Saved events

Share your feedback

The Yellow Shark

BBC SO Total Immersion: Frank Zappa

,Milton Court
A big yellow circle with Sharks circling in it. Out of the circle come blue, yellow and pink sun rays.

Guildhall’s Ubu Ensemble pay homage to Frank Zappa’s iconic last album The Yellow Shark, harvested from his appearance at the 1992 Frankfurt Festival.

Following a diagnosis of terminal cancer, in 1991 Zappa agreed to appear as a featured composer at the Frankfurt Festival the next year. What started as a cautious collaboration turned into an inspired one when Zappa started working with the German contemporary music orchestra, Ensemble Modern.  The concerts that followed have gone down in history, thanks in part to The Yellow Shark. The album contains live recordings from the festival in which Zappa’s tongue-in cheek command to his audience to ‘get serious’ rubs shoulders with now-classic Zappa scores including the unmistakable melody of 'G-Spot Tornado'.

This performance focuses on works that rhapsodize on Zappa’s intense, disciplined interest in classical counterpoint. Music by the composer’s beloved Edgard Varèse, Igor Stravinsky and Anton Webern provide essential context.

Tagged with: Classical music Contemporary music BBC SO Total Immersion: Frank Zappa More...

This performance will finish at approximately 4.30pm

 

To purchase a Day Pass, choose your seat for each of the priced events and ensure you pick 'Total Immersion Day Pass' as the ticket type. Once a seat from each event has been added to your basket, it will add up to the Day Pass ticket price. Entry to the 6.30pm talk is guaranteed for day pass holders. Subject to availability.

Programme

Frank Zappa The Perfect Stranger
Anton Webern Concerto for Nine Instruments
Igor Stravinsky Pribaoutki
Edgard Varèse Intégrales
Frank Zappa A selection from The Yellow Shark:
'The Dog Breath Variations / Uncle Meat'
'The Girl in the Magnesium Dress'
'Get Whitey'
'Be-Bop Tango'
'Outrage at Valdez'
'G-Spot Tornado'

Performers

Ubu Ensemble
Simon Wills conductor

BBC SO Total Immersion Day

Digital Programme

Become a Patron

Our Patrons get access to tickets for sold-out performances, among other benefits.
About Barbican Patrons

Milton Court