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Philip Glass sat at a piano, looking at music sheets

Contemporary Edit

Showcasing boundary-pushing, eye-opening new music

 

Choose from our selection of performances that showcase the wealth of boundary-pushing, eye-opening new music that Southbank Centre has to offer.

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More info for Gaia x BBC Concert Orchestra: Sounds of the Earth
Left: A giant inflatable Earth globe among green trees. Right: A full orchestra performing in front of a massive pipe organ.
Classical music

Gaia x BBC Concert Orchestra: Sounds of the Earth

Under the glow of Luke Jerram’s replica of our planet, hear a concert of heavenly works for strings
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Gaia x Eric Whitacre: Eternity in an Hour
A man with medium-length brown hair and a denim shirt poses with his hand to his chin against a neutral background.
Classical music

Gaia x Eric Whitacre: Eternity in an Hour

Time melts away beneath a stunning replica of Earth with a spellbinding electro-choral concert
Royal Festival Hall
More info for Julia Wolfe's Fire in My Mouth with Marin Alsop
A choir of women in blue dresses holds open scissors above their heads
Classical music

Julia Wolfe's Fire in My Mouth with Marin Alsop

A 146-strong all-woman choir performs Julia Wolfe's epic semi-staged protest
Royal Festival Hall
Multi-buy
More info for The Multi-Story Orchestra: Dreamer
A diverse group of musicians plays stringed instruments in a raw, industrial-style space with concrete ceilings.
Classical music

The Multi-Story Orchestra: Dreamer

Get up close to the orchestra in a dynamic, interactive musical experience for all ages
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Multi-buy
More info for Pekka Kuusisto, Ale Carr & Aurora Orchestra: Four Seasons
A man in glasses and a black shirt holds a violin like a guitar against a vibrant purple background.
Classical music

Pekka Kuusisto, Ale Carr & Aurora Orchestra: Four Seasons

Violinist Pekka Kuusisto joins Aurora for two of classical music’s greatest nature-inspired hits
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Multi-buy
More info for Steve Reich at 90: Triple Quartet + After Dark
Steve Reich wearing a baseball cap and suit, standing on a bridge with the skyline of New York in the background
Classical music

Steve Reich at 90: Triple Quartet + After Dark

Driving rhythms meet powerful stories in a double bill of landmark works by Reich
Purcell Room
Multi-buy
More info for Steve Reich at 90: After Dark
Composer Steve Reich in a black cap and jacket, posing in front of a dark tapestry featuring horses and riders.
Classical music

Steve Reich at 90: After Dark

The hypnotic works of the minimalist master take us late into the evening at our classical club night
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Multi-buy
More info for Steve Reich at 90: Music for 18 Musicians
Paraorchestra performing surrounded by audience
Classical music

Steve Reich at 90: Music for 18 Musicians

Explore the soundscapes of a minimalist masterpiece in an immersive performance with Paraorchestra
The Clore Ballroom
Multi-buy
More info for Steve Reich at 90: London Sinfonietta & Jonny Greenwood
Close-up portrait of an older man in a brown cap and olive jacket looking off-camera against a blurred forest background.
Classical music

Steve Reich at 90: London Sinfonietta & Jonny Greenwood

Step into the shimmering sound-world of the architect of minimalism with the London Sinfonietta
Royal Festival Hall
Multi-buy
More info for Manchester Collective & Sidiki Dembélé
hazy image of Sidiki Dembélé and Nwando Ebizie
Classical music

Manchester Collective & Sidiki Dembélé

A joyful musical journey through folksong and storytelling from Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Senegal
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Multi-buy
More info for Zubin Kanga: Ghost in the Machine + After Dark
Zubin Kanga standing in the middle of keyboards in a square around him
Classical music

Zubin Kanga: Ghost in the Machine + After Dark

The pianist and composer fuses classical virtuosity with cutting-edge technologies
Purcell Room
Multi-buy
More info for Council: Pekka Kuusisto & Gabriel Kahane
Pekka Kuusisto & Gabriel Kahane performing on stage together
Classical music

