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London Symphony Orchestra/Barbara Hannigan

Barbara Hannigan

Barbara Hannigan takes on the role of conductor and soprano in this high-energy concert, bringing her Artist Portrait series to a close.

Hannigan’s own take on Gershwin’s Girl Crazy has been described by The Times as ‘intelligent, invigorating,’ and ‘madly compelling.’ From the tender romance of ‘Embraceable You’ to the ecstatic swing of ‘I Got Rhythm’, she teases out the playful magic of George Gershwin in this arrangement of the composer’s most celebrated show tunes.

Ligeti’s blustery Concert Românesc, inspired by traditional Romanian folk music, opens the performance. Building to a chaotic, vivacious finale, the piece is followed by Haydn’s bracing Symphony No 86. Then, a fiendish suite of pieces from Berg’s dark and delightful opera Lulu, which follows the exploits of the eponymous social-climber who seduces the powerful, then sends them to an early grave.

The performance is expected to finish around 9pm, including a 20 minute interval.

Barbican Hall