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BBC Symphony Orchestra/Saraste

,Barbican Hall
Karen Cargill on Stairs

Experience Shostakovich’s masterpiece of despair, grotesquery and anger from height of World War II and a brand new work from a compelling new voice from Finland.

On 4 November 1943, a war-fatigued audience in Moscow heard the first performance of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony. Unlike its predecessor, this was no rallying call-to-arms. It was masterpiece of despair, grotesquery and anger powered forward by music both grief-stricken in stillness and hurtling in paranoia. The piece was banned immediately.

Jukka-Pekka Saraste conducts Shostakovich’s denunciation of the futility of war alongside the lustrous songs by Alma Mahler with mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill.  A UK premiere by Sebastian Fagerlund – a composer shepherding Finnish orchestral music into a thrilling new era – is the climax to a monumental, awe-inspiring trilogy of orchestral works.

Tagged with: Classical music BBC SO 2019–20 BBC Symphony Orchestra 2019–20 Multibuy More...

End-time to be announced nearer the event.

Programme

  • Sebastian Fagerlund   Water Atlas (UK premiere; BBC co-commission)
  • Alma Mahler   Lieder
  • Shostakovich   Symphony No 8

Performers

  • BBC Symphony Orchestra  
  • Jukka-Pekka Saraste   conductor
  • Karen Cargill   mezzo-soprano

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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.