Council: Pekka Kuusisto & Gabriel Kahane

The musical friends come together as Council, sharing original songs, chamber and folk music
Purcell Room
Multi-buy
More info for Taylor Mac: A 24-Decade History of Popular Music
Taylor Mac in a headdress surrounded by balloons
Classical music

Taylor Mac: A 24-Decade History of Popular Music

Take a glitter-soaked journey through the soul of the US with the theatre-maker and the Philharmonia
Royal Festival Hall
Multi-buy
More info for Brigitta Muntendorf: Last Show
Close-up of a blonde woman with blue eyes and red lipstick posing in front of a textured black wall.
Classical music

Brigitta Muntendorf: Last Show

Lines between audience and performer dissolve in this concert with the London Sinfonietta
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Multi-buy
More info for Manchester Collective: Black Gold
A close-up profile of a young man leaning forward, his face illuminated by a dramatic, warm orange glow against a dark backdrop.
Classical music

Manchester Collective: Black Gold

Enter a world of elemental soundscapes in works by Luke Mombrea, Sasha Scott and James Tenney
Purcell Room
Multi-buy
More info for Pavel Kolesnikov: Feldman's Triadic Memories
A young man in a grey sweater leans against a grand piano in a classic room with a large mirror and paintings.
Classical music

Pavel Kolesnikov: Feldman's Triadic Memories

The multi-prize-winning pianist performs Morton Feldman’s hushed, expansive keyboard work
Purcell Room
Multi-buy
More info for Philip Glass at 90: Music in 12 Parts
Musicians of Riot Ensemble performing in a dark space
Classical music

Philip Glass at 90: Music in 12 Parts

Riot Ensemble becomes only the third ensemble in history to perform Glass’ wild four-hour work
The Clore Ballroom
Multi-buy
More info for Philip Glass at 90: Brooklyn Rider – Quartets
A member of Brooklyn Ryder pretending to kick a violin
Classical music

Philip Glass at 90: Brooklyn Rider – Quartets

Brooklyn Rider performs four iconic string quartets spanning Glass’ career
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Multi-buy
More info for Philip Glass at 90: Manchester Collective
Musicians of Manchester collective blurred in motion
Classical music

Philip Glass at 90: Manchester Collective

Glass, new music and new voices, in a bold, genre-crossing programme
Purcell Room
Multi-buy
More info for Philip Glass at 90: Symphony No.15
Composer Philip Glass sits at a piano, looking intently at sheet music in a dimly lit, workspace setting.
Classical music

Philip Glass at 90: Symphony No.15

A major new symphony from Philip Glass, receiving its first UK performance
Royal Festival Hall
Multi-buy
More info for Sean Shibe & Aidan O'Rourke: Lùban
Aidan O'Rourke (pink raincoat, holding fiddle) and Sean Shibe (yellow coat, holding lute) sit together
Classical music

Sean Shibe & Aidan O'Rourke: Lùban

Two acclaimed artists from two musical cultures delve together into the roots of classical and folk
Purcell Room

While you're with us

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms
People enjoying the Jeppe Hein Fountain at the Southbank Centre

Jeppe Hein: Appearing Rooms

A summer favourite returns to our site with water fountains to splash around and cool down in.

Shopping
Wooden displays in the Southbank centre shop, featuring books, plushies, and colourful merchandise

Shopping

A vibrant range of inspiring books, homeware, prints, accessories and more.

Klaus Weber: Thinking Fountains
Two statues; a green human body with water spouting from its neck and another of human legs with water pouring down from above displayed outdoors

Thinking
Fountains

Water cascades and spouts over Klaus Weber’s bronze figures.

Modified Social Benches
Two children eating ice cream on a red cirrcular bench

Modified Social Benches

Benches that challenge the space and distance we place between one another.

William Pye's Zemran
A photograph showing Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre, with the metal sculpture Zemran in the foreground, next to Queen Elizabeth Hall

William Pye's Zemran

Pye’s beautiful stainless steel sculpture sits overlooking the Thames.

Natura Nostra Forest
Bright sunlight bursts through green leaves with a lens flare, set against a blue sky and a textured concrete building.

Natura Nostra Forest

Our growing pocket forest creating a natural oasis.