BMW Classics

A free open-air concert in the heart of London

Saturday 11 June 2022

 
On Saturday 11 June 2022, a giant temporary stage once again hosted Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra for a free concert for an audience of thousands in one of the world’s most iconic public spaces, Trafalgar Square, and to thousands more watching the live stream on YouTube.

The 2022 BMW Classics concert programme opened with George Gershwin’s evocative sunny Cuban Overture. For the central section of the concert, in contrasting mood, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason marked his debut live performance with the Orchestra, playing two sublime masterpieces for cello and orchestra, Bruch’s Kol Nidrei and Bloch’s Prayer from Jewish Life.

This was followed by the world premiere of FAIYA! a specially commissioned work by Ayanna Witter-Johnson. This dance inspired piece written for a mixed-ability orchestra brought together LSO musicians with 55 young musicians from east London as part of the LSO On Track partnership, and 18 students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. For the final work the upbeat tempo returned with a second Gershwin classic, An American in Paris.

George Gershwin Cuban Overture
Max Bruch Kol Nidrei *
Ernest Bloch Prayer from Jewish Life *
Ayanna Witter-Johnson FAIYA! (world premiere) +
George Gershwin An American in Paris

Sir Simon Rattle conductor
Sheku Kanneh-Mason cello *
LSO On Track Musicians +
London Symphony Orchestra

On demand

Watch the concert on demand on our YouTube channel, available until 11 July 2022.

Photos