London Symphony Orchestra
Resident Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is built on the belief that extraordinary music should be available to everyone, everywhere. It was established in 1904 and today is among the world’s top orchestras
As Resident Orchestra at the Barbican since the Centre opened, it performs some 50 concerts here every year, under the batons of a family of conductors that includes Chief Conductor Designate Sir Antonio Pappano, Conductor Emeritus Sir Simon Rattle, Principal Guest Conductors Gianandrea Noseda and François-Xavier Roth, Conductor Laureate Michael Tilson Thomas and Associate Artists Barbara Hannigan and André J Thomas.
Events
London Symphony Orchestra/Daniele Rustioni
A spotlight on Romanticism with three beautifully contrasting pieces: Liszt in fine form, late Mendelssohn and ‘Great’ Schubert.
London Symphony Orchestra/Klaus Mäkelä
Tales of ancient spirits and savage dreams from Sibelius and Stravinsky, alongside the fluid, lyrical melodies of Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto.
London Symphony Orchestra/Half Six Fix – Lachenmann
Kick-start your evening with a Half Six Fix concert. A 60-minute concert, introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.
London Symphony Orchestra/Ilan Volkov
Two sound worlds, two centuries apart: Lachenmann’s Melodies meets Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
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La rondine, Puccini’s story of love thwarted by society’s conventions, an opera glowing with melody and orchestral colour.
Vaughan Williams, Elgar & Bax, with David Cohen
Two reflective works from Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar, plus Arnold Bax’s evocative portrait of the Cornish countryside.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
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Classical meets jazz with some Christmas favourites – plus a riotous ride with Kapustin, Gershwin’s most swinging tunes, and Bernstein at his exuberant best.
London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Brahms
Kick-start your evening with a 60-minute Half Six Fix concert. Introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle
A bewitching programme of contrasts: Pierre Boulez’s glittering sound world, late Johannes Brahms, and a lyrical world premiere from George Benjamin – to celebrate Sir Simon Rattle’s 70th birthday.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle
An all-British programme of Tippett, Turnage and Vaughan Williams inspired by opera and jazz – including an unmissable world premiere, to celebrate Sir Simon Rattle’s 70th birthday.
London Symphony Orchestra
Celebrating Pierre Boulez and his influences, in the composer’s centenary year: his beloved Debussy, alongside three intriguing world premieres.
LSO Chamber Ensemble
Fanfares, massed cellos and electronics – a fascinating celebration of the music of Pierre Boulez, in his centenary year.
London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Walton
Kick-start your evening with a Half Six Fix concert. One piece in a 60-minute concert, introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
Bringing together Walton’s turbulent first Symphony with passionate statements of love and outrage from two American greats.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
Evocative portraits of night and the sea in an all-British programme: enigmatic Maconchy, meditative Walton, and awe-inspiring Vaughan Williams.
London Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Adès
Composers being playful: early Beethoven's wit and jokes pair with a cat-and-mouse chase around the orchestra from Ondřej Adámek.
London Symphony Orchestra/ Half Six Fix – Beethoven
Kick-start your evening with a Half Six Fix concert. One piece in a 60-minute concert, introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.
London Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas
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Big questions asked in a big piece – Gustav Mahler’s glorious Resurrection Symphony – as the LSO celebrates Michael Tilson Thomas’ 80th birthday.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
A celebration of pure romance in Frédéric Chopin’s lyrical Second Piano Concerto, while Gustav Mahler embraces the earth in his brilliant, bold First Symphony.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
Hector Berlioz goes to a Roman Carnival, Saint-Saëns gives a Symphony from the organ, and Serge Rachmaninoff shows youthful exuberance in his First Piano Concerto.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
Two giants of British music, two blistering orchestral works from the early 20th century, as Sir Antonio Pappano begins his first season as Chief Conductor of the LSO.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
Sir Antonio Pappano opens a new chapter as Chief Conductor of the LSO, conjuring stunning landscapes from Nielsen and Sibelius - and a world premiere from James MacMillan.
Classical Pride: LSO with Oliver Zeffman & Nick Grimshaw
The culmination of 2024’s Classical Pride, the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor Oliver Zeffman celebrate LGBTQ+ classical music in this diverse programme presented by Nick Grimshaw.
London Symphony Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda
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Gianandrea Noseda steers the powerful forces of the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Carl Orff’s irresistible cantata, and Shostakovich’s Third Symphony.
London Symphony Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda
What is lost returns once more in emotive music conducted by Gianandrea Noseda, LSO Principal Guest Conductor.
London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Prokofiev 7
As part of his exploration of Prokofiev's symphonies, Gianandrea Noseda introduces the composer’s mysterious Seventh.
London Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Adès
Threads of the past are woven into a radiant future in four ingenious compositions, presented by Thomas Adès, Anne-Sophie Mutter and the LSO.
London Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas
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Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Mahler’s magnificent vision of a world teeming with joyful life.
LSO Soundhub Showcase
Enjoy sounds from the cutting-edge of contemporary, as LSO musicians perform brand-new music by LSO Soundhub composers.
Discover
Profile: London Symphony Orchestra
Listen to our selection of LSO recordings from across the years in our Spotify playlist.
Barbican Sessions: Peter Moore
London Symphony Orchestra’s young trombonist, Peter Moore, performs 'Doolallynastics – a brief torture for solo trombone’ by Brian Lynn in our latest Barbican Session, filmed in one of our Frobisher Auditoriums.
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