Composer

“For me, the sound of the violin reflects the soul,” says Lisa Batiashvili. 

Tchaikovsky may well have agreed. He wrote his Violin Concerto on holiday by Lake Geneva with the young student he hoped would premiere it, and poured equal parts emotion and virtuosity into his fiercely difficult and beautiful score. This afternoon it’s in the hands of exceptional violinist Lisa Batiashvili, whose last performance with the Philharmonia was acclaimed as ‘compelling from the very first bar’ (The Guardian). 

Lisa Batiashvili plays Tchaikovsky

Southbank Centre

EPSG:4326

WALTON AND RACHMANINOV with ROSALIND VENTRIS viola

Dorchester Abbey

A London Landscape

Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center

Commissioned for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Gloriana attracted controversy in exploring the hidden romantic life of the monarch’s namesake and predecessor. Britten’s music, though, brilliantly captures the spirit of Elizabethan dances and lute songs, whilst giving them an ironic 20th-century distance. The seven Courtly Dances that open this concert are an immediately appealing example.

The Hallé

Royal Concert Hall Nottingham

Following the lively ‘Courtly Dances’ from Britten’s opera Gloriana, Alpesh Chauhan is joined on the platform by Norwegian trumpeter, Tine Thing Helseth who performs the UK premiere a new, exciting work, written especially for her. Musically illustrating the biblical role of the trumpet and celebrating its vast expressive possibilities, Nico Muhly’s Doom Painting leads us on a dramatic journey through this historic instrument’s various iterations: ceremonial object for rituals and celebrations alike; harbinger of Doomsday; and jubilant instrument of the psalms. Walton’s Symphony No.1 is widely considered among the greatest twentieth-century symphonies. Sometimes triumphant, sometimes hostile – the second movement, for example, is subtitled ‘Presto con malizia’ (‘quickly with malice’) – expect emotional intensity from start to finish.

The Hallé – Walton’s First Symphony

The Bridgewater Hall

Following the lively ‘Courtly Dances’ from Britten’s opera Gloriana, Norwegian trumpeter, Tine Thing Helseth takes to the platform to perform this new, exciting work, written especially for her. Musically illustrating the biblical role of the trumpet and celebrating its vast expressive possibilities, Nico Muhly’s Doom Painting leads us on a dramatic journey through this historic instrument’s various iterations: ceremonial object for rituals and celebrations alike; harbinger of Doomsday; and jubilant instrument of the psalms.

Walton’s First Symphony

His stage name is based on a martial arts icon and he enjoys karting as a hobby: Bruce Liu is full of surprises. Just like his incredibly colorful piano playing, which has catapulted him into the top league of the classical music world. Bruce Liu was born in Paris and grew up in Canada, but his Asian roots have shaped him not least of all. "I notice that Chinese history – Confucianism, Taoism – is in my blood. But through my profession, I am also closely connected to European culture." His touch definitely has a French vein, elegant and incredibly light, while a haunting tension simmers beneath the surface. Excellent prerequisites for Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto, which covers all emotional ranges, from sensitive tenderness to barely controllable outbursts of energy.

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Bruce Liu / Kazuki Yamada

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

With a stage name inspired by a martial arts icon and karting as a hobby, Bruce Liu is full of surprises. Just like his incredibly colourful piano playing, which has catapulted him into the premier league of the classical music world. Bruce Liu was born in Paris and grew up in Canada, but it was not least his Asian roots that shaped him. ‘I realise that the history of China - Confucianism, Taoism - is in my blood. But I am also closely connected to European culture through my profession.’ His touch definitely has a French vein, is elegant and incredibly light, while a haunting tension simmers beneath the surface. Excellent prerequisites for Tchaikovsky's legendary first piano concerto, which covers every emotional range from sensitive tenderness to an almost uncontrollable outburst of energy. Modest Mussorgsky's ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’, which will be performed by the renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kazuki Yamada in the second half of the concert, evokes fewer emotional states, but instead marvellous visual associations. (Pro Arte Frankfurt)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Alte Oper

A guiding principle for Yo-Yo Ma is to make the listener feel like the most important person in the room. The fact that he’s done that for more than 60 years is a testament to his commitment. Ma’s performance of Elgar’s soulful Cello Concerto is part of an all-English program that is tailor-made for Thomas Søndergård and the Minnesota Orchestra.

