On Thursday 25 November and Thursday 16 December the LSO celebrates all things Shakespeare with music inspired by some of The Bard’s most famous works: Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and King Lear.
To mark the occasion, we take a closer look at how music featured in Shakespeare’s drama, how his audience experienced music and different interpretations of his plays in classical music.
On Friday 19 November Soweto Kinch and the LSO perform the world premiere of his work White Juju at the Barbican as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival.
Interviewer James Drury spoke to Soweto recently to find out more about his music, style and inspirations.
The viola: an often-overlooked instrument within the Orchestra. This October, as the focus of the LSO Artist Portrait, French viola player Antoine Tamestit is on a mission to change that and make people fall in love with the instrument. The repertoire over three concerts at the Barbican, and four BBC Radio 3 recitals for viola and ensemble at LSO St Luke's, couldn't do more to show audiences the wide range of sound, emotions and personalities of the viola.
On Sunday 31 October Tamestit performs Jörg Widmann's Viola Concerto. In this interview by Ariane Todes, Tamestit tells us how this theatrical, colourful and emotional, concerto written especially for him came about, and what we can expect from a piece where the violist quite literally travels through the Orchestra.
On Saturday 13 November composer, curator and LSO Jerwood Composer+ participant Hollie Harding presents an evening of ecologically-inspired music at LSO St Luke's. Hollie has paired works by other contemporary composers exploring the complex relationship between humans, sounds and environments, along with her and director Joshua Ben-Tovim's brand new audio-visual piece FERAL.
Ahead of the concert, we talked to Hollie about the concept behind her event, what sorts of combinations of sounds and visuals we can expect, and the other projects that have been keeping her busy.
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.
