Current Distractions
Fri 10 Jul 2015
Our increasingly irregular arts blog, Current Distractions, is back. This week I’m looking at expressing disapproval, arts and politics in the news, classical CD Sales (or lack of), movers and shakers and lastly, graffiti wars.
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30 years of breaking the rules: 2015-2016 concerts announced
Thu 22 Jan 2015
This morning at Southbank Centre we launched our 2015-2016 season of concerts to the press – a year which marks our 30th Birthday. As you’d expect we have some pretty special events lined up for you…
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Watch Sir Simon Rattle rehearse Haydn’s Creation
Sun 4 May 2014
Get a sneak preview of our forthcoming performances of Haydn’s Creation with this new video from a rehearsal this week.
Hear it live at Dublin’s National Concert Hall, tonight, 4 May details
Hear it live at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Tuesday, 6 May details
Read MoreSimon says….please donate!
Mon 14 Apr 2014
In a few weeks time we will be reunited with Principal Artist Sir Simon Rattle for one of the highlights of our current season – Haydn’s Creation at the Royal Festival Hall, a concert that promises to be another landmark moment in Sir Simon’s relationship with the OAE, which dates back to 1987, the year after the Orchestra was founded.
Read More2013 Staff Highlights
Fri 31 Jan 2014
With the first month of 2014 nearly behind us, we look back at some of our concert highlights from 2013…
Read MorePre-concert talk: Julian Rushton – 29 January 2013
Tue 11 Jun 2013
Professor Julian Rushton takes a detailed look at Mozart’s last three symphonies, in a pre-concert talk given before the concert ‘By Jupiter, that’s the last of Mozart!’ on 29 January 2013 at the Royal Festival Hall, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.
Read MoreNew season brochure 2013-2014
Fri 17 May 2013
The time has come to unveil our new season brochure.This year we went for a purely visual approach, developed with our designers Harrison and Co and photographer Eric Richmond, which has a slight retro feel, using geometric shapes combined with a simple two tone palette.
Read More2013-2014 London concerts: now on sale
Fri 8 Feb 2013
Our 2013-2014 Southbank Centre season is now on public sale.
It all starts off on 30 September when baroque legend William Christie returns to us to conduct a programme of orchestral overtures and arias by Rameau as well as music from England’s favourite adopted composer, George Frideric Handel. This opening concert not only starts our season but also our eight-event series Gamechangers, featuring works and composers that were pivotal in shaping musical history and performers who are gamechangers in the musical scene today.
The season continues through until June 2014 with artists appearing including Semyon Bychkov, Principal Artist Sir Mark Elder, Katia and Marielle Labèque, Robert Levin and Sir Simon Rattle.
Also during the year, our The Works series continues as well as OAE TOTS concerts for music-lovers aged 6 and under. And, new for 2013, we have a Family Concert celebrating Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals. Our late-night popular series, The Night Shift will also continue, with performances being announced later.
Details of all performances are now online on our site, or you can alternatively browse the online concert diary below.
Concerts can be booked through Southbank Centre online or on 0844 847 9922.
Read MoreBy Jupiter, that’s the last of Mozart: reviews and reaction
Tue 5 Feb 2013
We finally finished our European tour with Sir Simon Rattle with a flourish at the Royal Festival Hall last Tuesday.
Here’s what the press had to say, as well as what you thought of the night.
Sir Simon Rattle and the OAE
Mon 28 Jan 2013
Music journalist Andrew Mellor wrote a lovely article a while back about our relationship with Sir Simon Rattle, so we thought it was the perfect time to share it with you, just before we perform with the maestro himself tomorrow night at the Royal Festival Hall…
Read MoreFrench Impressionists with Sir Simon Rattle. Tour video diary – No.3
Wed 19 Sep 2012
Sadly, it’s time for the third and concluding part of our Rattle Tour 2012 video diary.
Here, we feature interviews with Katherine Spencer (Bass Clarinet), Anthony Robson (Oboe) and Claire Holden (Violin) and rehearsal footage of Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Sir Simon Rattle and of course, our lovely Orchestra.
And…some tutus. Enjoy!
(Kindly filmed by our Projects Manager Megan and Graduate Intern Sophie.)
Read MoreFrench Impressionists with Sir Simon Rattle and Pierre-Laurent Aimard – pictures
Fri 24 Aug 2012
Our French Impressionists tour back in June, where we played the music of Debussy, Ravel and Fauré, was a fantastic way to end our season, and culminated in a packed concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Here are a few pictures from the concert.
Read MoreFrench Impressionists with Sir Simon Rattle. Tour video diary – No.2
Thu 23 Aug 2012
For the second instalment of our tour diary we’re in Rotterdam. Or is it Amsterdam?
Whatever – this second part includes an interview with piano specialist and tuner Brian MaCartney, who tells us all about the 1920’s Erard piano that was used in this tour.
Read MoreFrench Impressionists with Sir Simon Rattle. Tour video diary – No.1
Fri 17 Aug 2012
Back in June we were on tour with Principal Artist Sir Simon Rattle, visiting Paris, Rotterdam, Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg with a programme of Fauré, Ravel and Debussy.
Read MoreThe Rattle tour: Chi-chi’s photo diary
Fri 13 Jul 2012
We thought we’d share with you these pictures from our Principal Double Bass, Chi-chi Nwanoku – a kind of photo-diary of our tour with Sir Simon Rattle last month, when we visited Paris, Rotterdam, Brussels, Cologne, Hamburg and of course, London.
Read MoreThe Tea Challenge (aka cake-related post #3567)
Fri 22 Jun 2012
On our recent tour with Sir Simon Rattle, three brave members of the OAE set themselves a tough challenge. They would aim to have tea and cake in every city of the tour. Here’s how Tanya (harp), Jane (flute) and Rebecca (bassoon) got on…
Read MoreRattle Reviewed
Wed 13 Jun 2012
Here’s a round up of reviews from Sunday’s French Impressionists concerts with Sir Simon Rattle and Pierre-Laurent Aimard:
Read MoreFrench Impressionists with Sir Simon Rattle: Audience Reaction
Tue 12 Jun 2012
We caught up with audience members after Sunday’s concert with Sir Simon Rattle and Pierre-Laurent Aimard to ask them what they thought – here’s what they said. More photos and video from the Rattle tour coming soon.
Read MoreLast night’s encores
Mon 11 Jun 2012
So, for those of you who were at the 7pm concert at the Royal Festival Hall last night, here’s what the encores were:
Read MoreOn the road with the OAE, Sir Simon Rattle and the Labèque Sisters
Thu 31 May 2012
As we’re about to hit the road with Sir Simon again we thought it was a good time to post this video from last year’s tour with him, when we visited Luxembourg, Paris, Dublin and of course, London.
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