A solitary trumpet sounds: and so we enter Jörg Widmann’s heavenly maze and Mahler’s profoundly expressive Fifth Symphony.
A solemn fanfare introduces a funeral lament at the beginning of Mahler’s symphony. Its first half is bleak; the composer had recently undergone a troubling near-death experience. But midway through the composition process, Mahler met his future wife, Alma. The fourth movement is a ravishingly beautiful love letter to her. It’s familiar to many as the lovely, melancholy theme in the 1971 film Death in Venice. In Towards Paradise (Labyrinth VI), the trumpeter must navigate the tumultuous landscape of the orchestra to advance on a state of bliss.
Daniel Harding and the LSO find worlds within worlds in the gorgeous music of the Fifth Symphony. Harding is a top choice to interpret Widmann’s work, and the phenomenal Håkan Hardenberger gave the premiere performance of Towards Paradise.
This performance will end at approximately 9.30pm, including a 20-minute interval.
Produced by the London Symphony Orchestra
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.
Browse concerts with the London Symphony Orchestra
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.