Yo-Yo Ma with the Minnesota Orchestra

Orchestra Hall

Whether Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, or Romeo and Juliet – many of the most beautiful and well-known melodies were written for ballet. The grace and elegance of the dancers inspired the composers to achieve peak creative achievements – time to devote a detailed attention to the resulting music. This evening, it's not just the bows that dance on the strings; some animals are also said to be doing a few pirouettes...

Pirouettes and pliés

Prinzregententheater

The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra returns to Cadogan Hall with a romantic programme of big tunes and lush orchestration, inspired by the movies of the 1940s.

This year’s Purcell School Concerto Competition winner, Julia Majewska, is an exciting young violinist who brings passion and verve to the fireworks of the exquisite Korngold Violin Concerto.

Part of Howard Hanson’s Symphony from 1930 was John Williams’ template for E.T., and Doreen Carwithen was the first British woman to write consistently for Hollywood. Walton’s orchestral showpiece from the film The First of the Few completes the programme.

The Purcell School Symphony Orchestra

Cadogan Hall 

Jess Walter, New York Times best-selling author, brings us his own witty, irreverent, and lyrical take on Britten’s “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” (aka “The Inland Northwesterner’s Guide to the Orchestra”).

Masterworks 5: Stolen Melodies

Martin Woldson Theater

Guest Concert for the 20th anniversary of the Leipzig University Orchestra

Gewandhaus

Fresh from his wildly successful recent appearance with the DSO, Edward Gardner returns to conduct Holst’s most famous score, with the astrological character of each of the celestial bodies. Each planetary “portrait” reveals a fitting attribute, from Mars’ bellicose hammer blows to the haunting resonances of Neptune, “The Mystic,” with female voices singing wordlessly off stage till they fade away into the great unknown. Walton’s regal hymn of praise was commissioned to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953 and sung as she made her exit from Westminster Abbey. David Childs, euphonium sensation and brass faculty member of the University of North Texas, solos in the US premiere of a concerto by critically acclaimed Scottish composer James MacMillan, whose music is esteemed “for its rhythmic excitement and powerful emotional communication.”

Holst’s The Planets

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

2026 January Chorus Concert

The most powerful soundtracks can stand alone without any visual support. They come alive, becoming characters in their own right, and hearing a few bars can instantly transport us back to a favourite scene.

Symphonic Tales of British Cinema: From Hercule Poirot to Harry Potter

Centre Leonardo Da Vinci

Place des Arts

How do you celebrate New Year's Eve? Raclette, champagne, and fireworks? Looking back and looking ahead? Perhaps good conversations, with or without a party? For us, New Year's Eve is, above all, music, with which we bid farewell to the old year and toast the new one with you. We're already looking forward to seeing you again on New Year's Eve: The wonderful conductor Elim Chan has already fascinated and enchanted us in four concert programs.

New Year's Eve

Cologne Philharmonie

Brahms's Third Symphony returns to Wiesbaden, where it was composed in 1883 and met with great acclaim after its Vienna premiere. "Every movement a jewel!" Clara Schumann wrote to the composer. With a playful wink, Sergei Prokofiev created his First Symphony 35 years later: in the "classical style," it feigns adherence to old traditions, only to immediately break the rules and provoke a joyful chaos. As if this program didn't already offer stunningly beautiful melodies and harmonies, Walton's Viola Concerto adds even more. Eleanor Kendra James, principal violist of the State Orchestra, makes her debut as soloist.

3rd Symphony Concert: Brahms in Wiesbaden

Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Kronberg Academy

Ludwig van Beethoven’s first Piano Concerto is a youthful work that in many ways captures the emergence of the composer’s style. In this concert, Sweden’s Radio Concert Hall Berwaldhallen and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra welcome for the first time the British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. After the intermission, conductor Yoel Gamzou will the lead the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in the British composer William Walton’s emotionally powerful first symphony from 1935.

