Name: Beethoven’s Ninth
Start: 2026-03-28T19:30:00
Location: Southbank Centre

The London Philharmonic Orchestra invites audiences to experience an orchestral extravaganza like no other. With the UK premiere of Tan Dun's Nine and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at the Southbank Centre, and the epic Lord of the Rings concert trilogy at the Royal Albert Hall, these events promise a cultural feast where music and storytelling unite in an unforgettable celebration.

A Symphony of Sagas: Beethoven and Tolkien Come Alive in London

Immerse yourself in a musical odyssey where the grandeur of Beethoven meets the epic journeys of Middle-earth. This spring, the London Philharmonic Orchestra presents an extraordinary series of concerts that span cultures and genres. From the UK premiere of Tan Dun’s choral concerto 'Nine' to the cinematic majesty of 'The Lord of the Rings' in concert, audiences are invited to experience these masterpieces in iconic venues across London. These events promise to be a feast for the senses, celebrating universal themes of peace, adventure, and unity.

Harmonizing Cultures: A Musical Journey from Beethoven to Middle-earth

In an awe-inspiring cultural convergence, the London Philharmonic Orchestra is set to captivate audiences with two monumental events: the UK premiere of Tan Dun's 'Nine,' a tribute to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, and the epic trilogy of 'The Lord of the Rings' films brought to life in concert. As East meets West and cinema melds with symphony, these performances promise not only to entertain but to transcend artistic boundaries, celebrating the universality of music and storytelling. These events, staged across two of London's iconic venues, are poised to be unforgettable cultural experiences.

A Symphony of Harmony: Beethoven and Tolkien Unite with the London Philharmonic Orchestra

Immerse yourself in a symphony of cultures and epic journeys with the London Philharmonic Orchestra's 2026 lineup. From Tan Dun's compelling tribute to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, bridging Eastern and Western musical traditions, to the immersive experience of The Lord of the Rings in concert, these events promise unforgettable performances. Join renowned conductors and performers as they bring these masterpieces to life across London's iconic venues, making for a truly memorable musical journey.

A Symphony of Cultures and Epic Journeys: London Philharmonic Orchestra's 2026 Highlights

Get ready for a cultural journey like no other as the London Philharmonic Orchestra presents two groundbreaking events. Witness the fusion of East and West with Tan Dun's 'Ode to Peace' and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Then, embark on an epic quest through Middle-earth with 'The Lord of the Rings' concerts. These performances promise to transcend traditional boundaries and offer a unique blend of orchestral innovation and cinematic adventure.

A Symphony of Legends: From Beethoven to Middle-earth

Experience the harmonious blend of East and West as Tan Dun conducts his tribute to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, alongside an orchestral journey through Middle-earth with The Lord of the Rings film concert series. From the powerful choral concerto 'Nine' to the epic tales of Frodo and the fellowship, the London Philharmonic Orchestra invites you to a series of unforgettable events that unite classical music and cinematic fantasy at the iconic Southbank Centre and Royal Albert Hall.

A Symphony of Peace and Adventure: Celebrating Beethoven and Middle-Earth

Join the London Philharmonic Orchestra on a transcendent musical journey with two extraordinary events. First, Tan Dun's 'Nine' merges Eastern and Western cultures in a choral tribute to Beethoven at the Southbank Centre. Then, experience the epic 'The Lord of the Rings Weekenders' at the Royal Albert Hall, featuring Howard Shore's iconic score performed live alongside the film. From classical symphonies to cinematic quests, these events promise unforgettable experiences that celebrate the power of music and storytelling.

A Symphony of Cultures: Beethoven to Middle-earth with the London Philharmonic

Join us as we embark on a captivating journey orchestrated by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, where each event unfolds a unique musical tapestry. From Stravinsky's mystic realms to Beethoven's harmonious symphonies, these concerts are not merely performances but profound narratives in sound and emotion. Highlighting renowned artists and timeless compositions, this series traverses the landscapes of classical and contemporary music, inviting audiences into a dialogue between tradition and innovation.

Unveiling Musical Narratives: An Odyssey with the London Philharmonic Orchestra

John Findon

Tan Dun

Hongni Wu

Elizabeth Watts

Dingle Yandell

London Philharmonic Choir

London Philharmonic Orchestra

We found some old manuscripts and finished them with AI

We recreated Mahler 12!

Royal Festival Hall

Would you believe it - Mahler 11?

A political prisoner lies chained in his cell. But someone has remembered his plight – and in Beethoven’s Leonore Overture a whole drama of tyranny, freedom and courage plays out in some of the most thrilling sounds ever written for an orchestra. And that’s just the start of today’s adventure. There are fireworks from the LPO’s own Principal Trumpet Tom Nielsen, before conductor Adam Hickox whirls us away to the sun-kissed slopes of Brahms’s gorgeous Second Symphony. Written on holiday in the Austrian Alps and filled with lullabies and waltzes, this is music as bottled happiness: a taste of summer for these grey November days.

Brahms’s Second

Eastbourne Theatres

A king, a queen; his favourite and her lover.

