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Tangram: Divine Intimacies

By Alex Ho and Sun Keting

,LSO St Luke's
Two musicians stand behind a blue background, one holding a cello, the other holding an erhu

Inspired by one of the earliest texts of Chinese philosophy, Divine Intimacies explores how nearly a thousand years of musical thought can be translated into contemporary sound.

During the performance, hexagrams from the ancient Chinese text I-Ching (The Book of Changes) will be generated in real time. These combinations of Yin and Yang guide a series of structured improvisations between the musicians, shaping the music and allowing each performance to take a different path.

Music by Kaija Saariaho, Isang Yun and Kazuo Fukushima appears alongside medieval chant by Hildegard von Bingen, ancient Chinese ritual music and newly arranged historical repertoire. Though separated by time and geography, these works share a fascination with resonance, stillness and the forces that shape the natural world.

The musicians will be surrounded by a responsive LED installation created by artist Ke Peng, with visuals by Chang Meng. Light shifts across the performance, forming a changing visual landscape around the musicians.

Tagged with: Classical music Tangram Immersive More...

The concert will finish at approximately 8pm. Please note this performance may include loud sound effects, flashing or strobe‑style lighting and the use of haze.

Produced by Tangram and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Programme

  • Trad   Trad Live Improvisations based on I Ching
  • Trad   Wind and Thunder Drumming
  • John Cage   Four³ (excerpt)
  • Toshio Hosokawa   Small Chant
  • Johann Sebastian Bach arr Daniel Shao   Partita in G minor BWV 1004 – Sarabanda
  • Kaija Saariaho   Six Japanese Gardens: I and IV (excerpts)
  • Yang Yong   River Song
  • Hildegard von Bingen arr Alex Ho   O vis eternitatis

Performers

  • Daniel Shao   flute
  • Peng Cheng   erhu
  • Garwyn Linnell   cello
  • Beibei Wang   percussion
  • PK   Installation
  • Chang Meng   Visuals

LSO St Luke's

Location
161 Old St
London
EC1V 9NG

Nearby public transport
The closest London Underground station is Old Street.The nearest National Rail station is Old Street (for Great Northern services), with Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Blackfriars and City Thameslink all within walking distance. Bus services running to LSO St Luke's are 55, 243 (stop nearest to LSO St Luke's), 43, 76, 141, 205, 214, 271. 

Car and bicycle parking
The nearest paid car parking is at the Barbican. There are occasionally disabled parking spaces available at the venue, but these must be booked in advance by calling LSO St Luke's on 020 7490 3939. The nearest TfL Bicycle Hire docking station is at Old Street tube station.