Southbank Centre announces Spring/Summer 2024 programme

The Southbank Centre has today announced details of its classical music programme for Spring/Summer 2024. The upcoming season promises performances of established works alongside rarely heard repertoire and a celebration of the Royal Festival Hall Organ's 70^th anniversary.

Kicking off on 1 February with the Philharmonia Orchestra’s performance of Mahler and Berlioz with principal conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali and soprano and Philharmonia featured artist Julia Bullock, the upcoming season will present performances of large-scale works including Götterdämmerung with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, a three-part Mendelssohn cycle by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the Philharmonia Orchestra’s performance of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius.

Southbank Centre head of classical music Toks Dada said: ‘With this programme, we are bringing a fresh perspective to the incredible story of classical music by working with artists who are presenting major works in original ways and shining a spotlight on under-performed repertoire… With our incredible resident orchestras and resident artists, as well as our visiting orchestras, ensembles and musicians, we’re ensuring classical music remains one of the most celebrated and exciting artforms in the world.’

As well as concert theatre productions from resident artist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and international guests Norwegian Chamber Orchestra with artistic director Pekka Kuusisto, the upcoming season also features projects focusing on rarely heard repertoire. These are centred around themes including radical 20th century composers, repertoire composed for the left hand and symphonic traditions from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Georgia, Armenia, and Ukraine with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and chief conductor Kirill Karabits (pictured above).

The Royal Festival Hall Organ will celebrate its 70^th birthday with a series featuring new resident artist, organist James McVinnie, alongside composer Tristan Perich and organists Iveta Apkalna and Katelyn Emerson. The Southbank Centre will also host birthday celebrations for independent label nonclassical which celebrates its 20^th birthday in May.

Resident artist performances across the upcoming season will also include Manchester Collective’s collaboration with pianist Fergus McCreadie in a concert which also includes premieres of four works co-commissioned by the Southbank Centre from Katherine Balch, Edmund Finnis, Isabella Summers and Isobel Waller-Bridge responding to visual art by American painter Mark Rothko. Violinist Randall Goosby continues his residency in the Spring/Summer programme alongside resident artists Patricia Kopatchinskaja and pianist Alice Sara Ott, who will give the premiere of a new commission by Bryce Dessner.

Southbank Centre artistic director Mark Ball said: ‘Our Spring/Summer programme underscores our continued commitment to Classical Music, celebrating the genre in all its forms, new and old. From emerging voices to titans of the canon, championing this breadth is how we ensure a rich, vibrant future for the artform at the Southbank Centre, providing audiences with unparalleled experiences, whether that’s from our world-class Resident Orchestras or with ambitious, innovative new formats.’