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Southbank Centre is proud to bring a number of premieres to its concert halls this season.
Throughout the 2010/11 classical season there is a variety of new work on offer written by some of the world’s most exciting living composers, including Thomas Adès and Louis Andriessen. The Tristan project, however, is a slightly different beast, being a new take on Wagner’s Romantic masterpiece Tristan und Isolde performed by conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra against the backdrop of Bill Viola’s beautiful film projections, with concert staging based on Peter Sellars’ production.
‘The Tristan project is something that the Philharmonia Orchestra and Southbank Centre really wanted to bring to audiences here,’ explains Gillian Moore, Southbank Centre’s Head of Contemporary Music. ‘It was a huge success when it was done in Paris, New York and Los Angeles.’ Explaining the work, Moore describes it as an ‘amazing work of opera put in a 21st-century context’. I think we should think about Wagner in his historical context because when he was dreaming up his idea of music drama, he was trying to push the form forward using the latest technology. If Wagner were alive today I think he would be making operas with video art.’
Those of you looking out for fresh musical experiences should also check out the Harmonic Series, curated by Southbank Centre Artist in Residence, Oliver Coates. ‘Oliver, who’s a wonderful cellist, is also very plugged in to new developments in contemporary music. During this series he’s going to look at what is interesting at the moment, including composers who are doing multimedia experiments and older, senior figures,’ explains Moore. And don’t miss the UK premiere of Dutch composer Louis Andriessen’s new work Anaïs Nin for ensemble and film performed by the London Sinfonietta. ‘It’s a new piece, not yet written, so we don’t know what it’s going to sound like,’ says Moore, ‘but I think you can expect the trademark things of Andriessen: driving rhythms, and very gorgeous, appealing harmonies.’
Take a trip to ancient Istanbul with the world premiere of Matteo D’Amico’s Flight from Byzantium, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Saturday 25 September 2010
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A performance of Wagner’s tragic opera, performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and set against a backdrop of Bill Viola’s film projections. Sunday 26 September 2010
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Southbank Centre Artist in Residence cellist Oliver Coates curates an informal series of contemporary music concerts. Sunday 30 January 2011
The London Sinfonietta gives the world premiere of Gerald Barry’s Feldman’s Six Penny Editions. Thursday 10 March, 2011
The UK premiere of a new string quartet by British composer Thomas Adès is a major event in the new music calendar. Be a part of it. Thursday 7 April 2011
Hear the UK premiere of Dutch composer Andriessen’s new work for ensemble and film, performed by the London Sinfonietta. Thursday 14 April 2011
Performing Sir Harrison Birtwistle and Robert Saxton. Tuesday 10 May 2011
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