Turning tips into memories
Get started Login
  • Home
  • Going Out
    • Things to do
    • Food & Drink
    • Theatre
    • Visual Arts
    • Cinema
    • Kids
    • Festival
    • Gigs
    • Dance
    • Classical Music
    • Opera
    • Immersive
    • Talks
  • Staying In
    • TV
    • Books
    • Cook
    • Podcast
    • Design
    • Netflix
  • Life & Style
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Gifting
    • Wellbeing
    • Lifestyle
    • Shopping
    • Jewellery
  • Explore
  • About us
  • Tickets
  • Membership
  • Get Started
  • Membership
  • Tickets
Get the Best of London Life, Culture and Style
Things to do

The best classical music in London: autumn 2017

By Helena Kealey on 5/9/2017

From Beethoven's revolutionary Eroica to Mendelssohn's sweetly lyrical melodic Violin Concerto: these are the must-see concerts coming to London this autumn

Sir Simon Rattle is leaving Berlin to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

This is Rattle, Barbican Centre

It starts with a Fanfare by Helen Grime, and Elgar's Enigma Variations, and ends with the musical equivalent of a fireworks display – three spectacular pieces by Stravinsky, and in between comes music familiar and unfamiliar: Sir Simon Rattle's new life as music director of the London Symphony Orchestra will, in short, be as varied as his plans for those musicians, their audience, and anyone else in London who will listen.

Read more ...
WHEN
14 Sep 2017 – 24 Sep 2017, times vary
WHERE
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
La Bohème opens the new season at Covent Garden. Graphic: AKA2

Puccini's La Bohème, Royal Opera House

At the Royal Opera House, the massive 2017/18 season opens with a new production of La Bohème by Richard Jones, one of a handful of directors working today whose new insights are never to be missed, even if he himself occasionally misses the point.

Read more ...
WHEN
11 Sep 2017 – 10 Oct 2017, 11 performances, with two Saturday matinees at 2PM
WHERE
Royal Opera House
Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD
Nadja Michael as Salome Royal Opera House, London, 2008 ROH © Robbie Jack - Corbis. Corbis Entertainmen. Getty Images

Opera: Passion, Power and Politics at the V&A

In an international first this autumn, the Victoria and Albert Museum is collaborating with the Royal Opera House to bring London the world’s only grand-scale exhibition of opera. Spanning genre and medium, period and place, Opera: Passion, Power and Politics looks set to be a grandiose celebration of a 400-year-old art form.

Read more ...
WHEN
30 Sep 2017 – 25 Feb 2018, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
WHERE
V&A
South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva founded and perform at the London Piano Festival. Photo: Sam Canetty-Clarke

London Piano Festival 2017, Kings Place

Is there anyone who doesn't wish they could play the piano – or play it better? This enviable talent will be demonstrated by some of the finest performers at the keyboard during the second London Piano Festival at Kings Place. Chopin, Liszt, Brahms... the list is dazzling.

Read more ...
WHEN
05 Oct 2017 – 08 Oct 2017, eight events, times vary
WHERE
Kings Place
90 York Way, London, N1 9AG
Veronika Eberle plays the meltingly lovely Mendelssohn Violin Concerto at the Barbican

Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, Barbican Hall

Brimming with sweetly lyrical melody and flashes of virtuosic magic, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto from 1844 has become one of the most popular in the repertoire. There’s an opportunity to find out why when the very lyrical German violinist Veronika Eberle plays it with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican.

Read more ...
WHEN
15 Oct 2017 – 19 Oct 2017, two performances
WHERE
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
Andrés Orozco-Estrada is principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Photograph: Werner Kmetitsch

Leningrad Symphony, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall

When his own city of St Petersburg, with its long artistic lineage, was besieged by the Nazis in 1942, Dmitri Shostakovich responded in music with his Symphony No 7 – it was relayed across the city by loudspeaker in defiance of the occupying troops. This October it will be played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under principal guest conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

Read more ...
WHEN
On 27 Oct 2017, 7:30 PM – 9:45 PM
WHERE
Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
The Royal Festival Hall hosts a concert to remember brilliant cellist Jacqueline du Pré. Photo: Morley von Sternberg

Daniel Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall

The gifted British cellist Jacqueline du Pré lives on in her landmark recording of the Elgar Cello Concerto and in the memories of older concert-goers. And although it is 30 years since her death, her name alone galvanises music-lovers, who have a special chance to remember her at a gala concert.

