London Symphony Orchestra
Resident Orchestra
![Official photo of the London Symphony Orchestra](/sites/default/files/styles/hero_constrained_small/public/images/2024-01/LSO-Orchestra-Photo-2022-C-John-Davis-%28web2%29.jpg?itok=8Do7p4Q5)
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
![Portrait photo of Frank Dupree, smiling and facing the camera.](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/181224-Frank-Dupree-event-masthead-C-Marco-Borggreve.jpg?itok=bxmpjYR_)
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.
![Photo of Sir Simon Rattle conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in the Barbican Hall](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2017-10/pa_lso_10.jpg?h=73c17cfe&itok=aWWWqRrM)
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.
![Sir Simon Rattle conducting the LSO](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/classical_2024_sirsimonrattle_image.jpg?itok=euG_0Owg)
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.
![Sir Simon Rattle conducting the LSO](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/classical_2024_sirsimonrattle_image%20%281%29.jpg?itok=_ewYPzYf)
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.
![Black and white portrait of Pierrre Boulez](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-03/classicalmusic_2024_pierre_boulez.jpg?itok=W_HVhajl)
London Symphony Orchestra/François-Xavier Roth
Celebrating Pierre Boulez and his influences, in the composer’s centenary year: his beloved Debussy, alongside three intriguing world premieres.
![Composer Pierre Boulez sitting down. He is wearing a dark jacket and has white hair.](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/classical_2024_LSO_PierreBoulez_image.jpg?h=d9d39bcf&itok=N9r6UQtI)
LSO Chamber Ensemble/François-Xavier Roth
Fanfares, massed cellos and electronics – a fascinating celebration of the music of Pierre Boulez, in his centenary year.
![LSO Violinist Maxine Kwok introducing the LSO on the Barbican stage, at a Half Six Fix concert.](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/2024-Half-Six-Fix-general--Kevin-Leighton.jpg?itok=dOS9kiAs)
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.
![Violinist Janine Jansen performing on the Barbican Hall stage. She is wearing a laced black top and has long dark hair.](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/classical_2024_LSO_JanineJansen_image.jpg?h=d9d39bcf&itok=jMfZqcjd)
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
Bringing together Walton’s turbulent first Symphony with passionate statements of love and outrage from two American greats.
![Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/Masabane%20Cecilia%20Rangwanasha_Vera%20Elma%20Vacek_1920x1080.jpg?itok=A1ZJDUvE)
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.
![Audience members talking to each other at a Half Six Fix concert.](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/LSO-Half-Six-Fix_R8A3638.jpg?itok=sX8jrlBt)
London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Vaughan Williams
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.
![Barbara Hannigan conducting the LSO, lunging forwards](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/13%20March%202025%20%28250313%29%20Barbara%20Hannigan_event%20masthead_Mark%20Allan.jpg?itok=hQf4aiSp)
London Symphony Orchestra/Barbara Hannigan
Albert Roussel and Maurice Ravel paint vivid portraits of the animal kingdom, Benjamin Britten conjures up a savage parade, and Joseph Haydn takes a trip to London for his final symphony.
![Photograph of a section of the Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2022-09/JLCO%20Section%20of%20the%20Band_credit%20Luigi%20Beverelli.jpg?itok=aARwT0aJ)
Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra, LSO & Sir Antonio Pappano
Wynton Marsalis and Sir Antonio Pappano blend jazz, blues and classical music in the crossover collaboration with the Jazz at Lincoln Centre Orchestra
![Barbara Hannigan conducting the LSO, arms outstretched to either side.](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/20%20March%202025%20%28250320%29%2C%20Barbara%20Hannigan%2C%20event%20masthead%20Mark%20Allan.jpg?itok=KwkIGhg-)
London Symphony Orchestra/Barbara Hannigan
Miracles and myths abound, from Bartók’s surreal ballet to Sibelius’s Finnish landscape – plus, a captivating new piece by Golfam Khayam.
![A portrait photo of Sir Antonio Pappano, against a grey background, looking away from the camera into the distance.](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/230325-Pappano-event-masthead-C-Frances-Marshall.jpg?itok=eHOyVofQ)
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano
Tippet's moving pacifist oratorio meets Beethoven’s immense Choral Symphony.
![Nicola Benedetti holding a violin](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/classical_2024_LSO_NicolaBenedetti_image.png?h=d9d39bcf&itok=UhysHAtZ)
London Symphony Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda
Shostakovich in both revolutionary and festive mood alongside a MacMillan Concerto, written for Nicola Benedetti.
![Conductor Gianandrea Noseda holds a microphone and presents his pre-concert Half Six Fix talk](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-04/classical_2024_LSO_GianandreaNoseda_image.png?h=d9d39bcf&itok=QXL_PEOZ)
London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Prokofiev 2
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.
![Sir Simon Rattle conducting](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/Rattle-generic-Mark-Allan_1920_1080.jpg?itok=dYdDx6qO)
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle
Shocking, dissonant, savagely ironic: Shostakovich’s Fourth was a statement of rebellion against Joseph Stalin’s dictatorship.
