Page 346 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

344  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Opera, Classical and Contemporary Music

Opera has had a somewhat elitist reputation in Britain.
However, televised concerts and free outdoor events in London Music Festivals
Hyde Park and the Covent Garden Piazza have greatly The BBC-run Promenade
increased its popularity. London is home to five world-class concerts are mostly held at the
Royal Albert Hall (see p345)
orchestras and a veritable host of smaller music companies between July and September.
and contemporary music ensembles; it also houses three More than 70 concerts feature
permanent opera companies and numerous smaller opera soloists, orchestras and con-
groups and leads the world with its period orchestras. It is a ductors from around the world,
performing a wide repertoire,
major centre for the classical recording industry, which helps from much-loved classics to
to support a large community of musicians and singers. newly commis sioned pieces.
Mainstream, obscure, traditional and innovative music are all Every concert is broad cast live
to be found in profusion. Following is a list of venues show- both on the radio and online.
Tickets are best bought in
casing opera, classical and contemporary music. Check listings advance, but 500 standing or
(see p338) for events occuring during your visit. “promming” places are sold on
the day, one and a half hours
before the performance. The
Royal Opera House permanent ensemble comple- City of London Festival is held
Floral Street WC2. Map 13 C2. Tel 020 mented by guest appear ances. annually in June and July, when
7304 4000. See p119. ∑ roh.org.uk Productions range from the churches and public buildings
The building, with its elaborate classic to the adventurous. For in the City host a range of varied
red, white and gold interior, is the weekday per formances, there musical events. Venues such
home of the Royal Opera and the are 500 pre bookable seats at £10 as the Tower of London (see
Royal Ballet, but visiting opera and and under. pp158–9) and Goldsmiths’ Hall
ballet compa nies also perform lend a special atmosphere to
here. Many productions are Southbank Centre the events. Many concerts are
shared with foreign opera houses, Southbank Centre SE1. Map 14 D4. free. For more details, contact
the information office (0845
so check that you haven’t already Tel 0844 875 0073. See pp190–91. 401 5040) from May onwards.
seen the same production at ∑ southbankcentre.co.uk
home. Works are always per- The Southbank Centre includes
formed in the original language, the Royal Festival Hall (RFH),
English translations flashed up the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Resident orchestras at the
above the stage. the Purcell Room. There are Southbank Centre include
Seats are usually booked well nightly performances, mostly of the world-class London
in advance, particularly if major classical music, inter spersed with Philharmonic Orchestra and
stars such as Placido Domingo or opera, jazz, ballet and modern the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Anna Netrebko are performing. dance seasons, as well as festivals The Royal Philharmonic and
Tickets range from about £5 to of contemporary and ethnic the BBC Symphony Orchestra
£200 or more for world-class music. The largest concert hall are frequent visitors, along with
performers. The cheapest seats on the South Bank is the Royal leading ensembles and soloists
tend to go first, although a Festival Hall. Built in the 1950s, it such as Angela Gheorghiu,
number of these tickets are is consid ered one of the best Mitsuko Uchida, Stephen
reserved for sale on the day. Some modernist structures in London. Kovacevich and Anne-Sofie
of the cheaper seats have The airy halls outside the audit- von Mutter. World-renowned
extremely restricted views. Stand- orium house exhibitions and conductors who have appeared
ing pass es can often be obtained there are a number of cafés, here include Daniel Barenboim,
right up to the time of a perfor- and a book and music shop. Kurt Masur and Simon Rattle.

mance. Standby info rma tion is The Purcell Room is compara- The Academy of St Martin-in-
available on the day, and there tively small and tends to host the-Fields, the London Festival
are often concessions on tickets. chamber and contemporary Orchestra, the London Classical
music in addition to many debut Players and the London Mozart
London Coliseum recitals. The Queen Elizabeth Hall Players all have regular seasons.
St Martin’s Lane WC2. Map 13 B3. lies somewhere in between. The often controversial Opera
Tel 0871 911 0200 (24 hrs), 020 7845 It stages medium-sized ensembles Factory makes several
9300 (booking). See p123. ∑ eno.org whose audiences, while too appearances throughout
The Coliseum, built in the early large for the Purcell Room, would the year, performing modern
1900s, is home to the English not fill the Festival Hall. The hall interpretations of the classics.
National Opera (ENO). The is undergoing renovation until There are also frequent free
company’s hallmarks are 2017 and performances will be foyer concerts, and throughout
performances in English, high staged at St John’s Smith Square the summer the centre is well
musical standards and a (see p345). worth visiting.

344-345_EW_London.indd 344 21/03/17 2:22 pm