Road; 55 and 243 Old Street.

Parking The Barbican’s on-site car parks, also convenient for LSO St Luke’s, cost £7 from 5pm on weekdays (£6.50 if pre-booked) and £7.50 per day at weekends.

lso.co.uk/yourvisitEXTRASRELAXING WITH FOOD, DRINK AND FRIENDS Foyer Bars and Cafés: The ideal place to meet and catch up ahead of the concert or to enjoy a drink at the interval.

Martini Bar (Level 1): Enjoy a touch of glamour at the Barbican’s stylish new bar. Choose from a selection of classic and modern martinis, or a glass of bubbly.

Barbican Foodhall (Level G): The lively Barbican Foodhall offers hot dishes and salads from a counter-top service as well as a wide range of homemade cakes, teas and coffees.

Barbican Lounge (Level 1): The stylish Barbican Lounge offers a chic relaxed ambience to enjoy a pre-concert drink or seasonal small plates from the tapas-style menu. Reservations 020 7382 6180.

Gin Joint by Searcys (Level 2): Offering brasserie dining and the most extensive gin list in the City, all enhanced by stunning views across the Barbican lakeside. Both full dining and bar menus are available. Reservations 020 7588 3008.

KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE We’ll send ticket buyers an email a day before their selected concert with the latest travel details and links to other useful information such as programme downloads.

barbican.org.uk

24 BOOKING INFORMATION

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comment@lso.co.uk

lso.co.uk

You can get this guide in large print, audio and electronic formats. Contact 020 7588 1116 or email access@lso.co.uk

The 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.

LSO Registered Charity in England No 232391

Cover photo Igor Emmerich

Other photos Igor Emmerich, Kevin Leighton, Bill Robinson,Alberto Venzago, Susie Ahlburg, Sarah Wijzenbeck

Print Cantate CommunicationsDesign PIN CreativeEditor Edward Appleyard

LSO SEASON 2013/14Book at lso.co.uk or call 020 7638 8891or buy in person or by post Box Office, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London. EC2Y 8DS. (opening times at lso.co.uk/yourvisit)

Ticket prices as below unless otherwise stated.

BARBICAN CONCERT TICKETS£10 £15 £20 £28 £37 Book 3–4 concerts save 15%, 5+ save 20% Multi-buy discounts will not be applied to 21 Jan

BBC RADIO 3 LUNCHTIME CONCERTS £10 (£9 concessions)Book any four concerts for £8 each

UBS SOUNDSCAPES: ECLECTICA CONCERTS £10 £15 £22

LSO DISCOVERY DAYSFull day tickets £17 (£13.50 concessions) £12 afternoon only (from 2.30pm at LSO St Luke’s)

LSO SINGING DAYS £17 (includes music hire)

LSO DISCOVERY FAMILY CONCERTS£5 under-16s, £10 adults Suitable for families with 7- to 12-year-olds

GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE Receive a 20% discount (except 21 Jan). Call 020 7382 7211 (10am–5pm Mon-Fri)

BOOKING FEES (per transaction)There is no fee when booking in person or for free events. When booking across venues, only on fee is charged.

Barbican Hall £2 online / £3.50 by phone LSO St Luke’s / LSO Discovery Events £0.50 online / £0.60 by phone

DISABLED VISITORS Join the Barbican Access Membership scheme to inform us of your access requirements. Members may be eligible for reductions on tickets, limited in number and subject to availability. Full details are available online at barbican.org.uk/access and at the Box Office. Tickets can be exchanged for another LSO concert or credit vouchers valid for six months, provided that you return them to the Box Office at least 24 hours before the performance (two weeks for group bookings). Administration fee applies.

All discounts are subject to availability and may not be combined.

Information correct at time of going to print.

The LSO reserves the right to change artists or programmes if necessary. Refunds will only be given in the event of a concert being cancelled.