November on the South Bank

November sees the South Bank Centre's The Rest Is Noise Festival reaching ever closer to the present day. The London Philharmonic Orchestra make a strong presences with performances of Messiane, Gubaildulina, Part and Gorecki. Visitors include the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra as well as the Philip Glass Ensemble and Steve Reich. There is also a chance to see Able Gance's epic film Napoleon with a live score.

Things opens with a bang, with Messiaen's Des canoyons aux etoiles, his orchestral description of a vast space inspired by the Grand Canyon, performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) under Christoph Eschenbach (2/11). The LPO under Tonu Kaljuste are also performing a Sophia Gubaidulina's Offertorium with violinist Sergej Krylov plus music by Arvo Part including the Berliner Messe in the version for choir (6/11). Under Michal Dworzynski the LPO perform Penderecki's Violin Concerto and Gorecki's Symphony No. 3. (27/11)

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic makes a welcome visit to the Royal Festival Hall under their conductor Vasily Petrenko in a programme which includes Berio's Ritrirata notturna di Madrid, Britten's Suite from Death in Venice (arranged by Steuart Bedford) and Shostakovich's enigmatic final symphony. (3/11). Another welcome visitor is the Philip Glass Ensemble who perform glass's four hour Music in Twelve Parts (9/11). Then Steve Reich joines the Colin Currie Group for an evening of Reich's music (10/11). the final visitor is the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra who, under Ilan Volkov perform a programme of Takemitsu and Ligeti (26/11).

As part of the film music strand to The Rest Is Noise the LPO under Dirk Brosse will perform a selection of contemporary film music including works by Hans Zimmer and John Williams. Then the Philharmonia Orchestra, under Carl Davies perform Davis's epic score for a live screening of the 1927 film Napoleon. Abel Gance's film is epic and the performance starts at 1.30pm and finished at 9.30pm including 3 intervals. You have been warned. (30/11).

Elsewhere on this blog:

• Vibrant and involving - Ashley Riches and Elizabeth Watts - London Song Festival
• Birth of the Symphony - Academy of Ancient Music - CD review
• Birthday celebration - Howard Blake & Benedict Kloeckner
• Special Occasion - Britten Canticles, Mark Padmore and Julius Darke - CD review
• Hot of the page - Rough for Opera with Kate Whitley and Amir Mahyar Tafreshipour
• Poise and subtle charm - Faure Melodies, Ailish Tynan and Iain Burnside - CD review
• Cool Passion - BREMF opening event
• Listening with new ears - Exaudi: Exposure 13
• Dramatic conviction - Donizetti: Belisario - CD review
• Vividly visceral - Greek - Music Theatre Wales
• Home