Symphonie Fantastique
Sir Simon Rattle commands a cast of fantastical characters in a double bill of Berlioz’ symphonies performed by the Orchestra of the age of Enlightenment.
Berlioz’s powerful, poetic music sets visions whirling of wandering poets, enchanting women, shepherds, an execution procession and witches.
Both Symphonie fantastique (1830) and Harold in Italy (1842) trace a musical journey from reverie to wild finale. Their enduring reputation is owed to Berlioz’ radical handling of musical ideas and instrumental forces.
Sir Simon Rattle, one of the OAE’s longstanding Principal Artists since his debut with them conducting Mozart’s Idomeneo in 1987, joins the OAE in celebrating 40 years.
Timothy Ridout, who in 2016 became the first British viola player to win the prestigious Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, takes the leading role in Harold in Italy.
Performers
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Sir Simon Rattle conductor
Timothy Ridout viola
Repertoire
Berlioz: Harold en Italie
Interval
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
Need to know
You can buy an exclusive box package for this event. More details of our Royal Festival Hall exclusive box package.
Level 5 Function Room, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall at 6pm: pre-concert talk. Sir Nicholas Kenyon talks to members of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment about performing Berlioz, and the orchestra’s 40th anniversary. Admission free for ticket holders.
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.