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London Symphony Orchestra/Barbara Hannigan

Bowler, Ligeti & Strauss, with Bar Avni

,Hall
Barbara Hannigan conducting the LSO, arms outstretched to either side.

New music by Laura Bowler preludes Ligeti’s ethereal, dreamlike soundworld and Richard Strauss’s colossal, awe-inspiring homage to Nietzsche.

Laura Bowler is a composer of rare imagination and theatrical flair. Her new work for voice and orchestra is inspired by Booker and Nobel Prize-winning author Han Kang’s The White Book – a poetic meditation on colour, grief and the human spirit.

Lontano was used to mesmerising, claustrophobic effect in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, and achieves its ethereal, eerie atmosphere by the continual layering and merging of textures and melodies.

The final work is Strauss’ powerful Nietzschian tone-poem that begins with classical music’s most famous and blazing portrayals of sunrise.

A much-admired champion of contemporary music, Barbara Hannigan is vocal soloist for Laura Bowler’s new work, alongside rising conducting star Bar Avni, and then leads the LSO herself in Ligeti’s ground-breaking masterpiece and Strauss’s orchestral epic.

Tagged with: Classical music Young Barbican London Symphony Orchestra Multibuy 2025/26 More...

The concert will finish at approximately 8.40pm, including a 20-minute interval (timings subject to change).

Produced by the London Symphony Orchestra. 

Programme

  • Laura Bowler   The White Book*
  • György Ligeti   Lontano
  • Richard Strauss   Also sprach Zarathustra

Performers

  • London Symphony Orchestra  
  • Barbara Hannigan   conductor & soprano
  • Bar Avni   conductor*

Ticket prices

Standard
£18-72 *
* Excludes £4 booking fee

Booking fees

£4 booking fee per online/phone transaction. 

No fee when tickets are booked in person.

Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.

Hall

Location
The Barbican Hall is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level. 

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
​​​​​​​The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.