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Nielsen conjures up a sun rising from the darkness in his Helios Overture, lighting up the sparkling Aegean sea. At the end of the day, the sun – and the music – sinks below the horizon. James MacMillan has explored the concerto in many forms – from saxophone to organ to percussion . The prospect of a brand new work, this time placing the whole orchestra in the spotlight, is truly exciting.

**Season Opening: MacMillan and Sibelius 1 with the London Symphony Orchestra** Join us for an unforgettable evening as Sir Antonio Pappano inaugurates his tenure as Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) with a spectacular season opener. This landmark concert will take place at the Barbican on Wednesday, 11 September 2024, at 7pm, promising an evocative journey through the landscapes of Nielsen, MacMillan, and Sibelius. **Programme Highlights:** - **Carl Nielsen:** Helios Overture, 12 mins - **James MacMillan:** Concerto for Orchestra, 25 mins (World Premiere LSO Commission) - **Jean Sibelius:** Symphony No 1, 42 mins Under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano, the concert will showcase the LSO's versatility and brilliance, starting with the radiant dawn of Nielsen's Helios Overture. The evening will then feature the world premiere of James MacMillan's Concerto for Orchestra, a thrilling new commission that puts the entire orchestra in the spotlight. The night will conclude with Sibelius's Symphony No 1, a work rich in melodic invention and evocative of the natural and primeval landscapes of Finland. **Performers:** - **Conductor:** Sir Antonio Pappano - **Orchestra:** London Symphony Orchestra **Additional Information:** - **Date and Time:** Wednesday, 11 September 2024, 7pm - **Venue:** Barbican, London - **Concert Duration:** Approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including a 20-minute interval. Timings are subject to change. - **Tickets:** Prices range from £18 to £70, with a £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction. Discounts are available for groups, students, and 18s-and-under. **Booking Information:** Tickets for this season-opening concert are now available. Secure your seats to experience the beginning of a new chapter with Sir Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra. For more details on booking and discounts, please visit the LSO website or the Barbican box office. **Pre-Concert Activities:** Enhance your concert experience with pre-concert performances by LSO and LSO Discovery musicians in the Barbican Foyers. It's a perfect way to start your evening with the LSO. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the synergy between Sir Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra as they embark on a new musical journey together. Book your tickets now for an evening of radiant and evocative music.

Join us at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, 29th September 2024, at 3pm for an extraordinary concert experience, "Santtu conducts Sibelius and Nielsen." This event promises to be a highlight of the Philharmonia's Nordic Soundscapes series, featuring the talented Santtu-Matias Rouvali as conductor, with the acclaimed Bomsori Kim on violin. The programme for the afternoon includes Sibelius's enchanting "The Oceanides," Nielsen's bold Violin Concerto, and the UK premiere of Miho Hazama's "What the Wind Brings," accompanied by underwater film footage of the Nordic coast. The concert will conclude with Sibelius's Symphony No. 3, a work full of warm energy and captivating melodies. This concert is not just a performance but an exploration of the Nordic landscape's beauty and mystery, both above and beneath the sea. The inclusion of short documentary films provides a unique visual and auditory experience, bringing the Nordic coastline's underwater worlds to life on the Royal Festival Hall's vast screen. Tickets are priced between £15 and £75, with priority booking available for Friends of the Philharmonia. General booking opens at 10am on Tuesday, 23rd April. Don't miss this opportunity to be swept away by the powerful and playful sounds of the north, performed by some of the world's most outstanding musicians.

Sea nymphs play in this Philharmonia Orchestra concert, which includes a new work by jazz composer Miho Hazama, written to accompany footage of the Nordic coast

Join the Philharmonia Chamber Players for an enchanting evening of music featuring works by Salonen and Nielsen. This special performance is part of the Philharmonia's Nordic Soundscapes series, showcasing the rich musical heritage of the Nordic region. **Event Details:** - **Date:** Thursday, 24 October 2024 - **Time:** 6:00 PM - **Venue:** Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX - **Admission:** Free, ticket required **Program Highlights:** - **Salonen Memoria:** A poignant piece by Esa-Pekka Salonen, reflecting on memories and the legacy of Luciano Berio. This work is a testament to Salonen's deep musical insights and his connection to the Nordic soundscape. - **Nielsen Wind Quintet:** A cornerstone of the wind quintet repertoire, Carl Nielsen's piece captures the essence of nature and the unique character of each instrument. Expect a journey through nostalgic melodies and modern harmonies, culminating in a captivating finale. **Performers:** The evening will feature the Philharmonia Wind Quintet, comprising five of the orchestra's outstanding musicians. Their expertise and cohesion promise to bring these compositions to life in a memorable performance. **Special Offers:** - **Nordic Soundscapes Pass:** Secure your seat for every London event in the series with our passes, available at £250, £150, and £75. Passholders will also receive a series magazine signed by Santtu and an invitation to drinks on the opening night. **Additional Information:** - **Priority Booking for Friends:** Priority booking is now open. General booking commences at 10am on Tuesday, 23 April. Join the Friends of the Philharmonia to book your tickets now. - **Running Time:** 35 minutes - **Recommended Age:** Suitable for ages 7 and above - **Programme Notes:** Free printed programmes will be available at the venue. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the captivating sounds of the Nordic landscape, performed by the world-class Philharmonia Chamber Players. Reserve your tickets today and be part of an unforgettable musical experience.

María Dueñas won the Menuhin Violin Competition in 2021, aged just 18. Since then she has gathered rave reviews and a devoted global fanbase, and she ‘held the audience in the palm of her hand’ (The Guardian) in her BBC Proms debut in 2023. Hear her in Sibelius’s expressive and deeply personal Violin Concerto, one of the undisputed pinnacles of the violin repertoire.

The up-and-coming violinist appears with the Philharmonia Orchestra in a concert featuring a new work accompanying stunning film footage of the Nordic coastline.

Starting the year off with extraordinary skill and an exuberant sound, The National Youth Orchestra make their annual appearance in our Hall.

When Johan Dalene won the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition in 2019, one critic predicted that he’d become the greatest Swedish violinist in generations: a player with ‘a wondrous tone, an elegant straightforwardness and a freshness of utterance.’ We just say come and hear for yourself, as Dalene returns for his second Cadogan Hall concert as the RPO’s Artist-in-Residence. He joins forces with conductor Shiyeon Sung in Tchaikovsky’s hugely popular, gloriously tuneful Violin Concerto. First, though, experience the primal splendour of a Nordic dawn, as seen by Jean Sibelius, and then brace yourself for the unbridled life force of Carl Nielsen in full torrent. His extraordinary Second Symphony took its inspiration from a painting in a Danish pub – and you’d better believe it goes straight to the head!

Don’t be misled by the title: for Tchaikovsky, ‘Pathétique’ meant ‘full of emotion’ and when he composed his autobiographical final symphony… well, let’s just say that he didn’t hold back. Soaring romance, desperate tragedy and brilliant celebration: it’s all here, in a symphony that leaves no heartstring un-tugged, right up to its devastating and unforgettable conclusion. If you’ve heard our guest conductor Antonello Manacorda in action at the Royal Opera House, you’ll know that he aims straight for the heart of everything he conducts. So expect elegance and joy in Mozart’s exuberant Overture to The Magic Flute, and pure energy when he joins RPO Artist-in-Residence Johan Dalene to perform the piece with which Dalene shot to fame in 2019: the powerful Violin Concerto by Carl Nielsen. It’s possible that no one alive plays it better.