Benjamin Grosvenor in Beethoven’s  Piano Concerto No 1

Berwaldhallen

Riley Smith (DMA ABD) is a classical guitarist with over a decade of performing and teaching experience. Drawn to the guitar from a young age, he quickly became enamored with the instrument—a passion that has guided his artistic and academic journey. He has studied under world-renowned pedagogues René Izquierdo, and Dr. Andrew Zohn, earning degrees in Guitar Performance from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (BFA, 2020) and Columbus State University (MM, 2022).

Riley Smith – DMA Guitar Recital

Hamel Music Center

Czech Philharmonic • Variations

Karlovy Vary City Theatre

Laura Karpman’s opera Balls tells the story of the Battle of the Sexes tennis match of 1973 – a decisive victory for Billie Jean King and for gender equality.

Composer Laura Karpman, conductor Marin Alsop  and actor Emma Kennedy are the perfect team to bring this turning point in the struggle for women’s rights to a 21st-century audience. Karpman, composer of many acclaimed film and game soundtracks including American Fiction, The Marvels and Kung Fu Panda 2, is a fierce advocate for equality in the film industry. Marin Alsop has blazed a trail for women conductors, through a performing career studded with ‘firsts’ and as a mentor and educator. Emma Kennedy is a multi-talented writer-performer who has won awards for her books, radio shows, TV series and films.

Battle of the Sexes: Marin Alsop conducts Balls

Karpman, composer of many acclaimed film and game soundtracks including for American Fiction, The Marvels and Kung Fu Panda 2, is a fierce advocate for equality in the film industry.

Balls: Marin Alsop Conducts Laura Karpman

Making her debut with the TSO, Yura Lee solos on not one, but two instruments! In a rare turn, Lee will perform both the Walton Viola Concerto and Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending on violin on a program of contrasts.

Strauss and Britten

Linda Ronstadt Music Hall

As Napoleon's troops laid siege to the city, Ludwig van Beethoven composed his Emperor Concerto. Beethoven himself never referred to his Piano Concerto No. 5 as such, but the moment you hear it, you'll understand where the nickname came from. The piece is grand, heroic and majestic - qualities that pianist Lucas Jussen, celebrated for his Beethoven interpretations, will bring to life for us tonight. It makes for a striking contrast to the second half of the evening: Walton's bold and dramatic Symphony No. 1.

Walton & Beethoven

Amare

Experience the majesty of Fanfares and Flourishes. Join Goldsmiths Choral Union and Affinity Chamber Orchestra for an exhilarating and joyful evening of music that celebrates the splendour and triumph of the human spirit. Fanfares and Flourishes is a vibrant, uplifting programme that brings together powerful choral works and dazzling brass to explore themes of celebration, reverence, and exaltation.

Fanfares and Flourishes

Smith Square Hall

With this concert, Sir Donald Runnicles assumes his position as chief conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic and simultaneously opens our British Festival. The evening, full of European and British music history, begins with Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis," a deeply emotional and majestic piece that highlights the beauty of the English music tradition. William Walton's Concerto for Viola and Orchestra puts the larger sister of the violin in the spotlight. With virtuosic solo passages and dynamic orchestral accompaniment, this piece creates goosebump moments and showcases the viola in all its versatility and expressiveness. The crowning finale is Johannes Brahms' Fourth Symphony, a masterpiece that initially faced challenges at its inception. Its beginning appeared too abstract to contemporaries. Today, 140 years after its creation, the poetry of this beginning, the exuberance of the third movement, and the solemnity of the finale make Brahms' Fourth one of the most beloved symphonies of all time.

Sir Donald with Brahms

Palace of Culture

Sergei Prokofiev was the bad boy of Russian music; Romeo and Juliet is the greatest love story ever told. Not an obvious match – but somehow, they clicked, and Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet drives straight to the raw, tender heart of Shakespeare’s drama. Tonight, it’s one of three very different visions of paradise from guest conductor Elim Chan. Cellist Nicolas Altstaedt plays the sun-kissed concerto that William Walton composed on a Mediterranean island. Meanwhile, with the UK premiere of Contested Eden, composer Gabriela Lena Frank joins our Harmony with Nature debate with a very personal response to California’s wildfires.

