Bancroft Conducts Beethoven & Strauss
The Philharmonia Orchestra awakens deep emotions with their performance of Strauss’ majestic work, a true highlight of the orchestral repertoire.
The opening of Also sprach Zarathustra might be one of the most recognisable in classical music.
But there’s much more to this exhilarating work than its 2001: A Space Odyssey fame. With blazing brass and sumptuous strings, Strauss creates a listening experience full of intense feeling.
It’s a chance for American conductor Ryan Bancroft and the fantastic musicians of the Philharmonia Orchestra to show off the renowned Philharmonia sound.
To open the concert, Bancroft has chosen one of the best-loved pieces by his compatriot Charles Ives. Ives’ quest for the meaning of life is much gentler and more diffident than Strauss’ – over ethereal strings, a solo trumpet asks the ‘question’ of the title.
Four flutes suggest tentative answers, but in the end it’s the sound of the trumpet that hangs in the air.
Between the two, award-winning American pianist Michelle Cann makes her Royal Festival Hall debut. She brings her flawless technique and joyous energy to Beethoven’s playful Piano Concerto No.4.
Performers
Philharmonia Orchestra
Ryan Bancroft conductor
Michelle Cann piano
Repertoire
Ives: The Unanswered Question (Contemplation No.1)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4
Interval
Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra
Need to know
The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall at 9.30pm: Insights Talk. Conductor Ryan Bancroft and Teddy Prout from the Philharmonia Orchestra discuss the evening’s programme. Free.
For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.