The Barbican and the Southbank Centre to present Andris Nelsons: The Strauss Project

The Barbican Centre and the Southbank Centre today announced a special partnership to bring conductor Andris Nelsons and his two orchestras from both sides of the Atlantic to London for a series of four concerts in May 2022. Nelsons conducts the orchestral music of Richard Strauss with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig at the Barbican on 9 and 10 May, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra on 12 and 13 May in the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall.

The alliance between the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig was formed under Andris Nelsons’ direction in 2017. Both orchestras have a strong history of performing Strauss’ music and were also conducted by the composer himself. In addition to new commissions and learning programmes, the orchestras have been celebrating their shared mutual heritage as well as the different cities they call home. ‘The universal power of music binds us beyond borders and continents. This is the basis of our alliance’, said Nelsons. ‘Our Strauss project is particularly close to my heart. Looking ahead to these performances has been a great source of motivation and consolation during the difficult times of lockdown. Richard Strauss’ works belong to my very favourites. To be able to go on tour, performing his music with my two beloved orchestras, is a dream come true!’ 

Huw Humphreys, head of music at the Barbican said, ‘as we emerge from the difficult times caused by the pandemic, we are delighted to collaborate with the Southbank Centre, as well as our colleagues from KD SCHMID and Askonas Holt, to realise Andris Nelsons’ bold vision for The Strauss Project. With two of the world’s most iconic orchestras and soloists such as Yuja Wang, Lise Davidsen and Marlis Petersen united under Andris’ baton, this is sure to be a joyous celebration of Strauss’ genius’.

Toks Dada, head of classical music at the Southbank Centre added that, ‘in a post-Brexit, post-pandemic world, collaboration is increasingly important to ensure the arts community continues to achieve its shared ambition to bring great music, and great artists, to as many people as possible. It is in this spirit that we are delighted that the Barbican is joining the Southbank Centre, along with our friends at Askonas Holt and KD SCHMID, to bring this ambitious project to London’.

Tickets for the Barbican concerts will be on sale on their website from 22 October and for the Southbank Centre concerts will be on sale on their website from 9 November.