Southbank Centre Festivals & Series Events

A Room for London

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Series:

A Room For London

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A Room for London is a major new collaboration between Artangel and Living Architecture, in association with Southbank Centre.

A Room for London is a major new collaboration between Artangel and Living Architecture, in association with Southbank Centre. It is a one-bedroom architectural installation in the form of a riverboat. Taking inspiration from Joseph Conrad’s book Heart of Darkness and Roi de Belges (the boat he captained in the Congo in 1890) it was designed by David Kohn Architects, in collaboration with artist Fiona Banner.

Throughout 2012, Artangel has invited London’s leading artists of all disciplines to take part in an extraordinary year of new writings, readings, performances, podcasts and live music webcasts from the capital’s most intimate temporary venue. From Bogotá to Bamako, Toronto to Frankfurt, New York to Stockholm, these world-renowned voices will use the Room as their studio to reflect on the city's place in the world in 2012.

The programme includes a series of live music webcasts entitled ‘Sounds from a Room’, a series of monthly writings and recordings called ‘A London Address’ artist Fiona Banner’s presentation of Orson Welles’ screenplay of ‘Heart of Darkness’, and ‘Ideas for London’, a competition in association with the London Evening Standard to uncover Londoners’ most remarkable ideas to make their city a better place.

Built by Living Architecture as part of their programme of making great architecture available to the public, A Room for London will be in situ throughout 2012 and occupied by members of the public who have pre-booked to stay there. The Artangel programme is part of the London 2012 Festival.

Dates

First Date:

Sunday 1 January 2012

Last Date:

Monday 31 December 2012

Gamelan at Southbank Centre

Series:

Gamelan - Intermediate Course

Strapline:

Come and learn how to play gamelan, see performances of gamelan, or find out more about these great instruments here. Gamelan is both a rewarding musical and social activity.

Come and learn how to play gamelan, see performances of gamelan, or find out more about these great instruments. Gamelan is both a rewarding musical and social activity. Playing the gamelan can inspire self-confidence, improve co-ordination and listening skills, encourage team-building and be a great chance to try something new or develop your playing experience in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Dates

First Date:

Thursday 12 January 2012

Last Date:

Thursday 3 May 2012

London Philharmonic Orchestra 2011/12

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Series:

LPO 11/12

Strapline:

During 2011/12 the London Philharmonic Orchestra performs the great traditional repertoire alongside the new, with passion, energy and dedication to the highest artistic goals.

Vladimir Jurowski’s concerts have become a magnet for those wishing to experience the greatest sense of occasion. Every performance is an event and demonstrates a logical musical progression. The eagerly anticipated Prokofiev Festival in January is the successor to previous explorations of Tchaikovsky and Schnittke. Jurowski also embarks on his Bruckner symphony cycle beginning with Symphony No.1 in November 2011.

Principal Guest Conductor, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, appears with the Orchestra five times. His rapport with the audience is exceptional, and his concerts are full of energy and spirit, achieving an almost magical quality.

The Orchestra’s regular partners include Sir Mark Elder, Marin Alsop, Christoph Eschenbach and Osmo Vänskä, and it also introduces James Gaffigan, Markus Stenz and Eduardo Portal. Renée Fleming sings Strauss’s Four Last Songs, Stephen Hough plays Liszt, Joshua Bell plays Brahms and legendary pianists Maria João Pires, Leon Fleisher and Aldo Ciccolini return.

Works by Julian Anderson, our Composer in Residence, feature in three concerts including a world première, and there are further premières from Raskatov, Pintscher and Aho.

The Orchestra is embedded in the cultural life of London and is committed to sharing the live experience with as wide an audience as possible.

Do join the Orchestra at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall and be part of something very special.

Dates

First Date:

Friday 13 January 2012

Last Date:

Sunday 13 May 2012

Free Events

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Series:

Free

Southbank Centre regularly hosts free events, performances and exhibitions across the site. Wind down at the end of the working week and enjoy live music on Friday evenings from leading musicians performing everything from jazz and blues to folk. Alternatively drop in for free lunchtime music in the Central Bar of the Royal Festival Hall on Fridays and Sundays.

