Stories

André J Thomas on marking Black History Month with the LSO

Announced as LSO Associate Artist in May 2022, André J Thomas is a world-leading expert on choral and American gospel music. He has already brought his passion for gospel to two concerts with the LSO (March 2020 and May 2022), and this Autumn he does it all again, paired with a second concert of orchestral works from contemporary US composers Joel Thompson, Carlos Simon and Wynton Marsalis.

Read on to find out more about each concert.

Tangram's Naomi Woo: What, where and why is silent music?

On 28 and 29 August at LSO St Luke’s, Tangram present Our Silence is Your Silence, a concert exploring the boundaries between sound and silence in music on the 70th anniversary of John Cage’s pioneering silent piece, 4’33”. In preparation for the performance, Naomi Woo reflects on many facets of silent music, including Cage and beyond.

Introducing Our Soundhub Associates (Part 2)

On Wednesday 15 June four LSO Soundhub Associates present a composer-curated evening of music at LSO St Luke’s. We recently caught up with Arthur Keegan-Bole and Marilyn Herman to find out more about their creations, compositional style, experiences working with the LSO and what’s coming up next for them. Read on to find out more.

A Lifelong Love of the Trumpet: Håkan Hardenberger

Interview by James Drury

'It is vital we protect them'. LSO viola Steve Doman on keeping bees

Friday 20 May is World Bee Day, a worldwide celebration of bees and beekeepers. It aims to raise awareness of how bees contribute to food security, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, the mitigation of climate change and the conservation of the environment.

Meet Tangram, Associate Artists at LSO St Luke's

As humans become more global, living outside places of birth or inhabiting multiple cultures, trailblazing collective Tangram’s mission will feel familiar to many. The group explores ideas of ‘transnational identity’ through celebrating Chinese and Western cultures in music. But their aims are deeper than that. The group wants to break down the idea that China and the West are mutually exclusive entities and connect both ancient traditions in multiple ways.

Silvestrov's Prayer for Ukraine: a musical response to war

On Wednesday 18 (LSO St Luke’s in London) and Thursday 19 May (Brighton Festival), we perform works by Lili Boulanger, Marc-André Dalbavie and Tchaikovsky conducted by Marta Gardolińska. Marta has decided to add a short work to the programme, Silvestrov’s Prayer for Ukraine, a work which is now receiving performances all over the world as an expression of solidarity with Ukrainian people.

Artist Spotlight: Insights from LSO Principal Flute Gareth Davies

On Friday 13 May LSO Principal flute Gareth Davies takes to the stage at LSO St Luke’s to perform some of his favourite chamber music for the instrument alongside recital partner Michael McHale, in a concert in partnership with BBC Radio 3. We spoke to Gareth about his instrument and what to expect from the concert.

André J Thomas: The Gospel of Gospel Music

One of the world’s greatest experts in choral and American gospel music, André J Thomas, spoke to James Drury about his passion for this hugely influential genre as he prepares for a celebration of its variety on Sunday 29 May at the Barbican, with the LSO and the massed voices of choirs from across London, including the London Community Gospel Choir, British Gospel Arts Choir and London Symphony Chorus.

My Barbican: Libby Rice

My Barbican is a feature in the Barbican’s monthly guides, which asks members of staff and residents about their favourite and secret parts of the Centre and Estate. The April issue of the guide featured Libby Rice, our Archivist, who has been working for the LSO for over 43 years – before the Barbican Centre was opened! Here are Libby’s favourite spots. See how many you know, and look out for them on your next visit.

Emma-Kate Matthews Unlocks The Architecture of Music

Emma-Kate Matthews is a current composer on the Panufnik Composers Scheme, and she will be workshopping her new piece A Study of Passing Objects in an Accelerating Landscape at the Panufnik Workshops on Thursday 31 March 2022.

Meet the Composers: Panufnik Workshops 2022 (Part 2)

On Thursday 31 March at LSO St Luke’s, the six composers of the 2020/21 LSO Panufnik Composers Scheme will experience a pivotal point in the process of writing a new piece for orchestra: for the very first time, their musical ideas will be performed by the full forces of the London Symphony Orchestra, and opened up to guidance and feedback from musicians, mentors and peers. Ahead of these free, public workshop sessions, we caught up with the composers to hear about their music and time on the Scheme so far.