Sir Simon Rattle with the London Symphony Orchestra on 9-10 March
Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra present a programme exalting American music’s most flamboyant gems, from Roy Harris’s Symphony No. 3 to Gershwin’s comparable rhythms, and a new work by John Adams, one of the most acclaimed composers of our time, at the Philharmonie de Paris.
These concerts are part of the UK/France Spotlight on Culture 2024 programme.
Sir Antonio Pappano and Martha Argerich with the London Symphony Orchestra on 22 April
It has been ten years since Claudio Abbado passed away, after a life dedicated to music. His close collaborator Martha Argerich and Antonio Pappano pay tribute to this great maestro, an unforgettable figure in 20th century conducting.
About the London Symphony Orchestra in France
The London Symphony Orchestra has a longstanding connection with France that spans over 100 years.
The very first tour overseas taken by any British orchestra was the London Symphony Orchestra to Paris in 1906, traveling with a 100-strong choir from the northern city of Leeds. There are records of concerts with Pierre Monteux with an all-Debussy programme in 1962, many visits with André Previn in the 1970s, and Claudio Abbado in the late 1970s/early 1980s with Alfred Brendel, Maurizio Pollini, Jessye Norman and other great artists. There were many concerts with Pierre Boulez in the 1990s, 2000 and 2004, Rostropovich in 1996 and when Michael Tilson Thomas was Principal Conductor 1988-1995.
It was in 2005, however, that a substantial residency relationship was built with La Salle Pleyel when it reopened under the management of Cité de la Musique with the LSO as ‘International Resident Orchestra’ appearing at least three times per season with double concerts on each occasion. This enabled the LSO to take its major artistic projects to Paris with its family of conductors: Sir Colin Davis, Valery Gergiev, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Simon Rattle, Gianandrea Noseda, and Sir Antonio Pappano. When the Philharmonie opened in 2014, the LSO was the first international orchestra to appear in the new hall and has continued to give between four and six concerts annually.
In 2010 this model extended to an opera residency at Aix Festival in Provence, where the LSO was resident from 2010-2013, a frequent visitor 2013-29 and again resident in 2021 and 2023, with major operas such as Wagner's Tristan und Isolde and Alban Berg’s Wozzeck. As part of the Aix partnership, the London Symphony Orchestra has shared its education and community practice with the Festival - in the early years supporting the development of a significant community music programme locally, and also coaching the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra since 2010 as it evolved into a 20+ nation ensemble.
A word from Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra: “France and particularly Paris feels like a second home for the LSO, we have made regular visits to the City in our 120-year history and will continue to do so in the future. As well as having enthusiastic audiences our French colleagues have been inspirational collaborators and partners always willing to progress musical innovation and challenge our musicians and audiences, a true artistic entente cordiale”.