Dates

First Date:

Saturday 14 January 2012

Last Date:

Thursday 28 June 2012

International Piano Series 2011-12

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Series:

IPS 11/12

Strapline:

Southbank Centre’s International Piano Series welcomes some of the most important pianists in the world

Southbank Centre’s International Piano Series welcomes some of the most important pianists in the world – from thrilling young performers such as Yuja Wang and Alice Sara Ott, to great international stars including Maurizio Pollini, Mitsuko Uchida and Richard Goode. As 2011 marks the bicentenary of Franz Liszt, many of this season’s artists are including his groundbreaking virtuosic, spiritual and matchlessly poetic works in their programmes. There is also a Liszt Forum which brings together international experts to discuss the ongoing significance of his work. A special focus places Pierre-Laurent Aimard centre stage: this leading French pianist will appear in three major events, two featuring Liszt and one day of performances focusing on Pierre Boulez as part of Southbank Centre’s wider celebration of Boulez’s music.

Dates

First Date:

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Last Date:

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Members Wine Club

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Series:

Members Wine Club

Strapline:

Taste a selection of wines from famous wine regions of the world with experts.

Taste a selection of wines from famous wine regions of the world with experts. Find out what foods pair with wine and help select the featured Members Bar wine of the month.

Dates

First Date:

Thursday 19 January 2012

Last Date:

Thursday 22 March 2012

Friday Tonic

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Series:

Friday Tonic

Strapline:

Wind down at the end of the working week and experience some great music and performance for free, whatever the style. Our Friday Tonic series profiles the best in jazz, improvised musics and emerging artists, as well as occasionally featuring other genres and art forms, linking into other festivals and happenings at Southbank Centre.

Dates

First Date:

Friday 20 January 2012

Last Date:

Friday 24 February 2012

London Sinfonietta 11/12

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Series:

London Sinfonietta 11/12

Strapline:

The London Sinfonietta’s 2011/12 concert series presents a diverse range of events featuring the work of both established and emerging composers.

The London Sinfonietta’s 2011/12 concert series presents a diverse range of events featuring the work of both established and emerging composers. Explorations into the music of world-renowned masters including Sir Harrison Birtwistle, George Benjamin, Conlon Nancarrow and Pierre Boulez sit aside works from compelling new voices and collaborations with artists from different disciplines, including creative pianist Matthew Bourne and Turner prize-winning artist Martin Creed. Reflecting the London Sinfonietta’s commitment to making new music, the 2011/12 season includes six world, and 11 UK, premieres.

Dates

First Date:

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Last Date:

Saturday 9 June 2012

Philharmonia Orchestra 2011/12

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Series:

Philharmonia 11/12

Strapline:

The Philharmonia Orchestra’s 2011/12 London season will see the Orchestra performing 36 matinee and main evening concerts at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, together with a number of small ensemble performances as part of its acclaimed Music of Today series with new artistic director Unsuk Chin.

The Philharmonia’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, opens his fourth season with Sibelius’s epic choral symphony Kullervo; concludes his pan-European Bartók retrospective, Infernal Dance: Inside the World of Béla Bartók, and conducts four Beethoven symphonies paired with 20th or 21st century masterpieces.

Salonen also gives the opening and closing concerts of ‘The still point of the turning world’: Music that defines an era, the Orchestra’s major 2012 series featuring iconic works of the late 19th and 20th centuries that both reflect the spirit of their age and that continue to resonate in the present day.

Salonen is joined for this series by Christoph von Dohnányi, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Lorin Maazel, who all conduct works that have a particular personal resonance for them.

Other highlights include the conclusion of Lorin Maazel’s Mahler Symphony Cycle; the continuation of the International Conductors’ Academy of the Allianz Cultural Foundation, featuring three exciting young conductors on the brink of their professional careers; a celebration of English music including events marking the 150th anniversary of Delius’s birth and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee; and concerts conducted by Kurt Masur, Daniele Gatti and Sir Andrew Davis.

Dates

First Date:

Thursday 26 January 2012

Last Date:

Thursday 28 June 2012

Harmonic Series

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Series:

Harmonic

Strapline:

Curated by Southbank Centre Artist in Residence Oliver Coates for unexpected intimate spots around Royal Festival Hall, Harmonic Series showcases new and old music with performances from some of the world’s best singers, chamber groups and electronic artists.

Watch the Harmonic Series 2012 trailer

Dates

First Date:

Sunday 29 January 2012

Last Date:

Sunday 25 March 2012

David Shrigley

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Start Date:

Wednesday 1 February 2012 (All day)

End Date:

Sunday 13 May 2012

British artist David Shrigley is best known for his humourous drawings that make witty and wry observations on everyday life.

