Midnight Tweet: Sam Lee’s Singing with Nightingales
Judith Schrut heads down to London’s iconic Southbank Centre for some vibrant re-opening events…
Great things are happening down at the Southbank Centre, the UK’s largest art venue, where the Hayward Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room have just re-opened after a major facelift and refurb.
This iconic ‘Brutalist’ venue is saluting its future as well as celebrating a rich and varied 50 year past, which has included landmark early performances by David Bowie, Pink Floyd and T Rex, the premiere of Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, legendary concerts by a young Jacqueline DuPre and acclaimed exhibitions of artists Bridget Riley, Anish Kapoor and Tracey Emin.
The re-opening season hosts a dazzling array of events including 32 world premieres, a bunch of new festivals and adventurous treats for art and music lovers. There’s Carl Davis conducting movie jewels from Hollywood’s silent era with live orchestra, folk star Sam Lee bringing his magical Singing with Nightingales outdoor night concert to the expanded Queen Elizabeth Hall foyer, and an evening delighting in 50 years of James Bond music. You can also enjoy a full on, all-Gershwin afternoon of music, dance and toe-tapping, unique FUNharmonics family concerts, free Friday Tonic shows and new orchestral works by Sir Harrison Birtwhistle and Unsuk Chin. Ms. Chin’s mystical and echoing Le Chant des Enfants des Étoiles (The Song of Children of the Stars), for symphony orchestra, children’s choir and organ, is based on the idea that “all humans are stardust”. Well, why not?
The Hayward Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room are part of the Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1. Find out more at Southbank Centre.co.uk.
