London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra has been celebrated as one of the world’s great orchestras since Sir Thomas Beecham founded it in 1932. One of our Resident Orchestras, their home is right here at the Southbank Centre, in our Royal Festival Hall.
Uniquely groundbreaking and exhilarating to watch and hear, the LPO aims to bring wonder to the modern world with every performance, cementing its position as a leading orchestra for the 21st century.
Its Principal Conductors have included some of the greatest historic names like Sir Adrian Boult, Bernard Haitink, Klaus Tennstedt and Kurt Masur. In 2021 Edward Gardner became the 13th Principal Conductor, taking the orchestra into its tenth decade. Vladimir Jurowski became Conductor Emeritus in recognition of his impact as Principal Conductor, 2007–21. Karina Canellakis is the orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor and Tania León its Composer-in-Residence.
The LPO regularly welcomes some of the biggest names in classical music to perform with them, and recent series at the Southbank Centre have seen them joined by artists including Gidon Kremer, Leif Ove Andsnes, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Víkingur Ólafsson, Amjad Ali Khan and Isabelle Faust.
Upcoming events
Britten’s War Requiem
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor
Natalya Romaniw soprano
Allan Clayton tenor
Benjamin Appl baritone
London Philharmonic Choir
London Symphony Chorus
Tiffin Boys' Choir
Tiffin Girls' Choir
Repertoire
Britten: War Requiem (performed in English and Latin, with English surtitles)
Kian Soltani Plays Dvořák
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Marie Jacquot conductor
Kian Soltani cello
Repertoire
Dvořák: Cello Concerto
Interval
Franck: Symphony in D minor
Julia Fischer Plays Brahms
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor
Julia Fischer violin
Repertoire
Brahms: Violin Concerto
Interval
Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony
The Firebird
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor
Tamara Stefanovich piano *
Repertoire
Howell: Lamia, symphonic poem
Mark Simpson: Piano Concerto (World premiere)
Interval
Stravinsky: The Firebird, complete ballet (1910)
Karina Canellakis Conducts Beethoven
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Karina Canellakis conductor
Christian Tetzlaff violin
Repertoire
Elgar: Violin Concerto
Interval
Dai Fujikura: Radiance (UK premiere)
Beethoven: Symphony No.5
Alice Sara Ott Plays Beethoven
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Karina Canellakis conductor
Alice Sara Ott piano
Repertoire
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4
Interval
Mahler: Symphony No.1 (vers. original in 5 movements including Blumine)
Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Robin Ticciati conductor
Vilde Frang violin
Repertoire
Sibelius: King Christian II, suite from the incidental music, Op.27
Hindemith: Kammermusik No.4 for violin & chamber orchestra, Op.36 No.3
Interval
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben
Lessons in Love and Violence
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor
Nathaniel Sullivan baritone, King
John Brancy baritone, Gaveston, Stranger, *
Georgia Jarman soprano, Isabel
Toby Spence tenor, Mortimer
James Way tenor, Young King
Hannah Sawle soprano, Witness 1, Singer 1, Woman 1
Joanne Evans mezzo-soprano, Witness 2, Singer 2, Woman 2
Andri Björn Róbertsson bass-baritone, Witness 3, Madman
Repertoire
George Benjamin: Lessons in love and violence - opera in 2 parts with text for the music by Martin Crimp (semi-staged performance in English with surtitles)
Patricia Kopatchinskaja Plays Shostakovich
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja violin
Repertoire
Rachmaninov: Symphony in D minor (Youth)
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.2
Interval
Rachmaninov: Symphony No.1
OAE TOTS: A Musical Adventure with Don Quixote
Performers
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Repertoire
Programme to be announced
Sibelius’ First + After Dark
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Anja Bihlmaier conductor
Martin Fröst clarinet
Repertoire
Andrea Tarrodi: Paradisfåglar II (Birds of Paradise II)
Jacob Mühlrad: Kavanah for clarinet & orchestra (World premiere)
Göran Fröst: [with Martin Fröst]: Nomadic dances
Interval
Sibelius: Symphony No.1 in E minor
LPO FUNharmonics: The Big Enigma
Performers
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Wilson Ng conductor
Rachel Leach presenter
Repertoire
Programme includes: -
Elgar: Excerpts from Enigma Variations
Beethoven: Excerpt from Allegro con brio (1st movement) from Symphony No.5
Bacewicz: Excerpt from Overture
Rachel Leach: Audience participation piece
Brahms: Hungarian Dance No.5 in G minor arr. Schmeling
Lalo Schifrin: Main theme from Mission Impossible arr. Custer