Page 347 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

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Barbican Concert Hall Outdoor Music St John’s Smith Square
Silk Street EC2. Map 7 A5. Tel 020 7638 Smith Sq SW1. Map 21 B1. Tel 020
8891. See p172. ∑ barbican.org.uk London has many outdoor 7222 1061. See p85. ∑ sjss.org.uk
The Barbican is the home of the musical events in summer. This converted Baroque church
London Symphony Orchestra Many royal parks, palaces, has good acoustics and seating.
(LSO). Classical concerts are stately homes, National It hosts concerts by groups such
performed by the resident LSO Trust properties and council as the Academy of Ancient Music,
and the BBC Symphony Orches- parks host a range of music the London Mozart Players, the
tra, as well as many other visiting festivals and performances Monteverdi Choir and Polyphony.
orchestras and ensembles, as throughout summer. Arrive The concert period runs from
early as the concerts are
part of the Barbican’s own popular, particularly if September to mid-July.
interna tional concert seasons. fireworks are to accompany
The concert hall also hosts the music. Take a sweater Broadgate Arena
perfor man ces of contemporary and a picnic. Purists beware – 3 Broadgate EC2. Map 7 C5.
music, includ ing jazz, blues and people walk around, eat ∑ broadgate.co.uk
world music. and talk throughout and This open-air venue in the
the music is amplified so City offers a summer season of
Royal Albert Hall it can be a little distorted. lunchtime concerts, with varied
Kensington Gore SW7. Map 10 F5. These events sell out fast programmes from up-and-
Tel 020 7589 8212. See p209. and it’s best to book tickets coming musicians.
∑ royalalberthall.com in advance.
Each year the Royal Albert Hall Venues include Hyde Park Music Venues
hosts over 300 concerts and (see p213), Marble Hill House Orchestral
events, from ballet to rock and in Twickenham (see p258) Barbican Concert Hall
pop concerts. From mid-July to Kenwood House (see pp239–9), Broadgate Arena
mid-September, it is devoted Crystal Palace Park and Queen Elizabeth Hall
Holland Park (see p222).
to the Henry Wood Promenade Royal Albert Hall
Concerts, the “Proms”. Organized Royal Festival Hall
by the BBC, the season features St Martin-in-the-Fields
performances by orchestras and Wigmore Hall St John’s Smith Square
soloists (see p344). Tickets for the 36 Wigmore St W1. Map 12 E1.
Proms can be bought on the day Tel 020 7935 2141. See p230. Chamber and Ensemble
of perfor mance or booked in ∑ wigmore-hall.org.uk Barbican Concert Hall
advance. Long queues build up Because of its excellent acoustics, Broadgate Arena
early in the day and keen fans – the Wigmore Hall is a favourite Handel & Hendrix in London
Promenaders– take cushions with visiting artists, and attracts LSO St Luke’s
Purcell Room
to sit on. Tickets sell out weeks international names such as Royal Festival Hall foyer
ahead for the “Last Night of the Andreas Scholl and András St Martin-in-the-Fields
Proms”, which has become a Schiff. It hosts a concert most St John’s Smith Square
national institution. evenings, broadcasts live on BBC Wigmore Hall
The hall is also open for tours radio on Monday lunchtimes and
that take you on a journey has a Sunday morning concert Soloists and Recitals
through its extraordinary history. from September to July. Barbican Concert Hall
Handel & Hendrix in London
Handel & Hendrix in London St Martin-in-the-Fields Purcell Room
25 Brook St W1. Map 12 E2. Trafalgar Sq WC2. Map 13 B3. Royal Albert Hall
Tel 020 7495 1685. See p101. Tel 020 7766 1100. See p106. St Martin-in-the-Fields
∑ handelhendrix.org ∑ stmartin-in-the-fields.org St John’s Smith Square
In the restored Georgian house This elegant Gibbs church on Wigmore Hall
where George Frideric Handel the corner of Trafalgar Square Children’s
lived from 1723 until his death hosts over 350 performances Barbican Concert Hall
in 1759, Handel & Hendrix in every year. Orchestras as dispa- Royal Festival Hall
London (formerly the Handel rate as the Belmont Ensemble Free
House Museum) provides an and the London Oriana Choir Barbican Concert Hall
intimate venue for perfor- provide evening concerts. The Royal Festival Hall foyer
mances. Thursday night recitals choice of each programme is Royal National Theatre foyer
of Baroque music using period partly dictated by the religious St Martin-in-the-Fields (lunchtime)
instruments are held in the year; for example, Bach’s St John
panelled rehearsal and perfor- Passion is played at Ascensiontide. Early Music
mance room, where Handel Visitors can enjoy, among other Purcell Room
himself would have entertained events, an evening concert Wigmore Hall
his guests. Concert tickets include held by candelight or a free Contemporary Music
access to the museum. Check lunchtime concert (Mondays, Barbican Concert Hall
the website for more details. Tuesdays and Fridays). Southbank Centre

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