This is Rattle

This is a chance to step inside Rattle’s vision of classical music. British composers take centre-stage in the opening concert: there are works by four composers of today (who also curate their own evenings of music, presented by the Barbican), including a new fanfare by Helen Grime. Experience it live in the concert hall, or outdoors with a simulcast in the Barbican Sculpture Court.

Film and documentary screenings in the Barbican cinemas promise to deliver unique insights and new perspectives

on Rattle’s career, while BBC Radio 3, who will be in residence, bring us chamber music performed by some of the artists Rattle has championed.

And, true to Rattle’s own belief that music should be for everybody, there will be plenty of opportunities to join in, with a creative ‘Opera in a Day’ workshop at LSO St Luke’s, and performances by musicians of all ages, including the young people of LSO On Track.

Ticket prices and booking information
Full list of ticket prices and information on booking fees

Multi-buy discounts
Book all three LSO season concerts (14 Sep, 17/19 Sep, 21/24 Sep) in this series plus one other from the rest of the 2017/18 season and save 20%. Book three or more This Is Rattle events from the table above and save 10%.

Rattle at Radio 3

14–21 September 2017
Barbican Foyer (Level G)

BBC Radio 3 is proud to be an official media partner of the LSO. From concert hall to radio, find out what goes into making live broadcasts of the LSO and Rattle on BBC Radio 3's Live In Concert strand. Delve into the BBC's Rattle archives, have a go at being a BBC Radio 3 presenter, try making a radio show, and recreate the LSO sound under the expert guidance of BBC engineers.

Mix your own multitrack
Join a BBC Radio 3 Sound Engineer for a one-to-one experience, to have a go at mixing a multitracked orchestral recording. No experience needed! Each session will last approx. 25 minutes.
FREE
> Click here for sessions times and to book your place

Produced by Barbican, BBC Radio 3 and LSO. Part of 'This is Rattle' on BBC Radio 3

Less Than Thirteen

14 September–22 December 2017
Barbican Foyers

Less than Thirteen is a large-scale projected artwork, situated in the heart of the Barbican’s foyers, which interprets the movement of Sir Simon Rattle conducting.

The silent, abstract videos reduce the human form to a series of animated dots based on motion capture of Sir Simon’s conducting of Elgar’s Enigma Variations. The work explores the inherent musicality of movement; investigating how the conductor’s movement, although silent, can conjure up such an aural response from the orchestra.

> More details

Produced by LSO and Barbican
with thanks to Vicon Motion Systems Ltd, the University of Portsmouth, Christie Digital and The Partners

Interlock: Friends Pictured Within

14 September 2017–7 January 2018
Barbican Foyers (Level G)

A new cross arts multimedia commission by artist Jonathan Munro and musician Anna Meredith, plus over 100 participants from East London, exploring Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

Responding in dance, music, art, illustration, poetry and theatre, participants will capture an artistic response to Elgar’s masterpiece, which will then be digitally captured and placed in the installation for the audience to discover and play.

> More details

Produced by Barbican and Guildhall Creative Learning

Exhibition: Rattle

14 September–22 December 2017
Barbican Music Library (Level 2)

To celebrate Sir Simon Rattle's arrival as LSO Music Director in September we have put together a free exhibition of photos and memorabilia covering his musical life to date, with contributions from his family archives, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Barbican and the LSO.

> Opening times and more info

Co-produced by the London Symphony Orchestra and Askonas Holt. Curated by Martin Campbell-White and Edward Smith.