London. Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony
Orchestra (LSO) perform live in Trafalgar Square on Saturday June 10,
2023 at 5.00pm. This free summer concert highlights the continued
partnership between BMW Group and the London Symphony Orchestra, which
for the last twelve years has brought superlative live orchestral
music to audiences in one of the world’s most iconic public spaces,
Trafalgar Square, and to thousands more around the globe watching on YouTube.
The 2023 BMW CLASSICS concert programme opens with Igor
Stravinsky’s four minute ‘short orchestral fantasy’
Fireworks, followed by the first movement of John
Adams’ energetic and explosive masterpiece for large-scale
orchestra, Harmonielehre. For the central section of the concert, the
LSO play the world premiere of Eloise Gynn’s new
work, Light Dancing, specially commissioned for this occasion. This
dance inspired piece written for a mixed-ability orchestra brings
together LSO musicians with 55 young musicians from east London as
part of the LSO On Track partnership, and 18 students from the
Guildhall School of Music & Drama. For the final half of the
concert, Sir Simon and the LSO will perform two popular French
Impressionist masterpieces, Claude Debussy’s La Mer
and Maurice Ravel’s Boléro. Last year the crowd was
thrilled by the ‘Main Title’ from Star Wars as a surprise addition to
the programme, so perhaps there will be something as equally memorable
in 2023!
Commenting today, Sir Simon Rattle, Music
Director of LSO said: “These BMW CLASSICS concerts are a
highlight of my summer; nothing quite beats performing to a crowd of
appreciative music fans on a sunny evening in London with the
Orchestra joined by young musicians from the LSO On Track partnership.
This year I am particularly looking forward to bringing the opening
part of John Adams’ epic Harmonielehre to a broader audience, for me
this is one of the great big scale 20th century orchestral
masterpieces, which never fails to gain new fans with every outing.
The audience will be blown away. On behalf of the LSO and our
audiences in Trafalgar Square and online, a big thank you to BMW and
the Mayor of London for making this possible.”
Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG,
People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director: “Thanks
to our 12-year partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra, this
summer Trafalgar Square will turn into London’s biggest concert hall.
BMW’s commitment to great music is an integral part of our global
cultural engagement, which has been inspiring people around the world
for more than half a century. I am very much looking forward to seeing
Sir Simon Rattle, the LSO and young musicians on stage in one of the
world’s most famous public spaces.”
“This summer Trafalgar Square will once again be transformed into the
capital’s biggest open-air classical concert venue allowing Londoners
and visitors to enjoy an inspiring performance by Sir Simon Rattle and
the London Symphony Orchestra. I’m delighted these outstanding young
East London musicians will join the world-renowned orchestra for the
performance, showcasing the next generation of musical talent and
firmly reiterating our position as a global city of music as we build
a better and more vibrant London for everyone”, said the Mayor
of London, Sadiq Khan.
Composer, Eloise Gynn: “It is a huge privilege to
have my new piece Light Dancing played by the LSO and this great group
of young London musicians. I look forward to spending time with them
over the forthcoming months as we bring the piece to life. The
prospect of it being part of the BMW Classic concert in Trafalgar
Square is beyond thrilling.”
BMW CLASSICS
London Symphony Orchestra
Saturday June 10, 2023
at 5.00pm
Trafalgar Square, London
For audiences around the world, the concert will be live streamed and
available to watch on demand for up to 90 days on the London Symphony
Orchestra’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/lso
For further information please refer to the website www.lso.co.uk/bmwclassics.
For press material, please visit https://lso.co.uk/more/press.html.