Romeo and Juliet

Not an obvious match – but somehow, they clicked, and Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet drives straight to the raw, tender heart of Shakespeare’s drama.

Guest performance in Weißenfels »Back from vacation«

Weißenfels Cultural Center

The Five Pieces for String Quartet were the work with which Erwin Schulhoff achieved his breakthrough in Salzburg in 1924. The dedication to his French colleague Darius Milhaud reveals what he was aiming for: the concise brevity of the movements, the suite-like sequence, and the aphoristic treatment of the material. The "Five Pieces" are primarily rhythmically inspired, which is probably why one review described them as "nice and lively dance pieces." One should not be fooled by this pleasantness: Schulhoff experiments ingeniously with motivic, metrical, and harmonic forms.

In the middle of the 20th century

Bochumer Symphoniker

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of classical music where you can witness the incredible talent of rising stars as they take the stage.

Experience the fiery passion of Grieg's Piano Concerto, captivated by the soulful melodies of Walton's Viola Concerto and prepare to be swept away by the virtuosity of Wieniawski's Violin Concerto, presented in its entirety.

Join us in celebrating the power and promise of young musical prodigies!

Extraordinary Youth

Eglinton St. George's United Church

Guest performance in Arnstadt »Back from vacation«

Theater im Schlossgarten

Few WASO debuts are met with the ecstatic acclaim that greeted Vasily Petrenko’s in 2022. He returns in 2025 with Walton’s grand Spitfire Prelude and Fugue and Vaughan Williams’ profoundly moving Fifth Symphony. Associate Principal Clarinet, Som Howie, makes his WASO concerto debut with Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto – a timeless masterpiece of expressive elegance and virtuosic flair.

Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto

The University of Western Australia

Few WASO debuts are met with the ecstatic acclaim that greeted Vasily Petrenko’s in 2022. He returns in 2025 with Walton’s grand Spitfire Prelude and Fugue and Vaughan Williams’ profoundly moving Fifth Symphony.

Prelude to Peace - Matinee

State Theatre Centre of WA

Few WASO debuts are met with the ecstatic acclaim that greeted Vasily Petrenko’s in 2022. He returns with music from his adopted homeland; Walton’s grand Spitfire Prelude and Fugue and Vaughan Williams’ profoundly moving Fifth Symphony.

Matinee Symphony Series: Prelude to Peace

Coffee Concert No. 1 »Back from Vacation«

Volkshaus Jena

A celebration of Britain’s land- and sea-scapes. Hear the soaring flight of Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending as well as the many moods of the North Sea as it meets Suffolk shingle in Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from ‘Peter Grimes’.

Great British Classics

Royal Albert Hall

Closing concert of the 65th Weimar Master Classes 2025 »The best for last«

Congress Centrum Neue Weimarhalle

All swagger, originality and ‘orgiastic power’, one of the great 20th-century symphonies, Walton’s Symphony No. 1, put the composer on the map – as the heir to both Elgar and Sibelius. Ravel’s jazz-infused, darkly atmospheric Piano Concerto for the Left Hand also breaks new ground: only one hand plays, though the ear hears all the richness of two. Nicholas McCarthy – the world’s only professional one-handed concert pianist – makes his Proms debut. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra opens its first Prom under new Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth with Shostakovich’s jovial Suite for Variety Orchestra, packed with tunes from the composer’s music for ballet, theatre and cinema.

BBC Proms Ravel with Nicholas McCarthy

Edward Gardner and James Ehnes

Lotte World Mall

Seoul Arts Center

Returning to the festival by popular demand, the brilliant brass players of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra present a glittering programme of music inspired by 'Eternal Light'.

