British Music
Videos, interviews, articles and more exploring British music.
Ever since our first concert in 1904, the LSO has proudly championed the work of British composers. From Sir Edward Elgar to Sir James MacMillan, the Orchestra has premiered some of the most notable works the country has produced over the last century.
British music fell into a long decline after the death of Henry Purcell in 1695, prompting one German critic to label Britain as ‘the land without music’. When a British musical renaissance finally came, at the turn into the 20th century, the LSO was ready to help it blossom. The Orchestra performed Edward Elgar’s famous ‘Enigma’ Variations at its very first concert, on 4 June 1904. The composer became Chief Conductor of the LSO in 1911–12, and in 1919 he conducted the Orchestra in the first performance of his heartfelt Cello Concerto. The association continued for the rest of his life: in January 1934, just a month before his death, Elgar supervised an LSO recording of his works from his sick bed in Worcester via a special link to the recording studio in London.
In 1920, it was the LSO that gave the first complete public performance of Gustav Holst’s astrological suite The Planets. William Walton’s biblical cantata Belshazzar’s Feast came in 1931 and, by the time the Orchestra had premiered another milestone of British music – Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, in 1946 – it had recorded Arthur Bliss’ soundtrack to the sci-fi film Things to Come (1936) as well as Vaughan Williams’ score for the war drama 49th Parallel (1941). Malcolm Arnold’s music for The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) was among the many other film scores to follow.
Successive LSO conductors have worked hard to cast off the image of Britain as the ‘land without music’, not least André Previn (Principal Conductor, 1968–79) and Richard Hickox (Associate Conductor, 1985–2008). Sir Colin Davis (Principal Conductor, 1995–2006) was a passionate supporter of Sir Michael Tippett, premiering his Concerto for Orchestra (1963), Symphony No 3 (1972) and Triple Concerto (1980) with the LSO.
Sir Simon Rattle (Music Director, 2017–23) gave premieres of pieces by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Helen Grime and Emily Howard among others; and, since taking up the role of Chief Conductor in 2024, Sir Antonio Pappano has embarked on a fresh cycle of Vaughan Williams symphonies. ‘What I love about English music in general,’ Pappano says, ‘is that it reveals such a depth of character, which is a little bit at odds with the cliché of the Englishman, frankly. This music sings, and has anguish and beauty and romance. And it soars, it has tranquillity and agitation.’
By Edward Bhesania
I’m going to be putting a very strong accent on British music with the LSO.
Sir Antonio Pappano
The LSO and British Music
Interview with Sir Antonio Pappano
As he starts a new chapter as Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Antonio Pappano tells us more about his background, influences, and what it’s like to conduct the LSO.
What you should know about Ralph Vaughan Williams
Discover the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams, the quintessential British composer, known for his evocative symphonies, folk music collecting and enduring legacy.
Five Reasons to Love Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius
Timmy Fisher looks back at Elgar’s choral masterpiece that crowned him as one of the great contemporary writers for voice.
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Coming Up
Edmund Finnis and Bruckner
Sir Antonio Pappano and Sheku Kanneh-Mason
Sunday 25 October 2026 • 7pm
The quiet intensity of Edmund Finnis’ Cello Concerto, featuring soloist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, paves the way for Bruckner’s monumental, visionary Ninth Symphony.
Tchaikovsky, Kendall and Liadov
Sir Antonio Pappano and Fleur Barron
Thursday 29 October 2026 • 7pm
Liadov conjures magical landscapes while Tchaikovsky navigates anguish and triumph in his Fifth Symphony – plus the premiere of Hannah Kendall’s eagerly anticipated new work. Sir Antonio Pappano conducts, joined by mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron.
Sibelius, Nørgård and Adès
Thomas Adès and Bertrand Chamayou
Thursday 5 November 2026 • 7pm
Elusive dreams in Per Nørgård’s Dream Play, Sibelius' soaring Fifth Symphony – plus Thomas Adès conducts pianist Bertrand Chamayou in his own vibrant evocation of the Creation.
Sibelius, Saariaho and Adès
Thomas Adès and Anna Dennis
Sunday 8 November 2026 • 7pm
Thomas Adès conducts Sibelius' Seventh Symphony and Oceanides, Saariaho's shimmering Oltra mar, and a new version of his own work America, joined by soprano Anna Dennis and the London Symphony Chorus.
Soweto Kinch: Trilogy
EFG London Jazz Festival
Thursday 19 November 2026 • 7.30pm
Saxophonist, rapper and composer Soweto Kinch revisits his acclaimed LSO trilogy: The Black Peril, White Juju and Soundtrack to the Apocalypse.
Half Six Fix: Vaughan Williams
Sir Antonio Pappano
Wednesday 25 November 2026 • 6.30pm
Sir Antonio Pappano explores Vaughan Williams’ ‘Pastoral’ Symphony and Symphony No 8, from wartime reflection to a playful, uplifting British classic.
Vaughan Williams and Beethoven
Sir Antonio Pappano and Bruce Liu
Thursday 26 November 2026 • 7pm
Sir Antonio Pappano continues his acclaimed Vaughan Williams cycle with Symphonies 3 and 8, and is joined by Bruce Liu for Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 3.
Sibelius, Vaughan Williams and Dubugnon
Sir Antonio Pappano and Janine Jansen
Sunday 29 November 2026 • 7pm
Sir Antonio Pappano leads Sibelius, Vaughan Williams’ Sinfonia antartica and Dubugnon’s new violin concerto in a vivid, cinematic programme with Janine Jansen.
Sibelius, Vaughan Williams and Dubugnon
Sir Antonio Pappano and Janine Jansen
Thursday 3 December 2026 • 7pm
Sir Antonio Pappano leads Sibelius, Vaughan Williams’ Sinfonia antartica and Dubugnon’s new violin concerto in a vivid, cinematic programme with Janine Jansen.
Symphonic Cinema: The Planets
Ben Gernon and Lucas van Woerkum
Sunday 31 January 2027 • 6pm
Holst’s The Planets meets live‑shaped film in Symphonic Cinema, featuring the UK premiere of LOSS with Emma Thompson and Greg Wise.
Symphonic Cinema: The Planets
Ben Gernon and Lucas van Woerkum
Sunday 31 January 2027 • 7.45pm
Holst’s The Planets meets live‑shaped film in Symphonic Cinema, featuring the UK premiere of LOSS with Emma Thompson and Greg Wise.
Elgar and Tchaikovsky
Sir Antonio Pappano and Alisa Weilerstein
Thursday 18 February 2027 • 7pm
Two of classical music’s most heart-rending works – Elgar’s intimate, introspective Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s intense, emotional Fifth Symphony – with Sir Antonio Pappano and soloist Alisa Weilerstein.
Limited Tickets
LSO Futures
Elim Chan and James Fountain
Thursday 17 June 2027 • 7pm
A chance to hear new works by composers from the LSO Helen Hamlyn Panufnik Composers’ Scheme, plus high energy from US composer John Adams.
