London Symphony Orchestra announce weekend of free events
The London Symphony Orchestra have revealed a weekend full of free performances as part of an initiative to bring live music to the local community.
LSO Local will take place over the weekend of 26-27 September, with events all over London in a variety of venues - from tube station cafes to the orchestra’s converted warehouse in Tottenham.
Performances will feature a range of small ensembles - in the form of string quartets, percussion and brass ensembles, and solo recitals accompanied by piano.
A number of these events will take place in care homes, hospitals and retirement apartments, but there are plenty open to the public too. Here are a selection of those that you’re able to attend:
LSO Warehouse & Beavertown Brewery, Tottenham
This may just be our ideal through the noise venue. The LSO’s latest performing space is their own storage warehouse in Tottenham, converted to include a stage and socially-distanced seating.
The venue just so happens to neighbour Beavertown Brewery’s taproom. This event - for the first time ever - will see the two industrial units linked, so that you can enjoy a pre-concert drink on the forecourt in an allocated outdoor seating area just for LSO audiences.
The LSO Percussion Ensemble perform three short recitals over the course of Saturday afternoon.
Read about the music here
Sunday afternoon features the LSO Brass Ensemble with a varied programme over three performances.
Check availability here
Jerwood Hall, LSO St Luke's, Old Street
The orchestra’s beautiful grade 1 listed building just off the Old Street roundabout hosts two performances from smaller mixed strings and wind ensembles.
For both events the musicians have picked their favourite chamber pieces, and you will get to know the players as they introduce the music and tell you what the pieces they've chosen mean to them.
A selection of pieces for clarinets and strings will feature in two performances on Saturday afternoon.
Find out more here
On Sunday,
Laura Dixon (violin) and Juliana Koch (oboe) perform solo pieces accompanied by Michael McHale on piano.
Further info can be found here
Overground & Underground stations
The weekend will also feature a couple of unticketed free performances - both of which will take place in North London stations.
The events will have a repeat programme of Sarah Quinn (violin) + Miya Väisänen (violin) + Tom Goodman (double bass) playing music by Corelli, Leclair and Gershwin.
Around Saturday lunchtime the team will play at
The Leafy Bean café bar on platform 1 of Bowes Park station.
More details here
Then on Sunday afternoon they’ll head over to Bedford Rose Garden, a community project next to Alexandra Palace station.
Check timings here
