Journeys of Discovery

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Vasily Petrenko present Journeys of Discovery

What does it mean to be human? What is our place in the world? What are we dreaming of? These are fundamental questions that humans have pondered for centuries and composers have attempted to answer through music and which the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra explores in this enthralling series.

From Berlioz’s wild and unpredictable Symphonie fantastique, through masterpieces such as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Elgar’s Cello Concerto, a kaleidoscope of sounds greets you at the Southbank Centre.

WED 22 MARCH AT 7:30PM | Journeys of Discovery: Freedom
Beethoven Fidelio: Overture
Mahler Des Knaben Wunderhorn (excerpts)
Beethoven arr. Mahler Symphony No.9, 'Choral’

Beethoven’s iconic Ninth Symphony is given a daring revision by Mahler, with a foreword from both composers inspired by folk songs and tales of derring-do.

SUN 23 APRIL AT 7:30PM | Journeys of Discovery: Destiny
Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Elgar Cello Concerto
Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony

Dukas and Tchaikovsky spirit us away into worlds of sorcerers and ghosts, while Elgar’s bittersweet concerto grounds us in the fragility of life.

WED 10 MAY AT 7:30PM | Journeys of Discovery: Psychedelia
Jennifer Higdon blue cathedral
Prokofiev Violin Concerto No.2
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

Music to transport you into a fantastical world of dreams and nightmares with Higdon’s deeply moving aural experiencer, Prokofiev’s deeply romantic melodies and Berlioz’s hallucinatory, Symphonie Fantastique.

WED 7 JUNE AT 7:30PM |  Journeys of Discovery: Conflict
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1
Shostakovich Symphony No.8

Tchaikovsky’s effusive concerto is paired with a symphony that pulls no punches.