Barbican Concerts

BARTÓK Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste
BARTÓK Violin Concerto No 2
SZYMANOWSKI Symphony No 3 (‘Song of the Night’)

Peter Eötvös conductor
Nikolaj Znaider violin
Steve Davislim tenor
London Symphony Chorus
London Symphony Orchestra

Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste showcases the musical style Bartók called ‘Night Music’, which conjures the sounds of nocturnal animals and the night’s eerie spaciousness. Bartók’s Second Violin Concerto was composed midst his own concerns over the growing strength of fascism pre-World War II and uses the ‘verbunkos’ style which literally translates as ‘to enrol in the army’. Szymanowski’s Symphony No 3 is a musical adaptation of a poem by a medieval Persian mystic which evokes the mysterious beauty of a Persian night-sky.

Change of conductor
Due to an eye condition, Pierre Boulez has had to withdraw from his concerts with the LSO in April/May 2012. The LSO is deeply grateful to Peter Eötvös, a long-time associate of Pierre Boulez, for agreeing to step in to conduct the two programmes, which remain unchanged. (Notification posted 23/03/12, existing tickets holders will be contacted with further details on Mon 26 Mar)


Tickets: £10 £15 £19.50 £27 £35

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8 May programme PDF