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The second concert in our ‘Music for a Great City’ series begins with Britten’s energetic Purcell-inspired Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, originally written for the London Symphony Orchestra, followed Copland’s Music for a Great City from which our series takes its name, an evocative homage to the vibrant pulse of urban life. The Te Deum by Stephen Dodgson, whose centenary we celebrate this year, interweaves the personal texts of Mary Tudor martyrs with the traditional ‘Te Deum’ text, in a work that is unsettled but ultimately inspires us with the beauty of calm, steadfast faith and internal strength in troubled times – only too relevant today. The concert concludes with Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast, a dramatically ebullient choral tour de force portraying the biblical story of the fall of Babylon.

Regents Opera present a concert with no singers(!). In their tradition of presenting very large works, it doesn’t get much bigger than the Strauss Alpine Symphony! Their lead cellist Alison Holford plays the Walton Cello Concerto, and, as this is in aid of their upcoming Ring Cycle, they include Wagner’s joyous Overture to Act 3 of Lohengrin.

Join the UK’s most popular classical music station for a night of the greatest classical music performed live. Classic FM presenters host this special concert centred around great British classics. Musical highlights include Vaughan Williams’s majestic The Lark Ascending, part of Elgar’s extraordinary Enigma Variations, and the soaring Spitfire Prelude and Fugue by Walton.

“Within Her Arms is music for my mother, with all my love”. Scored for 15 strings, Anna Clyne’s deeply felt meditation on loss opens the concert. BBC Young Musician String Final winner Jaren Ziegler performs Walton’s turbulent Viola Concerto. Premiered by Paul Hindemith alongside the composer himself, the Concerto was met with great enthusiasm which brought Walton to the forefront of British classical music. Following the interval, promising young conductor Stone Tung leads the Albion Orchestra through Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben. First performed in 1899, the work takes the listener through the journey of a hero’s life, who appears to be Strauss himself.

London Phoenix Orchestra present a programme of English music to open their 2024/25 season. The centrepiece is Elgar’s majestic Symphony No. 1, of which the composer wrote “There is no program beyond a wide experience of human life with a great charity (love) and a massive hope in the future”. Brilliant young cellist Ben Tarlton joins the orchestra for Walton’s magical Cello Concerto. Ethel Smyth’s stirring overture to her most famous opera, The Wreckers.

Experience an unforgettable evening with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Half Six Fix concert featuring Walton's Symphony No. 1. This early evening concert, under the baton and presentation of Sir Antonio Pappano, promises an immersive experience with live introductions from the performers themselves. Set in the iconic Barbican on Wednesday, 5th February 2025, at 6:30 pm, the concert offers a unique format designed to enrich your understanding and enjoyment of Walton's masterpiece. William Walton's Symphony No. 1, a work of emotional depth and complexity, reflects the composer's personal turmoil and triumph. Written during a period of great stress, the symphony's intense opening, snarky Scherzo, and tragic slow movement are testament to Walton's struggles. Yet, the finale shifts to a mood of cinematic celebration, showcasing Walton's resilience and artistic evolution. This powerful symphony demands equally powerful players, and Sir Antonio Pappano alongside the London Symphony Orchestra are more than up to the task. Having given the first performance of the opening three movements in 1934, the LSO continues its historic connection with this monumental work. The concert will conclude at approximately 7:30 pm, making it a perfect cultural interlude to your evening. Tickets are available at various price points, with a booking fee applicable for online and phone transactions. Additionally, the Half Six Fix Season Pass offers a guaranteed Wildcard for all eight concerts in the season, ensuring you don't miss any of the action. For those interested in booking, tickets can be purchased online at lso.co.uk or barbican.org.uk, by phone, or in person at the Barbican Centre. The LSO also offers a range of discounts, including multibuy savings, reduced prices for young people and students, and group booking benefits. Prepare to be captivated by the London Symphony Orchestra's performance of Walton's Symphony No. 1, a journey through emotional turmoil to triumphant celebration, all within the span of an hour. This Half Six Fix concert is not just a musical event; it's an exploration of the power of music to convey deep, complex emotions and stories.

William Walton’s First Symphony was written during a period of great stress and personal drama. Worried about friends in Europe and heartbroken after the end of a dramatic love affair Walton couldn’t even finish the work before its first performance, and his turmoil can be heard in the intense opening, snarky Scherzo (directed to be played ‘with malice’) and the tragic slow movement.

Walker’s Sinfonia No 5, 'Visions' was his final work, composed when he was 96. It was written in response to a shocking act of racial violence. The composer’s outrage can be heard in its steely outbursts, restless energy, and urgent, jagged harmonies.

Experience the profound intensity and emotional depth of classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra's upcoming concert, "Walker, Bernstein and Walton 1." This exceptional performance, under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano and featuring the virtuosic Janine Jansen on violin, promises an unforgettable evening at the prestigious Barbican on Thursday, 6th February 2025, starting at 7pm. The concert will showcase a trio of compelling works, beginning with George Walker's "Sinfonia No 5, Visions," a piece that reflects on a harrowing act of racial violence through its powerful outbursts and restless energy. Following this, Leonard Bernstein's "Serenade" delves into philosophical musings on love, inspired by ancient Greek literature, offering a lively and learned dialogue for violin and orchestra. The evening will culminate with William Walton's "Symphony No 1," a work that navigates through personal strife to emerge in a triumphant and celebratory finale. Sir Antonio Pappano, renowned for his dynamic and insightful interpretations, leads the London Symphony Orchestra through these intensely dramatic works. Janine Jansen's radiant violin playing will illuminate Bernstein's passionate music, making this concert a highlight of the LSO's 2024/25 season. The performance is scheduled to conclude at approximately 9:05 pm, including a 20-minute interval. Tickets are available in a range of prices to suit all budgets, with additional booking discounts and special rates for groups, students, and young people. For those looking to make the most of their booking, Wildcard tickets offer a unique opportunity for guaranteed entry with seat allocation on the day of the concert. Don't miss this chance to immerse yourself in the powerful expressions of love, outrage, and triumph through the music of Walker, Bernstein, and Walton, performed by one of the world's leading orchestras and celebrated soloists. Book your tickets now for an evening of unforgettable musical experiences.

Maconchy’s Nocturne for Orchestra is mysterious and dream-like, shifting gently and sometimes uneasily in its night-time landscape. Walton’s Cello Concerto seems to inhabit the same musical universe. It starts with a ticking clock and ends by drifting into a reverie. In between is a restless, energetic sequence of thoughts before the calm of the finale.