Sir Antonio Pappano champions one of the unsung masterpieces of 20th-century opera – Luigi Dallapiccola’s shattering Il Prigioniero.
Locked in a dungeon, and far beyond all human help or consolation, the Prisoner dreams of freedom. But no prison, it seems, can trap him more surely than his own hopes and fears. Sir Antonio Pappano conducts a rare concert performance of Luigi Dallapiccola’s gripping 1949 opera.
And gripping really is the word: set in the 16th century but drenched in the atmosphere of film noir, Dallapiccola’s opera tells a story that never becomes any less relevant, in music that broods, glitters, and cuts straight to the core of an eternal human tragedy. For Pappano, it’s one of the undervalued masterpieces of 20th-century opera; a piece that demands to be heard, but which is almost completely unknown in the English-speaking world. With the full London Symphony Chorus and a hand-picked cast, perhaps that’s about to change.
Please note that the Chorus will be positioned in the balcony for this performance.
Programme
Performers
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Booking fees
£4 booking fee per online/phone transaction.
No fee when tickets are booked in person.
Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.
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.
We’ve plenty of places for you to relax and replenish, from coffee and cake to wood-fired pizzas and full pre-theatre menus
Mobility
Spaces for wheelchair users in row U at the rear of the stalls (up to sixteen, depth of row 180cm) and the back row of the circle (four), both with fold-down companion seats. Some seats in row S of the stalls for people with very limited mobility.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the concert hall where there are a limited number of suitable seats in row G of the stalls. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the cloakroom staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
There is an induction loop in the concert hall. You can use this by adjusting your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting.
Free large-print programmes
These are available for most of our concerts. Please contact [email protected] at least a week beforehand, to prebook a large-print programmme.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.
