Organization

Conductor

Thomas Søndergård

Instrumentalist

Pianist

Leif Ove Andsnes

Piano

London Symphony Orchestra

Orchestra

London Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Søndergård - Sibelius’ Second Symphony

London

United Kingdom

Barbican Centre

Barbican Concert Hall

Brave New World – Sibelius’ Second Symphony: Om fotspår och ljus (Helsinki Variations) Wennäkoski (+2 More)

Public

Private

Of Footprints and Light (Helsinki Variations)

Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major Op. 73

Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43

Approved

The Programme

Sibelius compared writing his daring Second Symphony to putting together a broken mosaic. For a listener, it’s only possible to marvel as stunning musical patterns shape themselves out of fragments.

In Beethoven’s ‘Emperor’ Concerto, the piano makes an unexpected hero’s entrance with barely an introduction from the orchestra. But soon there’s a magnificent back and forth between soloist and ensemble, ending in a galloping finale.

Lotta Wennäkoski’s exquisite tone poem Of Footprints and Light quotes from an unfinished opera by the Finnish composer Ida Moberg, who studied with Sibelius.

The Performers

The landscapes of Sibelius are familiar territory for Thomas Søndergård, and the LSO summons fresh air and sunshine. Leif Ove Andsnes brings immaculate style to Beethoven’s best-loved Piano Concerto. 

‘There is something about this music … that leads us to ecstasy; almost like a shaman with his magic drum.’ – Composer Sulho Ranta on Sibelius’ Second Symphony

Public online booking opens Friday 31 March at 10am

Priority booking for LSO Patrons & Friends:
Thursday 23 March at 10am – for LSO Patrons, LSO Pioneers and Ambassador level Friends
Monday 27 March at 10am – for all LSO Friends

English

London Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Søndergård - Sibelius’ Second Symphony by Wennäkoski, Beethoven, Sibelius, From (2024/2024), Conductor Thomas Søndergård, Barbican Centre, London, United Kingdom

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues