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2013-05-17 09:55:12 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 14 +1s)

Due to popular demand, violinist Sarah Chang and LSO First Violin +Maxine Kwok-Adams have agreed to do another Google+ Hangout on Friday 24 May at 4pm BST (time in your timezone here: http://bit.ly/13ElCTE)

We have seven places for the public to join this Hangout. Chat live to one of the world's greatest violin soloists and one of the LSO's fantastic violinists - and two of the most glamorous musicians there will ever be! Sign up by posting a comment below - first come first served.

Last time we talked about Sarah's high-profile career as a soloist, how she got started in music, how she and Maxine first met and what it takes to be a musician today. Maxine and Sarah are great friends and will be joining the Hangout from the US, where they will be on holiday together. Don't miss this chance to ask them your burning questions about life as a musician.

If youc... more »

2013-05-16 13:46:02 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

The latest LSO Live recording of Szymanowski Symphonies 1 & 2. Pre-order now: http://bit.ly/10tMkye

2013-05-17 09:55:37 (1 comments, 4 reshares, 11 +1s)

A special opportunity to watch a live web chat with the composers of the music for the FINAL FANTASY® video games, Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu, on Wednesday 29 May at 5.30pm BST (check the time in your timezone here http://bit.ly/12A345H)

The day after, the LSO will play the music from FINAL FANTASY® VI, VII and X in new arrangements for orchestra live at the Barbican in London, the first time we'll have performed a live video game concert.

Watch the chat live:
- On our Google Plus page: http://plus.google.com/+londonsymphonyorchestra
- On our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/londonsymphonyorchestra

Mr Uematsu and Mr Hamauzu will answer questions sent in via Google Plus and Facebook - if you have a question for them, please post in the comments box below by Wednesday 22 May. They will also take questions live on the day.

If youca... more »

2013-05-14 12:38:11 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Even the pros make mistakes! In his latest tour blog from Italy Gareth Davies describes the moment in Tchaikovsky 4 when the entire woodwind section forgot to come in. How did they get out of that one?! Find out here: http://bit.ly/YSYKkV

2013-05-13 16:25:16 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Sir Colin Davis and Sally Matthews during the rehearsals for Der Freischutz last April. The recording has received five stars in the Financial Times http://tinyurl.com/d4yte2w

2013-05-13 09:43:03 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Due to popular demand, violinist Sarah Chang and LSO First Violin +Maxine Kwok-Adams have agreed to do another Google+ Hangout on Friday 24 May at 4pm BST (time in your timezone here: http://bit.ly/13ElCTE)

We have seven places for the public to join this Hangout. Chat live to one of the world's greatest violin soloists and one of the LSO's fantastic violinists - and two of the most glamorous musicians there will ever be! Sign up by posting a comment below - first come first served.

Last time we talked about Sarah's high-profile career as a soloist, how she got started in music, how she and Maxine first met and what it takes to be a musician today. Maxine and Sarah are great friends and will be joining the Hangout from the US, where they will be on holiday together. Don't miss this chance to ask them your burning questions about life as a musician.

If youc... more »

2013-05-13 09:18:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

It's a gorgeous day in Italy. Last night we played here at Teatro Gaetano Donizetti in Bergamo. Just about to board the coach for Brescia.

2013-05-17 11:01:49 (18 comments, 10 reshares, 12 +1s)

Due to popular demand, violinist Sarah Chang and LSO First Violin +Maxine Kwok-Adams have agreed to do another Google+ Hangout on Friday 24 May at 4pm BST (time in your timezone here: http://bit.ly/13ElCTE)

We have seven places for the public to join this Hangout. Chat live to one of the world's greatest violin soloists and one of the LSO's fantastic violinists - and two of the most glamorous musicians there will ever be! Sign up by posting a comment below - first come first served.

Last time we talked about Sarah's high-profile career as a soloist, how she got started in music, how she and Maxine first met and what it takes to be a musician today. Maxine and Sarah are great friends and will be joining the Hangout from the US, where they will be on holiday together. Don't miss this chance to ask them your burning questions about life as a musician.

If youc... more »

2013-05-08 14:20:43 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Added photos to BMW LSO Open Air Classics 2013.

2013-05-13 12:35:25 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

A free concert with the London Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor Valery Gergiev in the heart of London.

Artists:
London Symphony Orchestra
Valery Gergiev: conductor
Rachel Leach: presenter
Young musicians from LSO On Track and Guildhall School

Programme:
Berlioz Overture: Le corsaire
Berlioz arr Gareth Glynn Movements from Symphonie fantastique
Berlioz Symphony fantastique

Outstanding music performed in the open air on Bank Holiday Monday – free for everyone in an informal atmosphere. Large screens will be mounted on either side of the stage to allow the audience to witness the concert close up.

Tickets: FREE - just turn up.

Around 10,000 people attended last year's concert, so come early to get a space! Bring a picnic and drinks, but please no glass or furniture.

Find out more on our website:h... more »

2013-05-06 07:43:50 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 14 +1s)

This is what you should do on the next Bank Holiday and the end of May! BMW LSO Open Air Classics: 2013 trailer

2013-05-05 15:43:22 (4 comments, 4 reshares, 26 +1s)

A family concert this afternoon means the players get to dress informally. Coordination of accessories is optional! Check out +Maxine Kwok-Adams's pink outfit. 

2013-05-03 16:54:47 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

Sir Colin Davis' recording of Berlioz: Requiem has been awarded recording of the month on Music Web International. This was his final performance with the LSO. Read the review here: http://tinyurl.com/cqpmcyt

2013-05-03 14:11:29 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

Who wants to see the LSO for free? On Monday 27 May we'll be playing Berlioz live in Trafalgar Square in London. It's Bank Holiday Monday, so we're hoping for a big crowd. Starts at 6.30pm, but come early and get a place - more than 10,000 people turned up last year! This is one of our tube posters advertising it, so the word is out... More details here http://bit.ly/WH3vfj

2013-05-03 12:39:55 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

This really is something to be cherished: footage from the recording of Weber's Der Freischutz in the Barbican, featuring interviews with Sir Colin Davis, Christine Brewer, Simon O'Neill and producer James Mallinson. http://youtu.be/7ZQwJjTVpvk

2013-05-02 10:15:36 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

Happy 60th birthday to our Principal Conductor, Valery Gergiev. He's celebrating by opening his new concert hall in St Petersburg, Mariinsky II. Here's our birthday message to the Maestro:

Since the London Symphony Orchestra first worked with you in 1988 and especially since you became Principal Conductor in 2007, the LSO and our audiences across the globe have deeply appreciated your inspired music-making. The imagination, the energy and the passion that you bring to every concert, coupled with your extraordinary insight into the twentieth century repertoire, makes for unforgettable performances.

There have been so many special musical journeys which began in London and toured internationally — the complete cycle of Prokofiev symphonies, Mahler, Brahms and Szymanowski Symphonies in London, Edinburgh, Paris New York and Tokyo, as well as highly memorable visits to the BBCP... more »

2013-04-30 16:15:12 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Something of interest (hopefully!) to this community of classical music enthusiasts: our Principal Flute Gareth Davies has written a book about the life of a touring orchestra, with an added twist - exploring the US tour the LSO undertook 100 years ago in 1912 through the diary written by the timpanist Charles Turner.

Gareth's been writing a tour blog for the LSO since 2007, and everyone said he should write a book... so he did!

We have a limited run of 500 books to sell at the bargain price of £10 (+P&P) which will all be signed by Gareth, and posted out before the official release date of 30 May. A Kindle edition will also be released on 30 May.

If you'd like to buy a book, please visit this page on the LSO website http://bit.ly/ZPHFI3. Thanks everyone!

2013-04-30 12:59:48 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 7 +1s)

Thrilled to let you know that we have just put on sale our Principal Flute Gareth Davies' first book!

Called "The Show Must Go On: On tour with the LSO in 1912 and 2012", it combines Gareth's adventures on tour with the modern LSO with the story of the Orchestra's first American tour in 1912, revealed through a diary written by the timpanist. If you've followed Gareth's LSO On Tour blog then you'll love this. Everyone said he should write a book... so he did!

We have a limited run of 500 copies to sell at the bargain price of £10 (+P&P) which will all be signed by Gareth, and more importantly, will be posted to you before the official release date of 30 May. Buy it on our website here: http://bit.ly/ZPHFI3

2013-04-29 16:37:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Two new LSO Live releases out today: Weber's Der Freischütz (Sir Colin Davis' final opera recording) and a disc of new works called 'The Panufnik Legacies'. More info & purchasing at www.lso.co.uk/lso-live

2013-04-29 09:05:06 (9 comments, 2 reshares, 26 +1s)

We love playing in Cologne - their hospitality is is second to none! This is what greets us backstage after every concert. Prost!

2013-04-28 17:51:11 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

In Cologne tonight to perform Oedipus Rex. We have a star narrator with us, the French actress Fanny Ardent, whose warm purring delivery of Jean Cocteau's words is just fabulous. Here she is in rehearsal earlier. 

2013-04-26 12:29:12 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

Our violinist +Maxine Kwok-Adams recreates her poster picture.

2013-04-26 08:48:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

And what a performance it was last night! London came out in force. Luckily it was all captured by BBC Radio 3 and will be available online for everyone to hear until next Thursday - yes, even those of you outside the UK. Here you go, fill your boots: http://bbc.in/10fdPqO

2013-04-25 13:21:40 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 8 +1s)

Back in London until the weekend. Tonight we'll be giving another performance of Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex at the Barbican. In his latest tour blog, written yesterday in Paris, Gareth Davies describes how with a little bit of stage makeup and some atmospheric lighting, the concerts have taken on a whole new level of thrill and electricity: http://bit.ly/10d0UW7

2013-04-24 11:21:20 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Sir Colin Davis’ final opera recording of Weber’s eerily fantastical opera, Der Freischutz, is now available to purchase on LSO Live. The recording features a stellar line-up of soloists, including Christine Brewer, Sally Matthews and Simon O’Neill. The LSO is also joined by the London Symphony Chorus. http://bit.ly/12fW26K 

2013-04-22 10:46:41 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

On the Eurostar on our way to Brussels. BOZAR tonight, Salle Pleyel in Paris tomorrow, then London on Thursday and Cologne on Sunday. All to celebrate Sir John Eliot Gardiner's 70th birthday with performances of Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex. Or as the tenor playing Oedipus this week put it, Oedipus Rox. It really does!

2013-04-21 08:03:48 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Good luck and thank you to Mike Morfey, running the London Marathon today to raise money for the LSO: http://bit.ly/X8gVQF

2013-04-18 14:30:57 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 10 +1s)

The 2013 BBC Proms has been announced. A great summer of music lies ahead! You can catch us there twice in August: 13th and 20th, with Valery Gergiev, Daniil Trifonov and Ian Bostridge. http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2013/people/london-symphony-orchestra

2013-04-17 11:49:13 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 8 +1s)

Sir Colin Davis' final opera recording. Pre-order on iTunes: http://bit.ly/10fsmtF

2013-04-17 09:08:22 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

Sir Colin Davis, esteemed conductor and President of the +London Symphony Orchestra has sadly died at the age of 85. As tributes pour in for him, we've picked out some highlights from his 156 appearances at the Hall:

2013-04-14 20:44:40 (5 comments, 13 reshares, 22 +1s)

It is with deep sadness that the LSO announces the death of its esteemed President, Sir Colin Davis. 

Please read the statement on our website, and if you would like to, send a message of condolence via the form: http://bit.ly/ZuPZXY

2013-04-14 10:10:44 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

In a week's time our super supporter Mike Morfey will be running the London Marathon to raise money in order to bring LSO Discovery projects to even more people. Read all about why Mike wants to help on our blog here http://bit.ly/X8gVQF. 

