Music of Today: Kaija Saariaho & Hans Abrahamsen
The Philharmonia Orchestra spotlights the compelling music of two of the leading Nordic composers of recent decades, in this free early evening concert.
Semafor is one of the last pieces Kaija Saariaho completed before her death last year. Her choice of title is a reference to the bold, playful sculptures of Finnish artist Ernst Mether-Borgström.
Inger Christensen was one of the foremost Danish poets of the 20th century. Hans Abrahamsen’s Two Inger Christensen Songs are crystalline settings of two of her poems, in which the narrator describes a feeling of timeless connection with the natural world.
British conductor Chloe Rooke and ‘brilliant’ (Chicago Tribune) soprano Olivia Boen both make their Philharmonia debuts.
This concert is part of the orchestra’s popular and long-standing Music of Today series, and one of several free events in the orchestra’s series Nordic Soundscapes.
Performers
Players from the Philharmonia Orchestra
Chloe Rooke conductor
Olivia Boen soprano, *
Repertoire
Saariaho: Semafor
Hans Abrahamsen: 2 Inger Christensen songs
Need to know
* Please note change of performer from originally advertised
Latecomers are only admitted at a suitable break in the performance
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
06 Oct 2024, 6pm
Run time
45 minutes (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
Free – ticket required
Make a donation
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For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open daily.
Monday & Tuesday, 10am – 6pm*
Wednesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
*If we’re hosting a performance, the building will stay open until the event ends.
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.