Director’s choice: Grand classical music in London this October

Director’s choice: Grand classical music in London this October

Emilie Gardberg has just started her four-year tenure as the director of the Finnish Institute in London. She has a broad background in the field of classical music. Here are some of her must-hears for the coming month.

Dido and Aeneas: A funeral for the Queen of Carthage, Academy of Ancient Music

“I have loved Dido and Aeneas since my teens, after hearing the powerful lament ‘When I’m laid in Earth’ sang by the riveting Jessye Norman. The most tragic and beautiful English opera, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas is directed for this semi-staged version by renowned Thomas Guthrie. The production of Academy of Ancient Music and choir, is led by artistic director Richard Egarr.”

Dido and Aeneas: A funeral for the Queen of Carthage, Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk St, EC2Y 8DS London. https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2018/event/dido-and-aeneas-a-funeral-for-the-queen-of-carthage. 2.10.2018. 7:30pm. Admission: £10–£50.

Sibelius & Tchaikovsky, Philharmonia Orchestra

“I had the pleasure of working with Rafael Payare when he conducted the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra after winning the first prize in the international Malko conducting competition. This lively, engaging and charismatic Venezuelan will surely bring down the house with an intense program, consisting of one of my personal Finnish favourites, Sibelius’ 2. Symphony combined with perhaps the most loved piano concerto, Tchaikovsky’s first with soloist Alexander Gavrylyuk.”  

Sibelius & Tchaikovsky, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road SE1 8XX London. https://southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/105285-sibelius-tchaikovsky-2018. 28.10.2018. 3:00pm. Admission: £12–£58.

Other Worlds, London contemporary orchestra

“After a summer of rare climate upheaval, London Contemporary Orchestra’s programming feels very relevant. The orchestra performs John Luther Adam’s Become Ocean. On this Pulitzer prize awarded piece, the composer writes: ‘Life on this earth first emerged from the sea. As the polar ice melts and sea level rises, we humans find ourselves facing the prospect that once again we may quite literally become ocean.’ This beautiful and haunting piece is paired with Giacinto Scelsi’s Uaxuctum, which tells the story of the destruction of an ancient Mayan city. This powerful, important music is presented together with a visualization by Jules Malcomson.”

Other Worlds, Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk St, EC2Y 8DS London. https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2018/event/london-contemporary-orchestra-other-worlds. 31.10.2018. 8:00pm. Admission: £15–£25.

#Platform88
“When commuting to and from our office in Kings Cross, I’m delighted to hear people perform on the pop-up piano in the midst of the busy tube-commute. This sometimes enables a tranquil moment in the otherwise buzzling London. The piano at King’s Cross is one of the three pianos ‘travelling’ for two years at London tube stations as part of the project #Platform88. The project encourages everyone to show off their musical skills while commuting.”


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