And if you'd like to help you can make a donation via Mike's Just Giving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/MikeMorfey2013

(Photo - Mike running for LSO Discovery in the 2008 London Marathon, wearing his trademark musical suit)

2013-04-13 08:49:50 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 32 +1s)

Got the percussion battery out for today's double header concert. Boulez Notations and Varèse Ionisations providing the opportunity to play VERY LOUDLY. http://bit.ly/Y9jLqc

2013-04-11 17:05:24 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

We are delighted to have been shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award in the Learning and Participation category for our LSO On Track Scheme Olympic Orchestra's participation in the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony. Read more about it here - and cross your fingers on 14 May when the winners are announced: http://bit.ly/YNUv88

2013-04-03 08:55:49 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 12 +1s)

Calling all composers aged 14-18 - we have a special day of workshops and behind the scenes glimpses for you on Saturday 13 April as part of our Futures Week. Spaces are limited so sign up quickly! http://lso.co.uk/lso-futures-young-composers-day

2013-04-01 08:27:30 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 31 +1s)

It's the last day of the LSO St Luke's 10th birthday festival. On Saturday we started the Not(e) Perfect Orchestra, a day for adults who haven't played their instruments for a while or who don't get a chance to play with others anymore. This photo is of the trumpet section, headed by LSO Trumpet Gerry Ruddock (far right).

2013-03-28 10:48:59 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

LSO St Luke's 10th Birthday cake at last night's party. It was chocolate. #yum.

2013-03-27 09:50:47 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 22 +1s)

On 27 March 2003, 10 years ago today, we opened LSO St Luke's after several years of rebuilding. Today we're celebrating the thriving, buzzing venue and music education hub it has become. Happy 10th birthday LSO St Luke's!

Here's what's on at the 10th Birthday Festival today: http://bit.ly/11KOmMO

2013-03-26 16:31:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Our new tube posters have started going up around the Tube. This one was taken at St Paul's by Florence, a member of our LSO Live admin staff. Anyone seen any others? 

(Poster photography by Igor Emmerich)

2013-03-24 19:49:18 (4 comments, 9 reshares, 48 +1s)

A new perspective on a familiar workplace: the crossing at Abbey Road studios.

2013-03-21 13:24:33 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

The LSO St Luke's 10th Birthday Festival opens today. So proud to see our little venue decked out in its festive garb. We'll add more photos as we the festival goes on. Read all about the events and the building on the 10th Birthday Blog:  http://bit.ly/16Ln2Ou #lsostlukes10

2013-03-18 16:35:18 (3 comments, 5 reshares, 25 +1s)

It's the day after St Patrick's Day, we're in Northern Ireland, and we're playing Star Wars tonight. So the only photo we could post today is...
(from http://www.zastavki.com/eng/Holidays/Saint_Patricks_day/wallpaper-15353.htm)

2013-03-15 13:38:07 (4 comments, 11 reshares, 23 +1s)

Friday Funny: what we will be doing today in Paris.

2013-03-13 10:28:21 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

We're very proud to have one of the most exciting young chamber orchestras around, Aurora Orchestra, as Associate Orchestra at LSO St Luke's. Their concerts are always fresh, innovative, creative and impeccably performed. The latest one on 23 March is part of the LSO St Luke's 10th birthday celebration. Here's a trailer for it. Worth coming along to see them - you'll be hooked! Aurora Orchestra: Insomnia

2013-03-11 16:16:26 (0 comments, 6 reshares, 27 +1s)

Would you like to see the world's largest tuba, and hear Flight of the Bumblebee played on it? We thought so...

2013-03-11 13:04:36 (0 comments, 3 reshares, 28 +1s)

We're on the way home to London from a fantastic tour in South Korea and Japan. Here's some of the photos we've taken along the way.

2013-03-09 10:47:51 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

On 27 March LSO St Luke's, our music education centre on Old Street, turns 10 years old. We're celebrating with a 12 day festival full of things to see and do. Here's a little taster: LSO St Luke's Tenth Birthday Festival trailer 

2013-03-03 22:01:28 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 25 +1s)

After today's concert in Osaka, Japan, we wished Bernard Haitink a happy birthday and happy wedding anniversary. Congratulations Maestro.

2013-03-01 10:43:01 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Bass clarinet Lorenzo Iosco tries on some traditional Korean dress. Proper Gangnam Style!

Read all about our first couple of days on tour in Gareth Davies blog: http://bit.ly/Y3A2qM

2013-02-26 10:34:18 (1 comments, 2 reshares, 13 +1s)

Wheels up to Seoul! We're off on a tour of South Korea and Japan today; first stop at the Seoul Arts Center on Thursday. Any Seoul residents among our circlers?