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Haydn Nelson Mass

London Symphony Orchestra/François-Xavier Roth

,Barbican Hall
Photo of musician Roth

François-Xavier Roth unites three atmospheric masterpieces by composers at the forefront of modern music in their time – Haydn, Bartók and Ligeti.

These are three composers who translated their surroundings into music in ways never heard before, each bringing a new take to the European tradition.

Ligeti’s Lontano conjures images of ‘long submerged dream worlds of childhood’, with its thundering bass and nails-down-a-chalkboard strings, and has featured in films The Shining and Shutter Island.

Travelling back in time, we reach Bartók’s Cantata profana, a choral work with rich walls of sound and driving rhythms – a secular take on the religious form, and a reflection on the Great Depression – before arriving at Haydn’s Nelson Mass. In the wake of Napoleon’s advance on Austria, this was a ‘Mass for Troubled Times’, which revived the traditional form as a symphonic choral masterpiece.

Tagged with: Classical music London Symphony Orchestra 2018–19 Multibuy London Symphony Orchestra 2018-19

Change of artist
Matthew Rose has had to withdraw from this concert for personal reasons. The bass soloists this evening will now be Christopher Purves in Haydn’s Nelson Mass, and William Thomas in Bartók’s Cantata profana. The LSO is extremely grateful to both artists for agreeing to step in at short notice.
Posted 12.50pm, Fri 9 Nov 2018

Programme

  • Ligeti   Lontano
  • Bartók   Cantata profana
  • Haydn   Nelson Mass

Performers

  • François-Xavier Roth   conductor
  • Camilla Tilling   soprano
  • Adèle Charvet   mezzo-soprano
  • Julien Behr   tenor
  • Christopher Purves   bass
  • William Thomas   bass
  • London Symphony Chorus  
  • Simon Halsey   chorus director
  • London Symphony Orchestra  

Barbican 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.