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London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle

Boulez, Benjamin & Brahms, with Barbara Hannigan

,Hall
Sir Simon Rattle conducting the LSO

A bewitching programme of contrasts: Pierre Boulez’s glittering sound world, late Johannes Brahms, and a lyrical world premiere from George Benjamin – to celebrate Sir Simon Rattle’s 70th birthday. 

2025 marks the centenary year of the legendary composer and conductor Pierre Boulez, and Sir Simon Rattle kicks off the LSO’s celebrations with Éclat. An exploration of sound itself, for Rattle it’s ‘one of Boulez’s seminal pieces, a piece where you not only conduct, but you almost compose as you go along'. 

George Benjamin’s Interludes and Aria (from Lessons and Love and Violence) is a world premiere, created specially as a gift for Rattle’s birthday, adapting the beautifully textured excerpts from Benjamin’s powerfully intense opera.   

Brahms’ Symphony No 4 (his last) was written on a grand scale, termed ‘tragic’ by the composer, yet full of melody and warm orchestral colours. 

The versatile soprano-conductor Barbara Hannigan, who created the role of Isabel in Lessons and Love and Violence, reprises an aria here.

Tagged with: Classical music Young Barbican BOULEZ 100 More...

This performance will end at approximately 8.40pm, including a 20-minute interval (timings subject to change).

Produced by the London Symphony Orchestra

Programme

  • Pierre Boulez   Éclat
  • George Benjamin   Interludes and Aria from Lessons in Love and Violence (world premiere)
  • Johannes Brahms   Symphony No 4

Performers

  • Sir Simon Rattle   conductor
  • Barbara Hannigan   soprano

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Address
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