Shining Brass: Bach and Bruckner to Walton and Wagner

St Giles Cripplegate

The viola emerges from the depths of the orchestra into the spotlight much less often than its high-pitched sister. The Englishman William Walton gave it the opportunity for a particularly grand performance with his concert. The warm tone of the solo instrument nestles here against a colorful orchestral part that can also be heard in the other two contributions to the program - the sparkling sound of Lyadov's "enchanted lake" or Stravinsky's ballet about the love-struck fairground puppet Petrushka. These fairy-tale sounds are brought to life by Marie Jacquot, the designated chief conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra.

Fairy Tale Sounds - Marie Jacquot

The viola emerges from the depths of the orchestra into the spotlight much less often than its high-pitched sister. The Englishman William Walton gave it the opportunity for a particularly grand performance with his concert. The warm tone of the solo instrument nestles here against a colorful orchestral part that can also be heard in the other two contributions to the program - the sparkling sound of Lyadov's "enchanted lake" or Stravinsky's ballet about the love-struck fairground puppet Petrushka. These fairy-tale sounds are brought to life by Marie Jacquot, designated chief conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra.

Fairytale Sounds – Marie Jacquot

Museum Ludwig

Was it, or wasn’t it, an act of defiance and bitter retort to Stalin’s displeasure? Shostakovich’s life was so utterly and constantly in peril that he could never publicly declare whether his Fifth Symphony was simply ‘a Soviet artist’s reply to just criticism’ or a satirical puncturing of the dictator, deliberately hollow but dressed as adulation.

Ulster Orchestra: Act Of Defiance

Ulster Hall

Perhaps no other orchestra has done so much to champion the incredible tradition of British music for strings as the legendary English String Orchestra, whose recordings carry the music of England from Elgar to today to listeners worldwide. William Walton was perhaps the true heir of Elgar’s legacy, and his Sonata for Strings is one of the highest peaks in the string orchestra literature. The programme opens with a set of short pieces which showcase Elgar’s genius for the miniature and continues with works showcasing two of today’s most engaging and exciting composers, Peter Fribbins and Ian Venables. Rosalind Ventris is the featured soloist.

Elgar Festival 2025 - Elgar’s Strings in Malvern

Great Malvern Priory

»Songs are like small operas into which you can bring many colors,« says Hanna-Elisabeth Müller. Young in years, rich in success, the soprano always devotes particular attention to the programs of her song recitals.

Hanna-Elisabeth Müller | Daniel Ottensamer | Juliane Ruf

What the imagination of ancient trysts can trigger. Debussy's "Prélude" signified nothing less than a silent revolution. For Ravel, it was an epiphany: "Only after I first heard 'Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune' did I know what music is." In his music for "Daphnis et Chloé," he presented sound in a completely different way, magnificently and expansively. In the splendid isolation on the island of Ischia, the late William Walton was no longer concerned with revolution. He enjoyed—and longed for—England.

Daphnis and Chloé

Tonhalle Düsseldorf

From the most delicate of musical miniatures, to the full splendour of Walton’s Crown Imperial, there’s nothing that can’t be played on a great organ. And there’s no organist alive who knows the Philharmonic Hall organ better than Liverpool’s City Organist Ian Tracey.

Summer Organ Recital

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

In 1929 the BBC asked Walton to write an oratorio for small chorus, small orchestra and a vocal soloist.  The result was anything but small!  Belshazzar’s Feast, to a libretto by Osbert Sitwell, turned out to be on an epic scale.  It rejuvenated English oratorio writing, and audiences were surprised with a jazzy, perhaps slightly racy, shocker. Bernstein revisited the score of his wildy successful musical and extracted nine sections to assemble into what he called the Symphonic Dances. The famous opening confrontation of the Jets and the Sharks is followed by the strains of Somewhere and the lively Latin dances of the Mambo and Cha-cha before the Cool fugue slides into the final, deadly Rumble, before ending on a haunting, unresolved chord.

Belshazzar’s Feast

Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts 

The Bach Choir and the Philharmonia Orchestra join forces for an evening of British music full of gripping stories and stunning landscapes.

