Paraorchestra: Symphony of Sorrowful Songs
Enter the world of Henryk Górecki’s cathartic and hauntingly beautiful Symphony of Sorrowful Songs at an immersive performance, conducted by Charles Hazlewood.
Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs is an astonishing meditation on loss and transcendence.
Performed by pioneering contemporary orchestra Paraorchestra with acclaimed soprano Victoria Oruwari; Charles Hazlewood conducts this evocative and heartfelt ‘spiritual minimalist’ composition in a uniquely immersive format.
The ensemble are arrayed throughout the space, with the audience invited to move amongst them as they play, bringing the virtuosity of Paraorchestra and the emotional charge of Górecki’s masterpiece breathtakingly close.
With strong themes of motherhood and loss, each of the three movements features a Polish lament that takes audiences on an uplifting journey through grief and solace.
Composed in 1976, Sorrowful Songs was popularised by soprano Dawn Upshaw and conductor David Zinman with the London Sinfonietta in 1991.
Climbing to the top of the classical music charts, it received an unprecedented term on the mainstream UK album chart and has remained a much-cherished contemporary classical work across generations ever since.
Performers
Paraorchestra
Charles Hazlewood conductor
Victoria Oruwari soprano
Repertoire
Górecki: Symphony No.3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs), Op.36
Need to know
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
29 Sep 2024
Run time
1 hour (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £15.00*
* Excludes £3.50 booking fee.
Book as early as you can to ensure the best choice of tickets. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
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For your visit
This event is held at the The Clore Ballroom Southbank Centre
The Clore Ballroom 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 Clore Ballroom is located inside our Royal Festival Hall on Level 2.
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Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
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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
Next to The Clore Ballroom is our Ballroom Cafe where you can grab a coffee and a piece of freshly made cake. Also 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.
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.
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