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Lawrence Power with Thomas Adès: Fairy-Tale Dances

An imaginative programme unites extraordinary viola player Lawrence Power, one of our current Resident Artists, with leading composer Thomas Adès at the piano.

A composite image of Lawrence Power, holding a violin and Thomas Adès wearing a patterned scarf

The Southbank Centre Resident Artist for Autumn/Winter 2024/25 is joined by one of Britain’s most celebrated composers for a concert like no other, celebrating song and dance.

The concert opens with British music past and present, works by Adès, Britten and Tippett inspired by early songs of Purcell and Dowland, are played alongside the originals.

Next, Adès’ Märchentänze (Fairytale Dances) evoke the world of English folk song, with one movement celebrating the calls of skylarks.

In the second half Power and his percussionist partner are joined on stage by Jonathan Goddard to perform Berio’s Naturale, subtitled ‘action for dance’ and inspired by Sicilian folk music.

Goddard is a movement director, choreographer and professional dance artist who has worked with most major UK dance companies over the past 23 years. He was the first contemporary dancer to win the Critics’ Circle Award for Best Male Dancer in 2007, which he went on to win again in 2014. He won further Critics’ Circle awards for Outstanding Male Performance (modern) in 2014 and 2019.

The concert concludes with Stravinsky’s Divertimento, from the seductive ballet score Le baiser de la fée (The Fairy’s Kiss).

Performers

Lawrence Power viola, violin

Thomas Adès piano

Paul Stoneman percussion

Jonathan Goddard dancer

Repertoire

Purcell: Full fathom five from The Tempest arr. Thomas Adès

Thomas Adès: Berceuse No.2 from The Exterminating Angel arr. viola & piano

Britten: Waltz from Suite, Op.6 arr. viola & piano

Tippett: Interlude: Dreaming from The Tempest Suite

Dowland: If my complaints could passions move

Britten: Lachrymae (Reflections on a song of Dowland) for viola & piano, Op.48

Thomas Adès: Märchentänze for violin & piano

Interval

Berio: Naturale for viola, percussion & recorded voice

Stravinsky: Divertimento from The Fairy's Kiss arr. Stravinsky & Dushkin for violin & piano

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 7+
Event information

Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme

‘Lawrence Power is a tonic … his programming is so imaginative and his musicianship so independent of his instrument that it’s the message, not the medium, that is paramount’

The Strad

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.