Marin Alsop Conducts Star Wars & The Planets

John Williams is arguably the greatest film music composer of all time, with 26 Grammys and five Oscars in his bulging trophy cabinet. He wrote the unforgettable music for all nine Star Wars films.

The Suite brings together many of the best bits, including the swashbuckling main theme and Darth Vader’s menacing ‘Imperial March’.

Next, brilliant guitarist Sean Shibe joins the Philharmonia for Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. This treasure of the classical guitar repertoire evokes the gardens of a Spanish royal palace.

The composer himself described it as ‘full of melancholic emotion… In its melody the perfume of magnolias lingers, the singing of birds and the gushing of fountains.’

Holst’s The Planets was a major influence on John Williams’ Star Wars scores.

From the violence of ‘Mars, the Bringer of War’ to the ethereal voices of ‘Neptune, the Mystic’ (via ‘Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity’, whose melody is more familiar to rugby fans as World in Union), Holst gives us a masterclass in how music can conjure up different moods and characters.

Performers

Philharmonia Orchestra

Marin Alsop conductor

Sean Shibe guitar

Repertoire

John Williams: Star Wars Suite

Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar & orchestra

Interval

Holst: The Planets

Need to know

Age guidance

For ages 7+. Under-12s must be accompanied by an adult on our site.

Event information

Box package
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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.

A concrete building with flags on the roof, with the London Eye and Big Ben in the background

A lively crowd cheers with raised hands, while a performer in a white hat and suit plays guitar, against red lighting.

A guitarist performing on a dark stage at the Royal Festival Hall, lit up by multiple spotlights.

Pianis Víkingur Ólafsson is seated at a grand piano while playing Bach’s Goldberg Variations on the stage of Royal Festival Hall

Organist Carol Williams plays the Royal Festival Hall organ whiich is illumiated with bold colours

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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.

Other places to eat and drink whilst you’re here