The Bach Choir: Belshazzar’s Feast

Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, is—to only a slightly lesser degree than The Rite of Spring—a work that revolutionized music around the beginning of the 20th century, with its gossamer textures, subtle voluptuousness and elusive harmonies. Sixty-seven years ago Walton's Cello Concerto premiered in Symphony Hall with the legendary cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. BPYO alum Leland Ko, recent first prize winner of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) Competition, will bring it home again, with his richly lyrical tone and virtuosic flair. Maestro Zander says of Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2, "It overflows with love. From its first notes, emotion-drenched themes well up in an unstoppable flood, all clothed in Rachmaninoff's most gorgeous orchestration."

Debussy / Walton / Rachmaninoff

Boston Symphony Hall

In pursuit of their degrees at SFCM, each student presents a recital that represents their artistry and craft. Student Recitals feature repertoire curated by students with guidance from their faculty instructor. 

Haeun Choi, cello - First Year Advanced Certificate Recital

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

After Spain ( in the second chamber music matinee of the season ) and Poland ( in the fourth chamber music matinee of the season ), the fifth chamber music matinee takes a detour to England. Right in the middle of the action: violinist Catherine Myerscough, a native of London and a member of the NDR Radio Philharmonic since 2018. Together with three colleagues, she spans the Elizabethan era through early modern times to the present day. British music history is more colorful than you might think!

English. Chamber music from Orlando Gibbons to William Walton

NDR Concert Hall | Small Broadcasting Hall

Friday 20th subscription - Philippe Quint - Chatherine Larsen-Maguire

Opera Palace of A Coruña

KMH Brass and Percussion combine for a concert of classical original works for ensemble by Benjamin Britten, Samuel Barber and Usko Meriläinen along with two of the most famous arrangements for Brass by Elgar Howarth from William Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue and Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. 

Best Brass - KMH Brass & Percussion

Royal College of Music Stockholm

Eleanor Hammersly, viola - First Year Master's Recital

Under the batons of Salonen Fellows Mert Yalniz and Aleksandra Melaniuk, soloists from the Conservatory perform concerto movements with the Colburn Orchestra. The program features clarinet, viola, horn, and violin virtuosos in works by Rossini, Walton, Strauss, and Shostakovich.

Colburn Orchestra: Concerto Forum

Colburn School

Stravinsky asserts that in composing Petrushka , he had the vision of a suddenly unleashed puppet, whose diabolical stunts exasperate "the patience of the orchestra, which responds in turn with threatening fanfares." All this before the battle, the climax, and the fall. But doesn't the viola in Walton's Concerto also have the traits of a nasty little rascal, who only becomes agitated to better bounce back and ham it up? Alongside Antoine Tamestit, the French conductor Marie Jacquot, winner of the Victoires de la Musique, makes her debut at Radio France and at the head of the Orchestre National de France.

Stravinsky, Petrouchka: Massy

Cinémassy

Stravinsky, Petrushka

Maison de la Radio et de la Musique

The Notos Quartet is one of the most celebrated, young, chamber ensembles to emerge in recent years - praised for its virtuoso brilliance, passion, sensitivity, and mature interpretive powers. Founded in 2007, the Berlin-based piano quartet first drew attention winning first prize in six major international competitions. They made their American debut in 2022 and we look forward to their debut in Tulsa!

Notos Quartet

Tulsa Performing Arts Center

The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) returns to Carnegie Hall for the first time in 20 years, under the brand-new leadership of Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano. Joining them is rising piano superstar Yunchan Lim, whose sold-out Carnegie Hall debut recital in February 2024 has attracted audiences from around the world. Lim is featured in a major piano showpiece—Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2—and the LSO further treats audiences to a rare performance of British composer William Walton’s invigorating and emotionally intense Symphony No. 1.

London Symphony Orchestra

Carnegie Hall

Join the London Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable evening at Carnegie Hall, New York, on Thursday, 6th March 2025 at 8pm. This marks the orchestra's highly anticipated return to the iconic venue for the first time in two decades, under the baton of Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano.