Power and sex are a dangerous combination, and when the rulers of medieval England played the game of thrones, they either won or they died. The life of King Edward II inspired Marlowe’s classic tragedy, but Sir George Benjamin and Martin Crimp turn it inside out, in an opera that exposes the raw emotions of four characters locked in a deadly embrace. This is Lessons in Love and Violence, and it caused a sensation when it opened at the Royal Opera in 2018. Edward Gardner has assembled a world-beating cast for this one-off concert performance.

Lessons in Love and Violence

Southbank Centre

And if you’ve experienced ‘PatKop’ in action, you’ll already know why she’s acquired a cult following – and why she’s the perfect violinist to explore the secrets and truths of Shostakovich’s searing post-war Concerto. It’s a powerful counterpart to Rachmaninov’s volcanic First Symphony, conducted by Edward Gardner – the dark, storm-swept sound of a young composer testing his genius to breaking point and beyond. A rarely-heard early gem from Rachmaninov launches a concert of thrilling extremes.

Patricia Kopatchinskaja plays Shostakovich

The music of the North is alive with colour; you just need to listen.

A bright, rippling song. A flash of multicoloured plumage. The iridescent marvel of the Aurora Borealis. The music of the North is alive with colour; you just need to listen, and no-one makes listening more of an adventure than Swedish clarinettist extraordinaire Martin Fröst. For him, there’s a ‘sort of magic’ in the act of playing, and tonight he leads us on an unstoppable dance and conjures a brand-new concerto out of silence: Jacob Mühlrad’s extraordinary meditation on Jewish spirituality. Andrea Tarrodi’s joyous musical aviary and Sibelius’s lush, windswept First Symphony complete a vibrant programme from guest conductor Anja Bihlmaier.

Sibelius’s First

Join clarinettist Martin Fröst – renowned for his virtuosity and adventurous spirit – and vocalist Matilda Fröst, in the Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer for an intimate late-night performance.

With a quintet of LPO strings, they move from Bach inventions and Mozart quintets to jazz-inflected and contemporary arrangements, showcasing both the versatility of the clarinet and Fröst’s extraordinary artistry.

After Dark: Martin & Matilda Fröst

Join the LPO and presenter Rachel Leach as we uncover some of these secret codes, focusing on highlights from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, along with other brilliant music by Beethoven, Bacewicz and Brahms. You can even join in with the Orchestra in our new participation piece, and find out all about the meaningful messages in the most marvellous music!

Age recommendation 6+

FUNharmonics: The Big Enigma

A concert filled with the energy and promise of spring.

‘What beauty!’ declared Sibelius when he saw a flight of wild swans, and the melody they suggested to him is the kind of tune that comes once in a lifetime. But that’s just the climax of his epic Fifth Symphony – part of a concert filled with the energy and promise of spring. LPO Fellow Conductor Enyi Okpara – a true rising star – begins with the open spaces and big, fresh tunes of Copland’s great American ballet, before summoning shimmering magic from Liadov’s Enchanted Lake. And cellist Laura van der Heijden plays a rapturous new classic by the Master of the King’s Music, Errollyn Wallen.

Sibelius’s Fifth

They called it ‘Beethoven’s Tenth’, but when Brahms wrote his First Symphony he was very much his own man, and this mighty musical struggle is filled with a profound poetry and warmth. It’s ideal for LPO Principal Guest Conductor Karina Canellakis: critics have praised her ‘explosive chemistry’ with the LPO, and she’ll bring the same electricity to a Shakespearean overture by Brahms’s mentor Robert Schumann, and the teenage Mozart’s delightfully playful violin concerto. Hilary Hahn takes the part that Mozart wrote for himself; expect elegance as well as mischief from a true superstar among violinists.

Hilary Hahn plays Mozart

‘Suddenly, with force!’ It’s 200 years since the death of Ludwig van Beethoven, but a spirit as unstoppable as his simply can’t be kept down. Unsuk Chin’s personal tribute to Beethoven is a brilliant upbeat to the First Piano Concerto by the man himself, and with the remarkable Lukas Sternath as soloist, music doesn’t get much more joyful. Then guest conductor Nikolai Szeps-Znaider conducts Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathétique’ Symphony, and don’t be misled by the name. It means ‘full of feeling’, and from exultant heights to anguished depths, this is music as no-holds-barred autobiography, told in some of the greatest melodies of all time.

Lukas Sternath plays Beethoven

High-voltage music, big questions, unforgettable moments.

The orchestra pauses, the silence itself seems to quiver – and then with a single, mighty blast, the organ raises the roof. No-one who’s heard Saint-Saëns’s Third Symphony live ever forgets how it got its nickname, and if you haven’t heard it live you haven’t really heard it. That goes double for Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra; one composer’s attempt to retell the entire history of humanity in ear-dazzling orchestral sound. No question, this is a high-voltage concert from guest conductor Kahchun Wong, but at its heart are some big questions: and as Charles Ives demonstrates, they’re no less compelling for being unanswered.

Strauss & Saint-Saëns

Beethoven wanted his Ninth Symphony to embrace all humanity, so when Tan Dun set out to compose his own tribute to Beethoven, he aimed just as high, combining ancient poetry from China and Europe to create an ‘ode to peace’ worthy of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. His choral concerto Nine is everything you’d expect from the composer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and tonight Tan Dun joins us to conduct the UK premiere – plus a full performance of Beethoven’s world-changing symphony. East meets West, and the result transcends both.

Beethoven’s Ninth

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