Director’s choice: New beginnings with new music!

Director’s choice: New beginnings with new music!

January is the month of new beginnings, and nothing could be newer and more refreshing, than exploring the contemporary offerings of London in the beginning of the year. Which are our director Emilie Gardberg’s recommendations for this January?

Music of Today: The Next Generation

New music by global creators guarantee an exciting five-night run at Southbank Center, when Sound State festival takes place January 16th to 20th. The Composer’s Collective events offer many interesting insights to contemporary work with music. Finland’s very own Dalia Stasevska will hold the baton at Philharmonia’s concert, with two leading contemporary composers Dai Fujikura and Andrew Norman.

Music of Today: The Next Generation, Southbank Centre, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/126984-next-generation-music-today-2019. 20.1.2019. Admission: Free, but ticketed.

London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Simon Rattle: Nielsen’s Inextinguishable

Whenever the magnificent Barbara Hannigan performs, I find no reason to be anywhere else. Now she is paired with some of the Nordics finest, when Sibelius’ 7th Symphony sets the stage, and Nielsen’sthe Inextinguishable” Fourth Symphony finishes the evening, conducted by Simon Rattle. Hannigan stars in Danish Hans Abrahamsen’s Let me tell you (2013), exploring the perspective of Shakespeare’s Ophelia, written for Hannigan. What a night!

Nielsen’s Inextinguishable, Barbican Hall, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2019/event/london-symphony-orchestrasir-simon-rattle-nielsen-4. 10.1.2019. Admission: £16–56.

Gyða Valtýsdóttir: Epicycle

The Institute’s neighbour at Kings Cross, Kings Place, features Venus Unwrapped, a year-long flagship series dedicated to “the creative firepower of women composers”. In 2019 More than 60 events will present work by over 100 composers identifying as female. In late January, you can sample some more Nordic magic with Icelandic electronic experimentalists Gyða Valtýsdóttir, who brings her trio Epicycle to London.  

Gyða Valtýsdóttir, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG. https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/gyda-valtysdottir/. 30.1.2019. Admission: £14.50. 

Photo: Aino-Sofia Niklas-Salminen


What’s On