The concert will showcase the extraordinary talents of piano sensation Yunchan Lim, following his sold-out debut recital at Carnegie Hall in February 2024. Lim will captivate the audience with his performance of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No 2, a piece renowned for its emotional depth and technical brilliance. The evening will also feature William Walton's Symphony No 1, a work celebrated for its invigorating energy and emotional intensity.

Tickets for this must-see event are available from Carnegie Hall. Don't miss your chance to experience the London Symphony Orchestra and Yunchan Lim in a performance that promises to be a highlight of the musical year.

On Tour in New York

Join the London Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable performance on tour in West Palm Beach, Florida. Under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano and featuring the virtuosic Janine Jansen on violin, this concert promises an afternoon of stirring music and passionate expressions.

**Event Details:**
- **Date:** Saturday, 1 March 2025
- **Time:** 2pm
- **Location:** Kravis Center, West Palm Beach, Florida
- **Program:**
  - George Walker: Sinfonia No 5, "Visions"
  - Leonard Bernstein: Serenade after Plato’s Symposium
  - William Walton: Symphony No 1

**Conductor:** Sir Antonio Pappano  
**Violin Soloist:** Janine Jansen  
**Performing Group:** London Symphony Orchestra

**About the Concert:**  
This concert features a compelling mix of works that speak to the themes of love, outrage, and personal struggle. George Walker's "Sinfonia No 5, Visions," composed in response to a shocking act of racial violence, is a powerful statement with its steely outbursts and urgent harmonies. Leonard Bernstein's "Serenade," inspired by Plato's Symposium, explores the concept of love through a lively dialogue with ancient Greek writers. The program concludes with William Walton's turbulent "Symphony No 1," a journey from personal turmoil to a triumphant, celebratory ending.

Sir Antonio Pappano, known for his dynamic conducting, 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 must-see event.

**Tickets:** Available from the Kravis Center. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the London Symphony Orchestra's powerful performance in West Palm Beach.

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On Tour in West Palm Beach

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

All Visiting Orchestras tickets include same-day admission to the The Baker Museum. Special museum hours on day of London Symphony Orchestra performance: 10am-7:30pm. In addition, the doors to Hayes Hall will open 90 minutes prior to this performance. Arrive early to enjoy the exhibitions and light fare available at Heidi's Place.

Artis–Naples

We’re full of surprises. Every Masterworks concert has a surprise inside – a short mystery piece that connects to the program in an unexpected way. Each one is Michael Francis’ little secret.

Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1

Duke Energy Center for the Arts

Pre-College Student Recital: Valery Breshears, violin & ﻿Starla Breshears, cello

Join the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for a mesmerizing performance of "Belshazzar's Feast" at the Atlanta Symphony Hall from February 13 to February 15, 2025. This spectacular 20th-century oratorio, conducted by the popular guest conductor Vasily Petrenko, features the world-class artistry of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and GRAMMY-winning bass-baritone Nathan Berg. The program begins with Sibelius’ lushly Romantic Symphony No. 1, setting the stage for Walton's "Belshazzar's Feast," a piece inspired by the Old Testament tale and known for its jazz influences, enormous orchestral and vocal ensemble requirements, and vivid conjuration of pagan revelry, cataclysm, and rejoicing. This event is part of the Delta Classical Series 3 subscription, offering a unique opportunity to save with a subscription. Tickets are on sale now for performances on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 8:00 PM, and Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 8:00 PM. Don't miss this unforgettable experience at the Atlanta Symphony Hall.

ASO Chorus + Belshazzar's Feast

The Woodruff Arts Center

**Maconchy, Walton, and Vaughan Williams 1 with the London Symphony Orchestra**

Join us for an unforgettable evening of British music at the Barbican on Sunday, 9 February 2025, at 7pm, featuring the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano, with Rebecca Gilliver on cello. This concert promises to be a night of evocative music, portraying enigmatic nightscapes and the awe-inspiring power of the sea.

**Programme:**
- Elizabeth Maconchy: Nocturne for Orchestra (7 mins)
- William Walton: Cello Concerto (27 mins)
- Interval
- Ralph Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony, Symphony No. 1 (63 mins)

**Performers:**
- Sir Antonio Pappano, conductor
- Rebecca Gilliver, cello
- Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, soprano
- Will Liverman, baritone
- London Symphony Chorus
- London Symphony Orchestra

The concert will conclude at approximately 9:05 pm, including a 20-minute interval. 