Read more ...
WHEN
On 29 Oct 2017, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
WHERE
Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Patricia Kopatchinskaja is the soloist in the elusive Schumann Violin Concerto. Photo: Julia Wesely

Beethoven's Eroica, Royal Festival Hall

Revolutionary zeal was coursing through Beethoven when he wrote his Third Symphony in 1804, which he proudly dedicated to Napoleon. But before a note could be played he heard his hero had declared himself Emperor, and flying into a rage, the composer tore the title page off the symphony’s manuscript. Opinion is divided on whether practical and financial considerations simply outweighed idealism in Beethoven’s change of heart, but whatever the reason, the music remains truly revolutionary.

Read more ...
WHEN
On 08 Nov 2017, 7:30 PM – 9:45 PM
WHERE
Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
Share:

Back to School

Autumn 2017

We Love

Hot Ticket

Things to do
You may also like:
  • Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva founded and perform at the London Piano Festival. Photo: Sam Canetty-Clarke

    London Piano Festival 2017, Kings Place
  • Where to go on a date in London: The reflection room at the V&A glows with promise

    Where to go on a date in London: Autumn 2017 edition
  • Emanuel Ax. Photo: © Lisa Marie Mazzucco

    Prom 74: Vienna Philharmonic, Royal Albert Hall
  • Prom 68, Mariinsky Orchestra, Royal Albert Hall

    Prom 68, Mariinsky Orchestra, Royal Albert Hall
  • Sir Simon Rattle is leaving Berlin to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra. Photograph: Tristram Kenton

    This is Rattle, Barbican Centre
  • The Royal Festival Hall hosts a concert to remember brilliant cellist Jacqueline du Pré. Photo: Morley von Sternberg

    Daniel Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall
Your update on what’s on in London from theatre to visual arts, from fashion to pop-ups and more…
minimum six characters
 
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Your update on what’s on in London from theatre to visual arts, from fashion to pop-ups and more…
You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Stay tuned! (And check your email).
  • The Culture Whisper team
  • What is Culture Whisper membership
  • Corporate membership
  • Give a gift membership
  • Retrieve a gift membership
  • Contact us
  • Press
  • FAQ
  • Privacy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Cookies
  • Discover
  • Venues
  • Restaurants
  • Stations
  • Boroughs
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

You have reached the limit of free articles.

To enjoy unlimited access to Culture Whisper sign up for FREE.
Find out more about Culture Whisper


Sign up by Email or Facebook.

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy

Each week, we sent newsletters and communication featuring articles, our latest tickets invitations, and exclusive offers.

Occasional information about discounts, special offers and promotions.

 OR
LOG IN
OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

Thanks for signing up to Culture Whisper.
Please check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link to verify your account.



EXPLORE CULTURE WHISPER
✕ ✕
Turning tips into memories
Login
Signup

Please fix the following input errors:

  • dummy
Forgot your username or password?
Don't have an account? Sign Up
OR
  • LOG IN WITH FACEBOOK

If you click «Log in with Facebook» and are not a Culture Whisper user, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and to our Privacy Policy, which includes our Cookie Use

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY
TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY CULTURE WHISPER

You’ve clicked to view the best of our content that we
save exclusively for our members.

If you liked what you saw, subscribe from just £15 and get
unlimited access to our unique culture service as well as
all of our membership benefits.

BECOME A MEMBER ×

Want a pair of free tickets every month?
Upgrade to Gold Whisper now
and save 10% with GOLD10.
Become a premium member today.

UPGRADE NOW ×