London Symphony Orchestra
Resident Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is built on the belief that extraordinary music should be available to everyone, everywhere. It was established in 1904 and today is among the world’s top orchestras
As Resident Orchestra at the Barbican since the Centre opened, it performs some 50 concerts here every year, under the batons of a family of conductors that includes Chief Conductor Designate Sir Antonio Pappano, Conductor Emeritus Sir Simon Rattle, Principal Guest Conductors Gianandrea Noseda and François-Xavier Roth, Conductor Laureate Michael Tilson Thomas and Associate Artists Barbara Hannigan and André J Thomas.
Events
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
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Wagner plunges the depths and rises to ecstatic heights in one of the greatest and most intense of operatic love stories.
London Symphony Orchestra
Celebrating Pierre Boulez and his influences, in the composer’s centenary year: his beloved Debussy, alongside three intriguing world premieres.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle
An all-British programme of Tippett, Turnage and Vaughan Williams inspired by opera and jazz – including an unmissable world premiere, to celebrate Sir Simon Rattle’s 70th birthday.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle
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.
London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Brahms
Kick-start your evening with a 60-minute Half Six Fix concert. Introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
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Classical meets jazz with some Christmas favourites – plus a riotous ride with Kapustin, Gershwin’s most swinging tunes, and Bernstein at his exuberant best.
Vaughan Williams, Elgar & Bax, with David Cohen
Two reflective works from Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar, plus Arnold Bax’s evocative portrait of the Cornish countryside.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
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La rondine, Puccini’s story of love thwarted by society’s conventions, an opera glowing with melody and orchestral colour.
London Symphony Orchestra/Ilan Volkov
Two sound worlds, two centuries apart: Lachenmann’s Melodies meets Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.
London Symphony Orchestra/Half Six Fix – Lachenmann
Kick-start your evening with a Half Six Fix concert. A 60-minute concert, introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.
London Symphony Orchestra/Klaus Mäkelä
Tales of ancient spirits and savage dreams from Sibelius and Stravinsky, alongside the fluid, lyrical melodies of Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto.
London Symphony Orchestra/Daniele Rustioni
A spotlight on Romanticism with three beautifully contrasting pieces: Liszt in fine form, late Mendelssohn and ‘Great’ Schubert.
London Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Adès
Composers being playful: early Beethoven's wit and jokes pair with a cat-and-mouse chase around the orchestra from Ondřej Adámek.
London Symphony Orchestra/ Half Six Fix – Beethoven
Kick-start your evening with a Half Six Fix concert. One piece in a 60-minute concert, introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.
London Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas
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Big questions asked in a big piece – Gustav Mahler’s glorious Resurrection Symphony – as the LSO celebrates Michael Tilson Thomas’ 80th birthday.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
A celebration of pure romance in Frédéric Chopin’s lyrical Second Piano Concerto, while Gustav Mahler embraces the earth in his brilliant, bold First Symphony.
Discover
Profile: London Symphony Orchestra
Listen to our selection of LSO recordings from across the years in our Spotify playlist.
Barbican Sessions: Peter Moore
London Symphony Orchestra’s young trombonist, Peter Moore, performs 'Doolallynastics – a brief torture for solo trombone’ by Brian Lynn in our latest Barbican Session, filmed in one of our Frobisher Auditoriums.