Intense. Enigmatic. Introspective.
The Makropulos Affair
Sir Simon Rattle
Barbican
Public booking opens Wednesday 16 April 10am
Priority booking for LSO Supporters:
Wed 9 Apr 10am LSO Ambassador Friends and Pioneers
Fri 11 Apr 10am All LSO Friends
Leoš Janáček
The Makropulos Affair (120 mins)
concert performance with surtitles
Sir Simon Rattle conductor
Marlis Petersen Emilia Marty
Aleš Briscein Albert Gregor
Jan Martiník Dr Kolenatý
Peter Hoare Vitek
Svatopluk Sem Baron Jaroslav Prus
London Symphony Orchestra
The concert will finish at approximately 9.05pm (timings subject to change). Please note that there will be no interval.
Concert repeated on 15 January 2026.
Tickets
£72 £56 £39 £26 £18
+ £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction
Wildcard Tickets
£12/£16 + booking fee as above
Check availability and book
Limited releases throughout the season. Guaranteed entry, but your seat is only allocated on the day. Full details
Other Discounts
Save when booking multiple concerts. Discounts also available for young people, students, groups, and Barbican Access Members. Full details
The Concert
A 300-year-old woman confronts mortality, identity and lost love in this concert performance of Janáček’s intense operatic drama.
The Music
The Makropoulos Affair contains some of Janáček’s most compelling music, starting with its Prelude that hints at the 16th-century birth year of Emilia Marty, complete with pounding timpani and fanfares. From there, Janáček spins a taut drama culminating in a heartbreaking scene as Emilia finally confesses to her identity.
The Performers
This is the fourth Janáček opera performed by Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra. This year’s cast is as exceptional as ever, with soprano Marlis Petersen as the emotionally complex Emilia, and tenor Aleš Briscein – a veteran of Janáček’s distinctive musical style – as Albert Gregor, the young lawyer enamoured with Emilia.
I’ve always thought that Janáček was the composer to take people to in the opera house who have never seen an opera, but who love theatre.
Sir Simon Rattle
More to Explore
On LSO Live: Katya Kabanova
The second release in LSO Live’s cycle of Janáček opera recordings, with Sir Simon Rattle.
Related Events
Janáček The Excursions of Mr Brouček
Sir Simon Rattle
Sunday 4 May 2025 • 7pm
Sir Simon Rattle conducts a concert performance of Leoš Janáček’s colourful satirical opera.
Janáček The Excursions of Mr Brouček
Sir Simon Rattle
Tuesday 6 May 2025 • 7pm
Sir Simon Rattle conducts a concert performance of Leoš Janáček’s colourful, satirical opera.
The Makropulos Affair
Sir Simon Rattle
Thursday 15 January 2026 • 7pm
A 300-year-old woman confronts mortality, identity and lost love in this concert performance of Janáček’s intense operatic drama.
Booking and Discounts
Booking Your Tickets
Online at lso.co.uk or barbican.org.uk
By phone on +44 20 7870 2500 (Monday to Friday 12–5.30pm)
In person at the Barbican Centre (no booking fee)
Refunds and Exchanges
Contact the Box Office at least 24 hours before the performance (two weeks for group bookings) to exchange your tickets for another LSO concert or Barbican credit voucher, valid for twelve months. A per-ticket administration fee applies.
The LSO reserves the right to change artists or programmes if necessary. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, all bookers will receive a refund.
Questions About Your Booking?
Contact the Barbican Box Office at tickets@barbican.org.uk.
Visit the Barbican website for conditions of sale.
All discounts are subject to availability and may not be combined.
Multibuy Discounts
Book 2 or 3 concerts, save 10%
Book 4 to 7 concerts, save 20%
Book 8 to 11 concerts, save 30%
Book 12 or more concerts, save 40%
Retain your discount for any later bookings within the season. Find out more about Multibuy Discounts.
Wildcards
£12 or £16 (£12 or £15 for Half Six Fix concerts), plus booking fee. Check availability using the Wildcard link in the Tickets section above. On the concert night, show your Wildcard order email at the Stalls box office to receive a valid ticket worth at least £18 (£15 for Half Six Fix). Find out more about Wildcards.
Young People and Students
18 and under: £6 tickets. Book online, by phone or in person.
14–25s: Join Young Barbican for discounted tickets to selected concerts.
Full-time students: Join Student Pulse for £10 tickets to selected LSO concerts.
Groups of 10+
Save 20% to 30% and enjoy additional benefits. Find out more about group booking.
Access Members
Members of the Barbican’s Access Scheme can book wheelchair places priced at the lowest price for that event and book a free companion seat. Join the Barbican Access Scheme.
Your Visit and Access
Getting to the Barbican
We are based at the Barbican Centre in the City of London. The main entrance to the Barbican is on Silk Street.
What to Expect
From the concert experience to venue facilities, find out what to expect from an LSO concert at the Barbican.
Accessibility
Find maps and guides, and join the Barbican Access Membership Scheme to let us know of your requirements and book access tickets.
Header Image © Mark Allan
