BBC Concert Orchestra: Sibelius & Piazzolla
Northern myths and southern passion. Sibelius meets Piazzolla as bandoneon phenomenon Henrik Sandås joins Anna-Maria Helsing and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
A swan sings sadly on a dark river; a northern sunrise blazes across an icy landscape.
Meanwhile, an ocean away, the Argentinian tango-master Astor Piazzolla sings the sorrows of a nation.
Tonight, the BBC Concert Orchestra and Anna-Maria Helsing unite north and south, nature and humanity: the elemental force of Sibelius’ Finnish myths, and the hopes and fears of our own era.
Tying it all together is the bandoneon, the extraordinary Argentinian instrument that’s been described as the soul of the tango – and in the hands of the Finnish virtuoso Henrik Sandås, there’s no emotion it can’t lay bare.
Tonight the orchestra premieres a dazzling new showpiece by Johan Ullén – a tango that imagines a whole sensuous world dancing on the edge of the abyss.
Performers
BBC Concert Orchestra
Anna-Maria Helsing conductor
Henrik Sandås bandoneon
Repertoire
Sibelius: Night ride and Sunrise
Piazzolla: Introduccion al angel arr. Henrik Sandås; Tango del Diablo arr. Henrik Sandås; Milonga del angel arr. Henrik Sandås; La muerte del angel arr. Henrik Sandås
Interval
Sibelius: Valse triste, Op.44 No.1
Piazzolla: Romance del Diablo arr. Henrik Sandås; Vayamos del Diablo arr. Henrik Sandås; Resurrección del angel arr. Henrik Sandås
Johan Ullén: One Last Tango (Apocalypse) (World premiere)
Need to know
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
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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
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.