**Tickets:**
Prices range from £70 to £18, with a £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction. Special discounts are available, including Wildcards for guaranteed entry with seat allocation on the day, multibuy discounts of up to 40%, and special rates for groups, students, and under-18s.

**About the Music:**
The evening begins with Maconchy's mysterious and dream-like Nocturne, followed by Walton's meditative Cello Concerto, which takes the audience on a journey from a ticking clock to a serene reverie. The night culminates with Vaughan Williams' monumental First Symphony, an awe-inspiring tribute to the sea's power, painted with rich orchestral colors and the words of Walt Whitman.

**Venue:**
Barbican, Silk Street, London

For an immersive experience of British music that explores the beauty, majesty, and metaphysical aspects of the sea, book your tickets now and be part of this extraordinary musical journey.

Maconchy, Walton and Vaughan Williams 1

Barbican Centre

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.

London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano

Richard Strauss’ Tod und Verklarung (Death and Transfiguration) is a monumental meditation on the journey of life, beginning in childhood, through the trials and joys of adulthood, and ending in the transfiguration of the spirit. Music Director Rafael Payare conducts the Symphony in Strauss’ powerful tone poem along with William Walton’s beautifully lyrical and nostalgic Viola Concerto, written when the composer was only 27 years old; the concerto was intended for the great soloist Lionel Tertis, who played an 18th century viola of enormous dimensions with a sound of extraordinary richness, almost like a cello. The result is one of the few widely played concertos for this instrument, demanding from the soloist the sweetest melodic playing with the most vigorous and athletic virtuosity. The concert ends with Brahms’ melancholy and hauntingly beautiful Second Symphony. This immortal work was written in one of Brahms’ favorite vacation retreats, in southern Austria on the beautiful lake of the Wörthersee. “Here," said Brahms, “the melodies grow so thick upon the ground that one must take care not to step on them as one walks.” In an equally humorous mood, he wrote to his publisher about his new symphony: “I have never written anything so sad, and the score must be published in mourning clothes.”

Symphonic Journeys: Strauss, Walton, Brahms

Jacobs Music Center

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.

Walker, Bernstein and Walton 1

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.

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.

London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Walton

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.

Half Six Fix: Walton

Kirill Karabits conducts works by Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Walton and Tchaikovsky

Kultur- & Kongresszentrum Liederhalle

Cheeky and witty, rebellious and rousing, this is how we start the year 2025 with our audience, featuring Maurice Ravel with his most stubborn and at the same time most popular stroke of genius and Bernd Alois Zimmermann from the Rhineland, who shows himself from a completely different side to celebrate the day.

New Year`s Concert in Amsterdam

The Concertgebouw

And off we go – New Year's Concert

Bold and witty, rebellious and captivating – a great way to kick off the year 2025, together with our audience. Also joining us: Till Eulenspiegel and his Merry Pranks, compiled and turned into a symphonic poem by the Bavarian magician of sound, Richard Strauss. Indeed, this is a milestone in orchestra literature. It is masterfully orchestrated, and was premiered almost exactly 130 years ago by the Gürzenich Orchestra in Cologne.

Composer

William Walton

Events

Upcoming events

10 - 11 Apr, 2026

Concerto for Two Pianos · Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

Apr 12, 2026

Giltburg with Gershwin · Dresdner Philharmonie

Apr 25, 2026

Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra: Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 · TO Live

25 - 26 Apr, 2026

Lyrical Landscapes: Mahler, Walton, & Clair de lune · Bozeman Symphony

7 - 9 May, 2026

DiDonato Performs Neruda Songs · Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Past events

Mar 22, 2026

Lisa Batiashvili plays Tchaikovsky · Philharmonia Orchestra

Mar 21, 2026

WALTON AND RACHMANINOV with ROSALIND VENTRIS viola · Orchestra of St John’s

About

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