18 December 2018
Newsdesk
Purcell Sessions: Erased Tapes X LCO - a year-long partnership with globally-respected record label Erased Tapes, and one of the UK's most innovative ensembles the London Contemporary Orchestra - kicks off in February. Each collaboration in the series introduces handpicked Erased Tapes artists to Southbank Centre’s most intimate venue, the Purcell Room, on four dates throughout the year. Free, open workshops, allow audiences an inside look into how the artists work together before exclusive evening performances. The series begins with Brooklyn based Pakistani-American composer and drummer Qasim Naqvi (Dawn of Midi) (PUR, 12 Feb).
Highlights of February’s gigs programme include:
• Composer and producer Troy Miller presents Gershwin Reimagined, performed by Philharmonia Orchestra and featuring vocals from double Mercury award-nominated Laura Mvula and Olivier Award-nominated Shaun Escoffery who, as well as releasing five albums, has played Mufasa in the West End musical The Lion King since 2008 - the longest a West End actor has played a single part continuously (RFH, 10 Feb).
• French multi-instrumentalist Yann Tiersen (Amélie) presents his tenth album, ALL in the Royal Festival Hall. The album is the first to be recorded at Tiersen’s new studio, venue and community centre, The Eskal Project, built in an abandoned discotheque on the small island of Ushant in the Celtic Sea. It incorporates field recordings from the redwood forests of California to Tempelhof airport in Berlin, and features special guest vocalists, many of whom will join Tiersen for these exclusive London dates (RFH, 19, 20 Feb).
• Norwegian jazz saxophonist and composer Marius Neset brings his energetic creativity to Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room for this live performance. A virtuoso performer and composer, Neset creates intricate, compelling music that he has toured across Europe (PUR, 5 Feb).
• Free gigs in Southbank Centre's Friday Lunch and Friday Tonics series.
Now On Sale:
• In April, six-time grammy-nominated sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar comes to the Royal Festival Hall to perform SHIRAZ, her newly composed score for the lavish 1920s epic silent film Shiraz: A Romance of India. Daughter and pupil of the legendary Ravi Shankar, Anoushkar will perform the score live, accompanying a screening of the film, which tells the intense and unrivalled love story of the Taj Mahal (RFH, 9 Apr).
• In March, Icelandic post-metal masters Sólstafir perform their transcendent sounds with strings in the Queen Elizabeth Hall following the release of their sixth full-length album, Berdreyminn. Enveloping the audience in a wave of heady compositions from throughout their career, Sólstafir transfix listeners with their blend of metal, beautiful melodies, psychedelic moments and classic rock (QEH, 10 Mar).
FULL LISTINGS BELOW
MARIUS NESET
Tuesday 5 February 2019, 8.30pm, Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room, Ticketed, £18
Norwegian jazz saxophonist and composer Marius Neset brings his energetic creativity to Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room for this live performance. A virtuoso performer and composer, Neset creates intricate, compelling music that he has toured across Europe.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/126574-marius-neset-2019
TROY MILLER’S GERSHWIN REIMAGINED
Sunday 10 February 2019, 7.30pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Ticketed, £35 - £55
Composer and producer Troy Miller presents Gershwin Reimagined, a night of timeless classics such as ‘Embraceable You’, ‘Summertime’ and ‘I Got Rhythm’ performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. The night features the electrifying vocals of double Mercury award-nominated Laura Mvula and Olivier Award-nominated Shaun Escoffery who, as well as releasing five albums, has played Mufasa in the West End musical The Lion King since 2008 - the longest a West End actor has played a single part continuously.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/132414-troy-millers-gershwin-reimagined-2019-0
LOST WORDS, FOLK MUSIC AND SPELL SONGS
Tuesday 12 February 2019, 7.30pm, Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, £15 - £20
Eight leading folk musicians perform new commissions based on the book The Lost Words by author Robert Macfarlane and artist Jackie Morris. This protest at the loss of the natural world around us, and a celebration of its wonders will include performances from singer-songwriter Karine Polwart, Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis, kora player Seckou Keita, Scottish contemporary folk musician and songwriter Kris Drever, British composer Kerry Andrew, singer and harpist Rachel Newton, cellist Beth Porter and multi-instrumentalist Jim Molyneux.
https://southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/126522-lost-words-folk-music-and-spell-songs-2019
PURCELL SESSIONS: ERASED TAPES X LCO - QASIM NAQVI
Tuesday 12 February 2019, 7.45pm, Southbank Centre’s Purcell Room, Ticketed, £15
Qasim Naqvi creates new music in this experimental series, which brings together globally-respected London-based independent record label Erased Tapes, and one of the UK's most innovative ensembles - the London Contemporary Orchestra (LCO). When he’s not on tour as the drummer of Dawn of Midi, Brooklyn-based composer Naqvi creates original music for film, dance, theatre and international chamber ensembles. Each collaboration in the Purcell Sessions: Erased Tapes X LCO series introduces handpicked Erased Tapes artists to Southbank Centre’s most intimate venue, the Purcell Room, on four dates throughout the year. In free, open workshops, audiences get an insight into how the artists work together before exclusive evening performances.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/131937-purcell-sessions-et-x-lco-qasim-naqvi-2019
HANSON STRING THEORY
Friday 15 February 2019, 7.30pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Ticketed, Under 14s should be accompanied by an adult, £35 - £95
Pop-rock trio Hanson present unforgettable favourites and unreleased material in this live performance of their new symphonic album String Theory. Hanson’s most ambitious musical project to date features songs spanning the band’s career, including some of their best-known tunes alongside brand new material telling a story of aspiration, despair, fortitude and ultimately a return to optimism. Created in collaboration with Academy Award-winning arranger David Campbell.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/129818-hanson-string-theory-2019
YANN TIERSEN
Tuesday 19 February - Wednesday 20 Feb 2019, 7.30pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Ticketed, £30 - £40
French multi-instrumentalist Yann Tiersen, who charmed hearts and minds with his soundtrack to 2001 film Amélie, presents his tenth album, ALL in the Royal Festival Hall. The album is the first to be recorded at Tiersen’s new studio, venue and community centre, The Eskal Project, built in an abandoned discotheque on the small island of Ushant in the Celtic Sea. It incorporates field recordings from the redwood forests of California to Tempelhof airport in Berlin, and features special guest vocalists, many of whom will join Tiersen for these exclusive London dates
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/126580-yann-tiersen-2019
FREE GIGS
FRIDAY LUNCH: JAYWALKERS
Friday 8 February 2019, 1pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Central Bar, Level 2, Free
Jaywalkers bring their inventive and virtuosic brand of Americana to Friday Lunch. The acoustic trio have delighted audiences all around Europe for over ten years . The group provides a combination of powerhouse bass, blistering fiddle and mandolin, and three-part harmonies with a fuller sound than is expected from just three acoustic musicians. Their live set sees country heartbreak and bluegrass dynamism applied to issues of the modern day – and to life as a touring band.
https://southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/130782-friday-lunch-jaywalkers-2019
FRIDAY LUNCH: TAMAS TESZARY QUARTET
Friday 1 February 2019, 1pm, Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, Central Bar, Level 2, Free
Vibraphonist Tamas Teszary presents his nouveau-bop quartet, bringing you classic jazz and bebop sounds with a modern edge. With Imre Varga on piano, Wun Yen Chan on bass and Cyro Zuzi on drums, the Tamas Teszary Quartet play original compositions from debut album Bopcore, alongside reimaginings of classic tracks.
https://southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/130780-friday-lunch-tamas-teszary-quartet-2019
