All Classical
The classical music season at Southbank Centre runs from September to June each year. Join us for ten months of great performances from our four Resident Orchestras as well as renowned orchestras from around the world as part of our Shell Classic International series.
Our Resident Orchestras perform music from the 16th century to tomorrow’s masterpieces in over 150 concerts each season, enjoyed by 180,000 people.
We are proud they call Southbank Centre home.
London Philharmonic Orchestra
One of the world’s great symphony orchestras, the London Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates the music of Tchaikovsky in a two week festival with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, new music with a world premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s violin concerto Mambo, Blues and Tarantella, and welcomes its new Principal Guest Conductor, French Canadian Yannick Nezet-Seguin.
View the full season’s programme
If you only come to one concert in this season, make it this one.
Listen to a soundclip of the LPO playing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.6 (mp3).
(Performed on Wednesday 26 November. Read more)
Philharmonia Orchestra
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the world's great orchestras. This season it celebrates Esa-Pekka Salonen's first season as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor. Having already opened the season with a gala performance of Stravinsky's extraordinary neo-classical opera-oratorio Oedipus rex, February 2009 sees the Orchestra launch Salonen's first major project, City of Dreams: Vienna 1900-1935. The Orchestra also brings its energetic sound to bear on an extensive Vaughan Williams anniversary series and Southbank Centre's Messiaen festival.
View the full season’s programme
If you only come to one concert in this season, make it this one.
Listen to a soundclip of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (mp3).
(Performed on Tuesday 11 November. Read more)
London Sinfonietta
The London Sinfonietta celebrate 40 years at the leading edge of new music this season, with a collection of commissions from young composers. The Sinfonietta take part in Southbank Centre’s Stockhausen and Messiaen festivals, revisit Heiner Goebbel’s theatrical Songs of Wars I Have Seen with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and perform 20th-century classics including works by John Adams and Harrison Birtwistle.
View the full season’s programme
If you only come to one concert in this season, make it this one.
Listen to a soundclip of John Adams' Chamber Symphony (mp3).
(Performed on Tuesday 2 December. Read more)
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Renowned for its vitality and warmth and acclaimed worldwide, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment present works from previous generations in a new light, revealing new textures and colours. This season they join the London Philharmonic Orchestra in an exploration of Tchaikovsky’s music, embark on their own celebration of Haydn and perform all of Schumann’s symphonies with their Principal Artist Sir Simon Rattle.
View the full season’s programme
If you only come to one concert in this season, make it this one.
Listen to a soundclip of Al desio di chi t'adora from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro performed by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Magdalena Kozena and Sir Simon Rattle (mp3).
(Performed on Tuesday 13 November. with Sir Charles Mackerras and Rebecca Evans. Read more)
Shell Classic International
Shell Classic International features the greatest international orchestras and conductors from around the world, many of who have a special relationship with Southbank Centre. The season includes performances from Gustavo Dudamel, Mariss Jansons, Pierre Boulez, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Mitsuko Uchida, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and more.
If you only come to one concert in this season, make it this one
Listen to a soundclip of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performing Haydn's Symphony No.104 (mp3). (Performed on Thursday 19 February 2009. Read more)
(Shell Classic International: Part of Shell's major sponsorship of the Transformation of Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.)