![Nathalie Stutzmann conducting](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/LSO-Stutzmann-barbican-270122-Mark-Allan_1920_1080_0.jpg?itok=JvQB4whF)
London Symphony Orchestra/Nathalie Stutzmann
In this mighty symphony, the culmination of his life’s work, Bruckner strove for total perfection.
![Nathalie Stutzman](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2019-02/200109_Stutzmann_1920_1080retouch.jpg?itok=M9K3AeJy)
London Symphony Orchestra/Nathalie Stutzmann
Quicksilver inspiration and spectacular melodies flow in music written at the height of success.
![Leif Ove Andsnes](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2024-02/AndsnesLeifOve_pc_HelgeHansen%20main%20biography%20photo.jpg?itok=owIIko0c)
London Symphony Orchestra/Dima Slobodeniouk
Bold and unconventional choices are there to be relished in music by Beethoven and Sibelius.
![Dame Sarah Connolly](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/Sarah%20Connolly_Christopher%20Pledger_1920x1080.jpg?itok=aZxN7L3y)
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano: Elijah
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Fiery chariots, towering voices; Sir Antonio Pappano, the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Chorus join forces for Mendelssohn’s monumental oratorio.
![Sir Simon Rattle conducting](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/LSO-Rattle-Barbican-credit-Mark-Allan-1920_1080_0.jpg?itok=u233QXvP)
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle: Jenůfa
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Janáček’s searing, magnificent opera explores a woman’s limited options in a suffocating small town.
![Simon Trpceski](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/Simon_Trpceski_c_B_Ealovega_1920_1080.jpg?itok=ThBmERt-)
London Symphony Orchestra/Gianandrea Noseda
Deeply private, deeply felt: Tchaikovsky and Brahms pour out their emotions in an ardent torrent of music.
![Gianandrea Noseda](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/Gianandrea_Noseda_c_Mark_Allan_1920_1080.jpg?itok=tMKc4TtC)
London Symphony Orchestra: Half Six Fix – Tchaikovsky 6
Gianandrea Noseda conducts and introduces Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, deeply private and deeply felt.
![Susanna Malkki](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/Susanna_Malkki_c_Chris_Lee_1920_1080.jpg?itok=dGoQZykn)
London Symphony Orchestra/Susanna Mälkki: Poem of Ecstasy
Drift amid music of seductive illusion and brilliant colour from Debussy, Ravel and Scriabin.
![Kirill Gerstein](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/Kirill_Gerstein_c_Marco_Borggreve_1920_1080.jpg?itok=zzu89Con)
London Symphony Orchestra/Susanna Mälkki: Rachmaninov
Pianist Kirill Gerstein continues his spotlight series with one of the pinnacles of the repertoire.
![Isabelle Faust](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/Isabelle_Faust_c_Felix_Broede_1920_1080.jpg?itok=62-z1Meh)
London Symphony Orchestra/Duncan Ward: La mer
Duncan Ward and the LSO set out to sweep you off your feet with symphonic poems from Janáček and Debussy, while Isabelle Faust offers sensitive insights into the music of Bartók.
![Picture of Abel Selacoe](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2023-03/Abel_Selaocoe_c_Christina_Ebenezer_1920_1080.jpg?itok=7IsnNNz5)
London Symphony Orchestra/Duncan Ward with Abel Selaocoe
South African and European traditions meet in the transformative music of Abel Selaocoe alongside folk and jazz-flecked music from Gary Carpenter and Bartók.
![André J Thomas conducting at the Barbican.](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2022-07/andre-conducting.jpg?itok=W4E4lnve)
London Symphony Orchestra/André J Thomas: Gospel Explosion
Experience the power of American gospel music, combined with the symphonic sound of the LSO and a chorus of over 250 voices from across the London community, curated and conducted by André J Thomas.
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano: Beethoven 7
Beethoven’s triumphantly brilliant symphony and an instantly popular 21st-century concerto with soloist Kirill Gerstein in the spotlight.
![Patricia Kopatchinskaja holding a violin](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2022-08/Patricia%20Kopatchinskaja%20High%20Res%201%20-%20credit%20Marco%20Borggreve.jpg?h=3f3ce663&itok=ZgdFiYUJ)
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano: Rachmaninov
Spellbinding storytellers, dancing ghosts and melodies that will stay with you forever in music from Ravel, Fazil Say and Rachmaninov.
![Alice Sara Ott](/sites/default/files/styles/event_listing_small/public/images/2022-03/Alice-Sara-Ott-5-%28c%29-Pascal-Albandopulos_1920_1080.jpg?itok=Bh_P0TRF)
London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Antonio Pappano: Strauss
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Pop culture’s most famous fanfare sets the mood – this is music that tells you: wake up! Sir Antonio Pappano and Alice Sara Ott present a programme of Liszt, Strauss and a premiere by Hannah Kendall.
Discover
![London Symphony Orchestra](/sites/default/files/styles/discover_small/public/images/2018-08/lso_notext.jpg?itok=bHlYecEZ)
Profile: London Symphony Orchestra
Listen to our selection of LSO recordings from across the years in our Spotify playlist.
![Peter Moore playing trombone](/sites/default/files/styles/discover_small/public/images/2018-07/Screen%20Shot%202018-07-26%20at%2009.39.17.png?itok=w-j2WzF0)
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.