Stories

Seven Things You Didn't Know About Sibelius

In December 2024, we celebrate the 159th anniversary of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ birth. A towering figure in classical music, Sibelius is a national hero in Finland and revered worldwide for his powerful, nature-inspired works that continue to captivate audiences to this day.

Read on to find out seven surprising facts about the composer’s life and listen to his symphonies on our record label LSO Live’s newly remastered Spatial Audio version conducted by Sir Colin Davis.

Seven times John Williams wowed the world – and it wasn’t on a film!

It seems unbelievable, but the pre-eminent film composer John Williams turns 90 today.

The Barbican at 40

40 years ago this year, on 3 March 1982, the Barbican Centre opened its doors for the first time, with a performance by the LSO conducted by then Principal Conductor Claudio Abbado, marking their new role of Resident Orchestra of the City of London.

Tales From the Podium with Nathalie Stutzmann

What makes a great conductor? Musicality, ambition, fearlessness? Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann has these qualities by the bucket-load. We spoke to her recently about her return to the Barbican stage on Thursday 27 January with a programme comprising Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Ravel. Read on to find out more about what drew her in to the world of conducting, her concert routines and what she’s looking forward to most in 2022.

Des Oliver on his Jerwood event and new piece: The Diasporic Quartets

This Saturday, composer, filmmaker and LSO Jerwood Composer+ participant Des Oliver unveils two movements of a brand new piece, The Diasporic Quartets, musical portraits of four British-based composers from the African diaspora. Plus we’ll hear music by the four composers themselves, in a carefully curated evening exploring influence and heritage.

Ahead of the concert, we talked to Des Oliver about his musical influences, curating his concert at LSO St Luke’s and what else is keeping him busy.

Snippets from history: Walton & the LSO

On 28 October Antoine Tamestit returns to the Barbican stage as part of his LSO Artist Portrait. The star viola player performs William Walton’s Viola Concerto and Robin Ticciati conducts Brahms Symphony No 4. During his lifetime William Walton had a long and close relationship with the LSO. Read on to discover more about the composer, his history with the LSO and his majestic Viola Concerto.

Snippets from history: Walton & the LSO

During his lifetime William Walton had a long and close relationship with the LSO. Read on to discover more about the composer, his history with the LSO and his majestic Viola Concerto.

The Journey Behind 'D’un matin de printemps'

Find out more about composer Lili Boulanger and the story behind one of her most famous pieces, D’un matin de printemps.

Interview with Antoine Tamestit

We spoke to Antoine Tamestit ahead of his Artist Portrait series in the 2021/22 season, to learn more about his journey to becoming a musician, his relationship with the LSO, and more.

LSO Local: One weekend, 20+ Performances

Over the weekend of 25–27 September 2020, LSO musicians gave performances all across London (and beyond) as part of our very first LSO Local weekend. With players leading on every aspect of their own events, this special project brought music out to venues local to you, including LSO St Luke’s and our warehouse in Tottenham. 32 members (plus a few good friends) took part, not to mention members of the London Symphony Chorus, putting on over 20 performances in just three days.

Keeping on trucking with St John Ambulance

When you find your usually busy truck and drivers at an an enforced standstill, what better thing to do than to offer your spare capacity to those on the frontlines?

Panufnik Legacies III: Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian

Following the release of the third album in the Panufnik Legacies series, which features brand new music from alumni of the LSO Panufnik Composers Scheme, we asked the composers themselves to tell us a little more about their experience writing for and recording with the Orchestra. In this interview, get to know Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian.