Judith Schrut checks out what’s on tap this year for London’s jazz and classical music fans.
It’s not every day you reach the grand old age of 250 and it’s not everyone who’s Sestercentennial birthday is marked with glorious musical feasting around the globe. But this year the world’s favourite classical composer, Ludwig von Beethoven, is doing just that. And London’s music scene is celebrating Ludwig’s 250th big time.
Few call it beautiful; many call it brutal. Nonetheless the Barbican Centre boasts some brilliant music spaces and is welcoming 2020 with a glorious glut of world-class orchestras, bands, choirs and solo artists, including loads of Beethoven-themed events. My mind is still ringing with magical sounds from its recent Beethoven Weekender, which was completely sold out.
In case you’re unfamiliar, the Barbican is a 35-acre art, culture and residential complex in London’s financial district, built over an area left flattened by World War II bombs. It’s home to the London and BBC Symphony Orchestras, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Museum of London and includes concert halls, cinemas, a theatre and a major art gallery as well as shops, restaurants, several hundred luxury apartments, magical roof gardens, a manmade lake and the best public library in the UK. Every year the Barbican warmly welcomes the cream of international musicians. The LA Philharmonic, Bach Collegium Japan, piano prodigy Yuja Wang, jazz greats Christian McBride and Chick Corea, soprano Joyce DiDonato and harpsichordist extraordinaire Mahan Esfahani are just a handful of those visiting in 2020, as are the mighty Wynton Marsalis and his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for their annual residency, an invigorating series of concerts and the European premiere of Marsalis’ New York City-inspired symphony, the Jungle.
Down by the river, Southbank Centre starts its musical year with gusto, with plenty to stir the heart and warm the soul. This includes 20 concerts by the world’s greatest artists and orchestras in honour of Ludwig’s 250th birthday. I’m particularly excited that the always inspirational Marin Allsop will be conducting Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with an astonishing 350 person choir.
You can also count on Southbank Centre to host dozens of jazz, contemporary, classical and world music concerts, movie screenings with live orchestras, top notch dance and literature events, an international piano series and Shankar100, a fabulous programme honouring the centenary of the late Indian composer, guru and sitar genius, Ravi Shankar, led by his illustrious daughters Anoushka Shankar and Norah Jones. February brings the innovative Imagine Children’s Festival while March sees another inspirational WOW (Women of the World) Festival. This summer’s Meltdown Festival of live music and other gigs is being curated by the irreverent Grace Jones, while in November it’s time for the annual, unmissable EFG London Jazz Festival.
That’s just the tempting tip of this town’s fat musical iceberg. Be sure to check out London’s many other jazz and classical hot spots such as Ronnie Scott’s, the 606 Club, Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Kings Place. Next post in our 2020 Vision miniseries coming soon…