WOW - Women of the World Festival

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Series:

Women of the World

WOW – Women of the World Festival is a joyous celebration of the formidable strength and inventiveness of women. This annual festival presents, celebrates and recognises women from all walks of life, acting as a conversation space for issues of all kinds. WOW includes three days of talks, debates, markets, workshops, mentoring, WOW Bites as well as a series of evening events. WOW Bites are short and snappy sessions covering a diverse range of fascinating subjects. Lively and eclectic, they give you snapshot of a subject or debate presented by enthusiasts and experts in that field.

Join WOW at Southbank Centre on Facebook for the latest discussions and programme updates.

We’re also talking on Twitter #WOW2012.

If your an avid tweeter then meet up, chat and network at our WOW tweet meet Thursday 23 February.

Dates

First Date:

Friday 3 February 2012

Last Date:

Sunday 11 March 2012

Jeremy Deller

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Publicity photograph of Adrian Street, c. 1980 (Photo © Exotic Adrian Street)
Our Hobby is Depeche Mode, 2006. Masha at St. Petersburg airport (Image courtesy the artist.)
From Memory Bucket, 2003. Cop with flowers, San Antonio, Texas (Image courtesy the artist.)
Procession, 2009. Publicity shot with Mancunian sports mascots (Image courtesy the artist. Photo: Tim Sinclair.)
Bless This Acid House, 2005 (Image courtesy the artist. Photo: Stephen White.)
Has the World Changed or Have I Changed?, 2000. Bonzo posing with a fibreglass Ronald McDonald (Image courtesy the artist.)
Iggy Pop Life Drawing Class, 2006-2011. Artist's impressions by Sarah Tynan (Image courtesy the artist.)
Jerusalem, 1993. Film stills (Image courtesy the artist)

Series listing

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Start Date:

Monday 6 February 2012 - 11:00

End Date:

Monday 14 May 2012

A hugely influential artist for much of the past two decades, Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller has helped to rewrite the rules of contemporary art in many respects.

Literature and Spoken Word - January to March 2012

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Series:

Literature Jan - March 2012

Strapline:

2012 promises to be a spectacular year for poetry at Southbank Centre. Our season opens with the TS Eliot Prize readings, when each of the ten shortlisted poets will read in Royal Festival Hall.

Our global focus continues through the season with Australia’s John Kinsella, Nikola Madzirov from Macedonia and Daniele Panton from Switzerland reading from new work. One of the undoubted highlights is Alice Oswald reading Memorial, her new version of The Iliad.

All this will whet your appetite for Poetry Parnassus, our global gathering of poets who arrive at Southbank Centre in June.

Nobel Prize winner Nadine Gordimer reads from No Time Like the Present in the first of a series of events to mark Index on Censorship’s 40th anniversary, and Noo Saro-Wiwa and Chibundo Onuzo launch debut novels with us in March. Paul Mason tackles the global revolutions with his new book Why It’s Kicking Off Everywhere and we bring one of the picks of the Edinburgh fringe, An Instinct for Kindness to Southbank Centre in January.

Dates

First Date:

Monday 6 February 2012

Last Date:

Thursday 29 March 2012

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 2011/12

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Series:

RPO 11/12

Strapline:

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2010/12 series of concerts at Royal Festival Hall features a stellar line up of conductors, accompanied by classical music’s crème da la crème of solosists.

Irrepressible energy and sparkling orchestrations combine for a thrilling start to the season as Kirill Karabits conducts Prokofiev’s mighty Symphony No.5. The Russian theme continues as Pinchas Zukerman returns to Royal Festival Hall to conduct Shostakovich’s Symphony No.10 in a concert which consists of two contrasting halves, also featuring Mozart’s Violin Concerto No.5.

Maestros Charles Dutoit and Daniele Gatti conduct concerts covering a full spectrum of emotion, from Strauss’ heroic Ein Heldenleben to Beethoven’s dramatic Pastoral Symphony. Nigel Kennedy also makes a welcome return as he enlightens us with his virtuosic touch in Brahms’ Violin Concerto.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra looks forward to seeing you soon at these concerts.

Dates

First Date:

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Last Date:

Tuesday 12 June 2012

International Chamber Music Season 2011/12

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Series:

ICMS 11/12

Strapline:

Two outstanding cycles lie at the heart of the 2011/12 International Chamber Music Season.

Two outstanding cycles lie at the heart of the 2011/12 International Chamber Music Season. Following their acclaimed Beethoven series in 2009/10, Southbank Centre Associate Artists the Takács Quartet return in October 2011 with some of the most impressive and exciting chamber music of the 20th century: Béla Bartók’s six quartets. Then in spring 2012 Steven Isserlis and Robert Levin present the complete sonatas for cello and piano by Beethoven – another landmark Beethoven cycle at Southbank Centre.

