Expect Fabio Luisi, principal conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, to blend lyricism and warmth in his LSO performances of Schubert’s 'Unfinished' Symphony and the Brahms Requiem.

Both composers invested a lot of themselves in these pieces. Schubert was ill with the first signs of the syphilis which was to cut short his life, his Symphony so personal, even intimate in its nature, and the two completed movements so high quality, that he couldn’t finish it. Two months after Brahms’ mother died the German Requiem began to emerge. The final work was performed in over 20 German and Swiss cities in 12 months, and in London, Vienna, Utrecht, Paris and St Petersburg over the next five years, carrying Brahms’ fame further afield and eventually becoming his best-loved work.

Change of artist

Bass-baritone Ruben Drole is indisposed and has been forced to withdraw from the LSO’s performance of Brahms’ Requiem in London on Sunday 19 March 2017. The LSO is very grateful to Simon Keenlyside for stepping in to perform at short notice. The programme remains the same.

Posted 5.30pm Thursday 9 March 2017