Sibelius, Nørgård and Adès

The evening opens with Per Nørgård’s Dream Play, a work that sets a delicate, shifting atmosphere before we move into the intricate soundscape of Thomas Adès’s In Seven Days. In this piece for piano and orchestra, you will hear a sequence of musical movements that reflect the stages of creation, with the soloist and ensemble weaving together complex rhythms and vivid textures. To conclude the programme, we turn to the grand scale of Jean Sibelius’s Symphony No 5. This symphony is famous for its sense of organic growth, culminating in the expansive horn theme of the final movement. Throughout the performance, you might listen for the way each composer uses the orchestra to evoke the natural world, from the ethereal qualities of the contemporary works to the noble, soaring melodies of the Finnish master. The structure of the concert moves from the experimental and atmospheric towards one of the most celebrated and triumphant finales in the symphonic repertoire.

The London Symphony Orchestra is the resident ensemble at the Barbican, known for its technical precision and its history of performing both established classics and challenging new music. Conducting tonight is Thomas Adès, a leading figure in British music who brings his perspective as both a composer and a leader to the podium. He is joined by the pianist Bertrand Chamayou, an artist recognized for his clarity and versatility. Together with the LSO, they explore a programme that highlights their collective reputation for delivering high-energy performances of complex modern scores alongside standard orchestral masterpieces.

This performance takes place at the Barbican in London and has a total duration of 110 minutes, including an interval. Given the mix of a well-known romantic symphony and two contemporary works, it is a suitable choice if you are looking for a varied introduction to 20th and 21st-century orchestral music. There is no specific dress code for this venue, so you should wear what makes you feel comfortable. The hall is situated within the larger arts complex, and we recommend arriving early to find your way to the auditorium levels.