Southbank Centre’s Classical Music season is about to open
Thursday 21 September
Principal Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali takes the helm to open the Philharmonia’s season with the 19th Century operatic masterpiece Verdi’s Requiem. Among a starry set of soloists includes the leading Welsh-Ukrainian soprano Natalya Romaniw (RFH).
Friday 22 September
World-renowned Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson returns to the Southbank Centre to perform Bach’s masterpiece Goldberg Variations as part of his international tour of the work (RFH).
Manchester Collective continue their artist residency with an experimental double bill from the titans of minimalism including Steve Reich and Philip Glass (Different Trains, QEH). To close the evening, the ensemble will produce a cutting edge, immersive club night for all to experience in the foyer (After Dark, QEHF).
Saturday 23 September
From the car park in Peckham to the Queen Elizabeth Hall concert hall, The Multi-Story Orchestra share their award-winning production The Endz. Blending spoken word, song, rap and orchestral sounds, the piece exposes the devastating reality of youth gang culture in the city.
Leading international organist, Carol Williams will fire up the 8,000 pipes of the Royal Festival Hall organ for an eclectic recital that mixes contemporary compositions with classical canons including Vierne, Tournemire and Widor (RFH).
The launch of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s new season opens with Mahler’s Resurrection under the baton of Edward Gardner. This symphonic tour de force will be performed by leading soloists Sally Matthews and Angela Brower and the full London Philharmonic Choir (24 September, RFH).
Sunday 24 September
Closing the weekend, the iconic experimental ensemble The Hermes Experiment performs a world premiere from the trailblazing composer Elaine Mitchener and a virtuosic arrangement from Meredith Monk’s Double Fiesta (PUR).
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Polina Leschenko & Reto Bieri Pat brings her first concert as artist in residence at the Southbank Centre alongside two of her cherished colleagues, clarinettist Reto Bieri and pianist Polina Leschenko. This rich programme dives into 20th-century masterpieces from Bartok and Stravinsky’s work alongside contemporary compositions from Pat herself (QEH).
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX. Admission: £20 – £75.
Details and Booking: www.southbankcentre.co.uk
