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Zappa Goes Large

BBC SO Total Immersion: Frank Zappa

,Barbican Hall
A digital image of a french horn sits in the middle of a blue circle, with pink, yellow, and blue sun rays coming out of the blue circle

For Frank Zappa, the symphony orchestra was the consummate vehicle for musical storytelling. Brad Lubman leads this live streamed evening culminating in Zappa’s acknowledged orchestral masterpieces.

In 1983, Zappa hired the London Symphony Orchestra and recorded 90 minutes of his freest, most imaginative and most wickedly entertaining music. Included on the album was the tear-away invention of 'Pedro’s Dowry', a frantic piece that obsesses over repeated fragments with all the primary-coloured brilliance of a cartoon soundtrack. This rampant hyperactivity finds the perfect counterbalance in 'Sad Jane', which is presented alongside its companion piece 'Bob in Dacron'.

'Mo ‘n Herb’s Vacation' is one of Zappa’s most accomplished large-scale orchestral works. Within its three-movement, theme and variations structure, beauty and aggression mingle, paradoxically embodying the sort of ‘sophisticated’ musical archetype Zappa loved to mock. The concert opens with music by Igor Stravinsky, one of Zappa’s principal musical inspirations.

Tagged with: Classical music Live from the Barbican BBC Symphony Orchestra More...

This performance will end at approximately 9.30pm

 

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.

Produced by the BBC Symphony Orchestra

Programme

  • Igor Stravinsky   Variations 'Aldous Huxley in Memoriam'
  • Frank Zappa   'Pedro’s Dowry'
  •   'Bob in Dacron'
  •   'Sad Jane'
  •   'Envelopes'
  •   'Mo ‘N Herb’s Vacation'
  •   'Strictly Genteel'

Performers

  • Brad Lubman   conductor

Pre-concert talk

18:00 Auditorium 1, Level 4*

An introduction to Frank Zappa and his orchestral music

Free entry. Limited capacity, entry guaranteed to BBC Total Immersion Day Pass holders.

* Please note the change of venue from the one originally advertised

BBC SO Total Immersion: Frank Zappa

Digital Programme

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.