Bask in the Romantic flavours of Borodin’s folk-inspired Second Symphony, Stravinsky’s sublime neo-Classical homage to Tchaikovsky, and dazzling, deeply-felt Chopin. Programme Igor Stravinsky: Divertimento from ‘The Fairy’s Kiss’ (rev 1949) Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No 2 Alexander Borodin: Symphony No 2 Performers London Symphony Orchestra Gianandrea Noseda: conductor Seong-Jin Cho: piano Inspired by a number … [Read More]
Venue: Barbican Centre
Silk Street | London EC2Y 8DS | [Map]
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Shostakovich & Stravinsky at the Barbican, with Clara-Jumi Kang
Stravinsky and Gubaidulina breathe vivid, visceral life into Russian fairy tales, plus Shostakovich’s most beautiful and riveting concerto. In her 1971 Märchen – Poem, Sofia Gubaidulina uses music of transcendent beauty to conjure a stick of chalk that dreams of life outside the classroom drawing beautiful landscapes. Stravinsky’s 1910 ballet paints an equally fantastical world … [Read More]
Prokofiev & Beethoven at the Barbican, with Seong-Jin Cho
Beethoven’s defiant Symphony No 5 meets the sneering mockery of Shostakovich and Prokofiev in exhilarating mood. In 1945, Soviet authorities expected Shostakovich to use his Ninth Symphony to celebrate Soviet military might. What they got was a subversive, mischievous work that thumbed its nose at Stalin. Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No 2 is one of the … [Read More]
K-music 2025: Seong-Jin Cho – Artist Portrait. Part of LSO Futures
World premiere of a new piano concerto by Dong-hoon Shin, written for Seong-Jin Cho Following his sold-out Barbican recital in 2023, piano superstar Seong-Jin Cho returns to the Barbican for the world premiere of a piano concerto commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) from Dong-hoon Shin—one of Korea’s most prominent contemporary composers—written especially for … [Read More]
K-music 2025: JAMBINAI with London Contemporary Orchestra
Orchestral grandeur collides with post-rock fury. Post-Rock band JAMBINAI make their Barbican debut in a rare and electrifying performance with the London Contemporary Orchestra (LCO) led by Robert Ames—a conductor renowned for his work in contemporary classical music and for collaborations with artists such as Radiohead, Frank Ocean, and Steve Reich. JAMBINAI sound less like … [Read More]
Barbican 25/26 classical season to include Seong-Jin Cho artist portrait, plus Yeol Eum Son and Clara-Jumi Kang
For those keen to lock down their diary commitments well in advance, the Barbican has just announced its September 2025 – July 2026 classical music season. For Seong-jin Cho fans, you have four opportunities to see him – including two performances of Chopin’s 2nd piano concerto – in what is billed as an Artist Portrait. … [Read More]
Sunwook Kim plays Beethoven at the Barbican
Pianist Sunwook Kim multi-tasks with the high octane Chamber Orchestra of Europe in a concert featuring Beethoven’s Piano Concertos 3 and 4. C minor turbulence doesn’t just colour Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3. It also informs his Pathétique Sonata – the inspiration behind Anna Clyne’s Stride which shadows it with breezy tongue-in-cheek aplomb before Beethoven … [Read More]
Seong-Jin Cho: A Ravel-athon, at the Barbican
A sold-out hall greeted Seong-Jin Cho’s Barbican debut in 2023. His much-anticipated return navigates a scintillating all-Ravel programme, saluting the composer in his 150th anniversary year. Bookended by the early serenade and the last piano suite, which honours his inheritance, Ravel’s piano music is laid before us, from the wistful Pavane that made his name, … [Read More]
K-music 2024: National Changgeuk Company — Lear
Discover this visionary restaging of one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies into a spellbinding traditional opera from some of South Korea’s leading creatives, performers and musicians. This major new production, critically acclaimed at its premiere in 2022, retells a familiar story in the form of Changgeuk. This culturally significant and artistically rich theatrical form in Korea, blends … [Read More]
Unsuk Chin and Donghoon Shin Barbican performances
Unsuk Chin has music featured in two of the London Symphony Orchestra’s Spring season concerts; and in the second of those concerts we will be treated to a UK premiere of Donghoon Shin’s Cello Concerto: Thursday 14 March, 7pm: Beethoven and Unsuk Chin Prepare for the unexpected in Beethoven’s most surprising symphony, and Unsuk Chin’s … [Read More]
Jung Jae-il’s K-music opening concert leaves London wanting more
Ten years ago, the very first K-music festival concert, given by Won Il and the National Orchestra of Korea, was on the main stage at the Barbican. So for the first concert of the 10th anniversary K-music Festival it was the appropriate venue for Jung Jae-il to make his London debut. The Barbican is also … [Read More]
K-music 2023: Jung Jae-il + London Symphony Orchestra: Music from Parasite & Squid Game
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the K-Music Festival, Jung Jae-il’s award-winning score will be presented live in concert at the Barbican Centre Hall on Sunday 1 October featuring the London Symphony Orchestra to open the festival. Renowned for his versatility, the award winning singer-songwriter, composer, producer and music director Jung Jae-il is responsible for some of … [Read More]
Eun-Me Ahn Company: Dragons, in London and Salford
Avantgarde South Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn’s joyful riot of dance, music and non-stop movement brings together modern and traditional dance styles from across Asia. Whilst dragons are feared in the West, in Asia, they represent lightness, joy and optimism. Pioneering choreographer Eun-Me Ahn’s latest extravagant production sees her extraordinary company of dancers interacting on stage … [Read More]
Sunwook Kim plays Brahms 1 at the Barbican
LSO Conductor Laureate Michael Tilson Thomas joins Korean piano superstar Sunwook Kim in Brahms’ explosive First Piano Concerto. Portrait of the artist as a young man: tormented by an impossible passion, Johannes Brahms poured all his emotions into a piano concerto of massive scale and volcanic power. It’s music that burns its way into your … [Read More]
Return to Seoul preview + director screentalk
In this emotionally charged and vibrant film from Davy Chou, a young French woman returns to Korea for the first time since her adoption. A surprising and deliciously sleek movie, Return To Seoul follows Freddie (Park Ji-min), who, on-a-whim, travels to Korea, where she’s persuaded into seeking out her biological family. This is only the … [Read More]
Seong-Jin Cho plays the Barbican
Piano sensation Seong-Jin Cho brings his musical refinement to a solo programme of Baroque dance music and the Romantic composers inspired by it. Baroque music is closely intertwined with dance and Seong-Jin brings together works inspired by its energy and rhythmic drive. Handel supposedly describes the beats of a foundry in his Suite; years later, … [Read More]