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Classical music

Browse concerts from the Barbican Classical Music programme featuring leading orchestras and soloists from around the world.

Highlights

Image of Davel Patel
Event
Classical music Talks & events Contemporary music

Darbar: Aurabreath – Breathwork with Davel Patel

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Breathe into your innate wisdom . Tune into the power of your breath with functional breathing practices designed to improve focus, calmness, and inner resilience. 

Davel Patel practitioner
Image of Debasmita Bhattacharya playing the sitar
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Darbar: Debasmita Bhattacharya + Mallick Dharbanga Dhrupad

Two traditions, one soul: where strings speak and voices transcend. 

Debasmita Bhattacharya sarod
Satyajit Talwalkar tabla
Pandit Premkumar Mallick and Prashant Mallick darbhanga dhrupad
Surdarshan Chana jori
Sinfonia of London
Event
Classical music

Sinfonia of London: Serenade

The barnstorming Sinfonia of London return with major string works from best-loved British composers including Vaughan Williams, Elgar and Britten.

Ralph Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Benjamin Britten Serenade for Tenor, Horns and Strings
Arthur Bliss Music for Strings
Frederic Delius Late Swallows
Edward Elgar Introduction and Allegro
Sinfonia of London
John Wilson conductor
Laurence Kilsby tenor
Christopher Parkes horn
Akkarai sisters playing the violin on stage
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Darbar: Akkarai Sisters + Ruchira Kedar

One extraordinary evening. Two classical traditions.

Akkarai Sisters carnatic violin
Patri Satish Kumar mridangam
Giridhar Udupa ghatam
Ruchira Kedar khayal Vocal – Gwalior Jaipur Ghrana
Yashwant Vaishnav tabla
Tanmay Deochake harmonium
Johan Dalene playing the violin
Event
Classical music

London Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Adès

Thomas Adès leads us through Sibelius’ Finland and conjures magical images in his own evocation of a Celtic legend.

Jean Sibelius Symphony No 4
Einojuhani Rautavaara Deux Sérénades
Thomas Adès The Origin of the Harp (for chamber orchestra)
Jean Sibelius Symphony No 6
London Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Adès conductor
Johan Dalene violin
Image of Yashwant Vaishna and Vivek Pandya performing on stage
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Tabla duet by Yashwant Vaishnav + Vivek Pandya

When percussion transcends rhythm to become pure conversation . 

Yashvant Vaishnav tabla
Vivek Pandya tabla
Tanmay Deochake harmonium
Image of Sriranjani Tapasya on stage
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Darbar: Amaan Hussain + Sriranjani Tapasya

Experience the majestic breadth of Indian classical music in one extraordinary evening

Amaan Hussain sarangi
Vivek Pandya tabla
Sriranjani Tapasya carnatic vocal
Patri Satish Kumar mridangam
Jyotsna Srikanth carnatic violin
Giridhar Udupa ghatam
Hannu Lintu with his arms raised against a red bakcground
Event
Classical music

Lintu conducts Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony

Shostakovich’s shattering Eighth Symphony is the climax of a gripping all-Russian programme from BBC Symphony Orchestra guest conductor Hannu Lintu and viola phenom Timothy Ridout.

Alfred Schnittke Viola Concerto
Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No 8
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Hannu Lintu conductor
Timothy Ridout viola
Seth Parker Woods
Event
Classical music

Seth Parker Woods: Thus Spoke Their Verse

Anchored by three Bach Sarabandes, cellist Seth Parker Woods explores three centuries of cello music, focusing on identity, storytelling, and polyphony.

Johann Sebastian Bach Suite No 1, BWV 100: Sarabande
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson Calvary Ostinato from Lamentations: Black Folk/Song Suite
Giacinto Scelsi Maknongan for solo cello
Fredrick Gifford Difficult Grace, for speaking cellist and electronics
Johann Sebastian Bach Suite No 2, BWV 1008: Sarabande
Nathalie Joachim Dam Mwen Yo or cello and electronics
Alvin Singleton Argoru II for cello solo
Monty Adkins Winter Tendrils for cello and fixed electronics
Johann Sebastian Bach Suite No 5, BWV 1011: Sarabande
Conrad Beck Drei Epigramme für solo cello - I. Moderato and II. Tranquillo
Carlos Simon Between Worlds for solo cello
Chinary Ung Khse Buon for solo cello
Seth Parker Woods cello
Two photos side-by-side of Jason Kalidas and Inderpal Pali Kalsi
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Darbar: Jason Kalidas + Inderpal (Pali) Kalsi 

Immerse yourself in serenity with a spellbinding flute and tabla duet.

Image of TM Krishna
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Darbar: Future of Indian classical music : TM Krishna

Join one of Indian classical music’s most acclaimed vocalists, authors, and cultural critics, Krishna, to explore Carnatic music’s evolution, challenges, and possibilities in the 21st century.
 

TM Krishna
Ustad Shahid Parvez playing the sitar on stage
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Darbar: Beyond Sitar – Ustad Shahid Parvez

Inside the mind of a maestro, an exclusive journey with Ustad Shahid Parvez. Join us for an extraordinary glimpse into the musical philosophy of one of the world’s greatest living sitar virtuosos.

Ustad Shahid Parvez
A photo of sibling duo Mathangi & Sambavi Uthayakumar sitting with violins on the grass.
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Darbar: Mathangi & Sambavi Uthayakumar + Abhiram Sahathevan

Let the strings of tradition stir your soul.

Tribute to Shivkumar and Ustad Zakir Hussain
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Darbar: Tributes to Shivkumar Sharma and Zakir Hussain

A landmark celebration of rhythm and legacy, honouring two titans of Indian classical music: the late tabla virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain and the santoor pioneer Pandit Shivkumar Sharma.

Rahul Sharma santoor
Satyajit Talwalkar tabla
Taal Vadya percussion ensemble by
Pandit Yogesh Samsi tabla
Patri Satish Kumar mrindangam
Ghatam Udupa ghatam
Tanmay Deochake harmonium nagma
Image of TM Krishna on stage
Event
Classical music Contemporary music

Darbar: Genius of TM Krishna

Transport yourself to the heart of South India without leaving London for a traditional morning kacheri - the authentic Chennai experience.

TM Krishna carnatic vocal
Akkarai Subhalakshmi carnatic violin
Patri Satish Kumar mridangam
Giridhar Udupa ghatam