Around these two immersive sets of concerts, the season features a diverse array of international musical talent. Hear acclaimed soloists such mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená, as well as chamber groups from great orchestras including the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Apartment House presents its John Cage retrospective and we also welcome the return of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, which presents the very best young artists.

Chamber music is not only one of the most personal forms of music making but also one of the most intense, and we are delighted to offer such an eclectic yet high-quality mix of music and musicians at Queen Elizabeth Hall this season. We look forward to welcoming you.

Dates

First Date:

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Last Date:

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Imagine Children's Festival

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Series:

Imagine

Strapline:

This year at Imagine, staff are getting smaller: look out for children waiting to welcome you to our festival of literature, music, comedy and performance for the young. Children also feature in the performances – from playing with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Charles Hazelwood, to taking a Beastie on a walk.

This year at Imagine, staff are getting smaller: look out for children waiting to welcome you to our festival of literature, music, comedy and performance for the young. Children run the festival as part of Kids Takeover, but they also feature in the performances – from playing with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Charles Hazelwood, to taking a Beastie on a walk.

Enjoy a star-studded afternoon with the best children’s writers at the Red House Children’s Book Award, the only award voted for by children.

Watch a poignant story of war at our production of Private Peaceful and laugh at stand-up comedy for kids with Imagine favourite James Campbell.

From the Imagine Craft Pavilion to the Imagine Fringe stage, this year there are day-long opportunities to make things, look at things, eat things and do things.

Watch the Imagine Festival Trailer

Dates

First Date:

Friday 10 February 2012

Last Date:

Sunday 26 February 2012

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment 2011/12

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Series:

OAE 11/12

Strapline:

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s unique approach, with committed, engaged and vital performances, will blow away your assumptions in a season that spans music from 1600 to now.

What do the words ‘period performance’ conjure up in your mind? Endless Baroque music? Academic beard-stroking? The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s unique approach, with committed, engaged and vital performances, will blow away your assumptions in a season that spans music from 1600 to now, featuring a range of events that offers something for everyone, whether you’re a first timer or a committed concert goer.

This season sees the launch of The Works, the OAE’s brand new series of events giving you an informal guided tour of a well-known piece of music, followed by a full performance of it. Events last 80 minutes, with live music in the bar beforehand and a chance to meet musicians after.

OAE Tots, their popular events for the under-fives, also come to Southbank Centre for the first time in 2011/12. Join the orchestra on stage at Queen Elizabeth Hall for a lively, fun and interactive hour of music and activities.

Dates

First Date:

Friday 10 February 2012

Last Date:

Sunday 10 June 2012

Festival of the world

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Series:

Festival of the World

Strapline:

An urban beach with a twist, the largest ever UK poetry festival and the chance to work with and learn from the world’s leading artists – this festival has it all.

FESTIVAL OF THE WORLD
1 JUNE – 9 SEPTEMBER 2012

An urban beach with a twist, the largest ever UK poetry festival and the chance to work with and learn from the world’s leading artists – this festival has it all.

Festival of the World is inspired by the cultural vision of Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863–1937). Coubertin was the founder of the modern Olympic movement. He believed the arts could raise the aspirations of young people in the same way as sport.

As London celebrates the 2012 Olympics, Southbank Centre will be transformed into an international learning site that shows how art transforms lives.

There will be many opportunities to get stuck in and take part, plus art, music, comedy, markets and free events to enjoy.

Join us to celebrate disabled and deaf artists, the culture of Wales, plus poetry from each of the 204 competing Olympic nations. The Hayward Gallery is transformed into a temporary summer school, and we’re very excited to welcome back Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra from Venezuela as part of Shell Classic International.

This is the second of three summer festivals that MasterCard is supporting at Southbank Centre.

We’ll be updating the website with tickets prices, information and our full calendar of events.

Watch our short film introducing the festival

Dates

First Date:

Saturday 18 February 2012

Last Date:

Sunday 9 September 2012

FUNharmonics Family Concerts

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Series:

Funharmonics Family Concerts

Strapline:

Hearing and seeing a full orchestra in a live concert is an experience children will remember forever. Each year the London Philharmonic Orchestra reserves three weekend mornings for music-filled entertainment created for families, presented by Chris Jarvis of CBeebies.

Turn up early to try your hand at playing a string, woodwind or brass instrument. There’s even the chance to get your face painted and learn circus skills.

Dates

First Date:

Sunday 19 February 2012

Last Date:

Sunday 13 May 2012