Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring
Under the baton of Vasily Petrenko, the orchestra performs music that has never lost its power to thrill – including Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto with Paul Lewis.
Twice within a century, Europe was shattered by war and revolution. And each time, composers channelled the spirit of the age into music that shocked some and gripped others.
Stravinsky’s taboo-smashing ballet provides the final blast tonight, as Vasily Petrenko conducts this explosive opening concert of the RPO’s new season.
But first he explores the rich, strange and sometimes violent new sounds that Alban Berg created in the Vienna of Klimt and Freud, and joins the superb British pianist Paul Lewis in a piano concerto composed in a city under siege.
Some heard the Emperor Concerto as a tribute to Napoleon – but Beethoven felt differently, saying: ‘If I understood war as well as I understand music, I would conquer him.’
Performers
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko conductor
Paul Lewis piano
Repertoire
Berg: 3 Pieces for orchestra, Op.6
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 (Emperor)
Interval
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
Need to know
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
26 Jan 2025, 3pm
Run time
2 hours and 10 minutes (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.
Multi-buy discount
Classical Music: Autumn/Winter 2024/25
As part of our classical music multi-buy offer, book multiple Autumn/Winter 2024/25 concerts in the same transaction to receive a discount:
3 – 4 events: 10% discount
5 – 7 events: 15% discount
8 – 10 events: 20% discount
11 – 14 events: 25% discount
15+ events: 30% discount
Discounts apply to selected events, September 2024 – January 2025 inclusive. Offer can’t be combined with the Spring/Summer 2024 multi-buy.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.