Éclairs sur l’Au-Delà … is the last piece Messiaen ever completed, and it’s monumental in all senses of the word.
‘I imagined myself in front of a curtain, in darkness, apprehensive about what lay beyond: Resurrection, Eternity, the other life.’ That’s how Messiaen described his inspiration for Éclairs sur l’Au-Delà … . Scored for a gigantic orchestra of over 120 musicians, it melds the composer’s fascinations with Roman Catholic theology and ornithology, the study of birds.
Densely orchestrated chorales mingle with rushing birdsong notated by Messiaen in the Australian countryside. At the centre of the work sits the seventh movement, ‘Seven Angels with Seven Trumpets’, which displays the composer at his most theatrical. With grave-cracking drum strikes and loud brass, this is a truly cosmic vision of what an afterlife might sound like.
Duration to be confirmed closer to the event.
Supported by the Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne
Programme
Performers
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Booking fees
£4 booking fee per online/phone transaction.
No fee when tickets are booked in person.
Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.
Barbican Hall
Location
The Barbican Hall is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level.
Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.
We’ve plenty of places for you to relax and replenish, from coffee and cake to wood-fired pizzas and full pre-theatre menus
Mobility
Spaces for wheelchair users in row U at the rear of the stalls (up to sixteen, depth of row 180cm) and the back row of the circle (four), both with fold-down companion seats. Some seats in row S of the stalls for people with very limited mobility.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the concert hall where there are a limited number of suitable seats in row G of the stalls. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the cloakroom staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
There is an induction loop in the concert hall. You can use this by adjusting your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting.
Free large-print programmes
These are available for most of our concerts. Please contact [email protected] at least a week beforehand, to prebook a large-print programmme.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.
