12 classical music concerts to attend at the Southbank Centre in Autumn 2024
The Classical Music Autumn/Winter Programme for 2024/25 at the Southbank Centre will commence in September, featuring its six Resident Orchestras: Aurora Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and Philharmonia Orchestra. This season promises an array of performances, including powerful symphonic works, compelling premieres, and landmark anniversary events. Highlights of the Opening Weekend include the London Philharmonic Orchestra with Joyce DiDonato, the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Nordic Soundscapes series under Santtu-Matias Rouvali, and performances by Igor Levit, The Multi-Story Orchestra, and Lawrence Power. This is just a glimpse of the exciting programme ahead. Here is our selection of 12 classical music concerts not to miss this autumn at the Southbank Centre.
Edward Gardner Conducts Rachmaninov
Ed Gardner. Photo by Mark Allan.
#FLODown: The London Philharmonic Orchestra will present Rachmaninov’s The Bells, a choral symphony that explores a range of emotions from sparkling joy to deep sorrow, capturing the essence of Russia’s spirit. Conducted by Edward Gardner and featuring the London Philharmonic Choir, this performance follows Rachmaninov’s grand piano concerto, with Leif Ove Andsnes bringing his exceptional artistry to the stage.
Date: 28 September 2024. Time: 7pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £14. Book now.
András Schiff: Haydn, Schubert & Mozart
András Schiff Haydn,Schubert and_Mozart. Photo by credit Nadia F. Romanini.
#FLODown: Sir András Schiff will play-direct and conduct the Philharmonia Orchestra in a performance featuring three Classical masterpieces. Schiff will perform Haydn’s lively and elegant concerto and Mozart’s emotionally rich concerto, directing from the keyboard as the composers themselves once did. Between these, he will conduct Schubert’s enchanting and unfinished Symphony No. 8, offering a trio of exceptional works.
Date: 6 October 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £15. Book now.
Marin Alsop Conducts Mahler's Fifth Symphony
Oh To Believe in Another World Shostakovich. Marin Alsop. Photo by Chris Christodoulou.
#FLODown: Principal Guest Conductor Marin Alsop and singer Sasha Cooke join the Philharmonia Orchestra to explore the emotional depths of Gustav and Alma Mahler's music. The programme features Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, notable for its dramatic range and the poignant Adagietto, which Mahler sent to his future wife Alma as a declaration of love. Additionally, the orchestra will perform Blumine, a rarely heard movement originally part of Mahler's First Symphony, highlighting the gentler side of the Philharmonia’s Principal Trumpet. Alma Mahler’s lesser-known yet moving songs will also be presented, showcasing Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke’s expressive voice.
Date: 24 October 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £15. Book now.
María Dueñas Plays Sibelius
María Dueñas plays Sibelius. Photo by Milagro Elstak.
#FLODown: The rising violinist María Dueñas joins the Philharmonia Orchestra for a concert that includes Sibelius’ deeply personal Violin Concerto, and a new piece, Submarea, by Mats Larsson Gothe. Submarea accompanies Joakim Odelberg’s stunning underwater film of the Nordic coast, which will be shown on a large screen at the Royal Festival Hall. Dueñas, who won the Menuhin Violin Competition in 2021 and impressed audiences at the 2023 BBC Proms, is set to captivate listeners once again. The programme also features Nielsen’s inventive Fifth Symphony, known for its unique structure and dramatic depiction of a battle between good and evil.
Date: 3 November 2024. Time: 3pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £10.Book now.
Daniel Barenboim & West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
Photo by Manuel Vaca.
#FLODown: Experience the power of hope through music with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, uniting young Israeli and Arabic performers. Co-founded by Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said, this ensemble symbolises hope and possibility in a conflict-ridden region. For 25 years, it has brought together young musicians from the Middle East who might otherwise never meet. In this special concert, Barenboim joins the orchestra to perform great orchestral repertoire, culminating in Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.4, which captures the joy and atmosphere of Italy.
Date: 4 November 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £15. Book now.
Beethoven's Ninth
© RGL PO.
#FLODown: The Philharmonia Orchestra, under the baton of Robert Ziegler, presents an unforgettable evening featuring Beethoven’s monumental Choral Symphony, culminating in the iconic Ode to Joy. The programme also includes Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2, with the Philharmonia Chorus joining for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
Date: 14 November 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £19.50. Book now.
Ara Malikian
Ara Malikian. Image courtesy of the artist.
#FLODown: Lebanese-Armenian violinist Ara Malikian and his band present an eclectic evening of music that bridges classical and contemporary sounds. Performing material from his latest album, inspired by his son’s growth, Malikian’s bold, charismatic style spans genres from Bach to flamenco to Guns N' Roses. A sought-after musician, he has performed globally with artists like Sting and Fairuz, and with orchestras such as the London Chamber Orchestra and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
Date: 22 September 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £40.Book now.
Santtu Conducts Sibelius & Grieg
Santtu. Photo by Marco Borggreve
#FLODown: The Philharmonia Orchestra’s season will begin with the Nordic Soundscapes series, featuring pianist Stephen Hough. The evening will open with María Sigfúsdóttir’s Oceans, followed by Hough performing Grieg’s passionate Piano Concerto. The concert will conclude with a rare performance of Sibelius’ dramatic Kullervo, featuring the YL Male Voice Choir.
Date: 26 September 2024. Time: 7pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £15.Book now.
Igor Levit: Bach, Brahms & Beethoven
Igor Levit. © Felix Broede
#FLODown: Igor Levit will offer an engaging evening of piano music, opening with Bach’s Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue. He will then explore the dramatic Ballades Op. 10 by Brahms, inspired by the gothic poem Edward, Edward. The performance will culminate with Liszt’s dazzling transcription of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, where Levit’s piano will bring to life the serene beauty of the countryside, from birdsong to thunderstorm.
Date: 27 September 2024. Time: 7pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £15. Book now.
Lawrence Power with Thomas Adès: Fairy-Tale Dances
Lawrence Power.
#FLODown: Violist Lawrence Power joins composer Thomas Adès at the piano for an imaginative concert at the Southbank Centre, celebrating British music inspired by Purcell and Dowland, with works by Adès, Britten, and Tippett. The programme includes Adès’ Märchentänze, Berio’s Naturale with a dancer, and concludes with Stravinsky’s Divertimento from Le baiser de la fée. Look out for foyer events featuring Power, Adès, and their colleagues.
Date: 27 September 2024. Time: 9pm. Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall. Price: from £15. Book now.
Scottish Ensemble Performs Philip Glass
#FLODown: The Scottish Ensemble offers a contemporary programme showcasing the power of string music, culminating in Philip Glass’ meditative Symphony No. 3 for 19 string players. Known for their innovative performances, the ensemble invites listeners to explore new musical paths.
Date: 29 September 2024. Time: 7pm. Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall. Price: from £15. Book now.
Patricia Kopatchinskaja Plays Shostakovich
#FLODown: Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja will perform Shostakovich’s gripping Concerto, exploring themes of memory and truth. The concert also features Sibelius’ evocative Fifth Symphony and Britten’s deeply emotional work. Edward Gardner will conduct this captivating programme.
Date: 4 October 2024. Time: 7.30pm. Location: Royal Festival Hall. Price: from £14. Book now.
The Cinnamon Club had completely flown under the radar for me. It is in a pocket of London I rarely visit, and even if I did, the building’s exterior gives little indication of what’s inside. But now that I’ve discovered it, I already have plans to return with my husband - and in my mind, a list of friends I would recommend it to…