Montero plays Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto
BBC Symphony Orchestra / Kristiina Poska
Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, and a UK premiere from Julia Adolphe. Big emotions and natural wonders from Kristiina Poska and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
In the distance, a horn sings a sad, sweet song – and Tchaikovsky begins his journey to the heights of passion and sorrow. Julia Adolphe gazes up at giant Redwood trees, and sees the shimmer of a better world. And Rachmaninov places a dark, quiet chord into silence, at the beginning of the piano concerto that made him a star.
But then, every story has to start somewhere, and the emotions in Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony and Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto remain as vital as ever. Julia Adolphe’s forest meditation is new to the UK, but for guest conductor Kristiina Poska, it has all the makings of a favourite. She’s joined by the remarkable Gabriela Montero – a pianist who believes that “music is a purposeful art”, and proves it every time she plays.
Programme
Performers
Ticket prices
Save with the BBC Symphony Orchestra 2025/26 Multibuy.
£12
Aged 14–25? Join Young Barbican for free.
Subject to availability.
50% off tickets for under-18s.
Wheelchair spaces and free companion seats may now be booked online.
Please select the relevant preferences on the access registration page during your booking so we can provide you with the correct information and discounts.
Booking a wheelchair space: Select a seat displaying the wheelchair user icon and then select wheelchair user ticket type. The ticket will be priced at the lowest price for that event. If you need an essential companion, please select the click the E icon next to the wheelchair space you have selected.
Booking essential companion tickets: Please select at least two tickets and one of them will be automatically discounted to zero in the basket.
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20% discount for groups of 10+. Contact [email protected] to make a group booking.
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Booking fees
£4 booking fee per online/phone transaction.
No fee when tickets are booked in person.
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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.
