Soulful. Playful. Dazzling.
Brett Dean and Bartók
Maxime Pascal and Isabelle Faust
Barbican
Brett Dean
The Lost Art of Letter Writing for violin and orchestra (38 mins)
Interval
Béla Bartók
Concerto for Orchestra (40 mins)
Maxime Pascal conductor
Isabelle Faust violin
London Symphony Orchestra
The concert will finish at approximately 8.50pm, including a 20-minute interval (timings subject to change).
Tickets
£75 £56 £39 £27 £18
+ £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction
Save 10–40% when you book more than one concert with Multibuy
Wildcard Tickets
£12/£16 + booking fee as above
Check availability and book
Limited releases throughout the season. Guaranteed entry, but your seat is only allocated on the day. Full details
Other Discounts
Save when booking multiple concerts. Discounts also available for young people, students, groups, and Barbican Access Members. Full details
The Concert
A heartfelt ode to a dying art of communication, plus Bartók’s showcase for the orchestra’s virtuosic talents.
The Music
In music of expressive beauty and visceral intensity, Brett Dean makes a heartfelt case for letter writing. A violin concerto in all but name, The Lost Art of Letter Writing draws inspiration from quotations from famous historical letters, from Brahms to Clara Schumann, Van Gogh to a colleague, Hugo Wolf to his brother-in-law and the outlaw Ned Kelly to the Australian government.
A heady blend of mischief, drama and sheer delight, Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra shines a bright light on every orchestral section. Among the highlights is the light-hearted second movement and a finale of irrepressible carnival spirit.
The Performers
Violinist Isabelle Faust, one of the most versatile of all concert soloists, unites with Maxime Pascal, a conductor who shines in contemporary repertoire, for this concert as part her wider residency at the Barbican.
You Might Like
Ondřej Adámek and Mendelssohn
Alain Altinoglu and Christian Tetzlaff
Sunday 7 February 2027 • 7pm
A night of brilliance and choral splendour, with Mendelssohn’s glowing 'Lobgesang' and Adámek’s virtuosic Second Violin Concerto, joined by soloist Christian Tetzlaff.
Prokofiev and Shostakovich
Gianandrea Noseda and Leonidas Kavakos
Thursday 10 December 2026 • 7pm
Gianandrea Noseda conducts a pair of witty suites by Prokofiev, and Leonidas Kavakos is the soloist for Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto.
Beethoven and Shostakovich
Sir Antonio Pappano and Maxim Vengerov
Sunday 21 February 2027 • 7pm
Violinist Maxim Vengerov brings elegance and majesty to Beethoven's Violin Concerto, before the unrelenting and colossal power of Shostakovich’s war-scarred Eighth Symphony.
Booking and Discounts
Box Office Information
Online at lso.co.uk or barbican.org.uk
By phone on +44 20 7870 2500 (Monday to Friday 12–5.30pm)
In person at the Barbican Centre (no booking fee)
Members of the Barbican’s Access Scheme can book wheelchair places priced at the lowest price for that event and book a free companion seat. Join the Barbican Access Scheme.
Contact the Barbican Box Office at tickets@barbican.org.uk, get help via WhatsApp or send them a text message on 07380 975000.
Visit the Barbican website for conditions of sale.
All discounts are subject to availability and may not be combined.
Contact the Box Office at least 24 hours before the performance (two weeks for group bookings) to exchange your tickets for another LSO concert or Barbican credit voucher, valid for twelve months. A per-ticket administration fee applies.
The LSO reserves the right to change artists or programmes if necessary. In the unlikely event of a cancellation, all bookers will receive a refund.
Offers and Savings
Book 2 or 3 concerts, save 10%
Book 4 to 7 concerts, save 20%
Book 8 to 11 concerts, save 30%
Book 12 or more concerts, save 40%
Keep your discount for any later bookings within the season. Find out more about Multibuy Discounts.
From £12, plus booking fee. Price may rise to £15 or £16, as indicated. Check availability and price using the Wildcard link in the Tickets section above. On the concert night, show your Wildcard order at the Stalls box office to receive a valid ticket worth at least £18 (£15 for Half Six Fix and Symphonic Cinema). Exclusions apply. Find out more about Wildcards.
18 and under*: £6 tickets, plus booking fee. Book online, by phone or in person.
14–25s: Join Young Barbican for discounted tickets to selected concerts.
Full-time students: Join Student Pulse for £10 tickets to selected LSO concerts.
* Evening and Half Six Fix concerts are recommended for ages 12+
Save 20% to 30% and enjoy additional benefits. Find out more about group booking.
Your Visit and Access
Getting to the Barbican
We are based at the Barbican Centre in the City of London. The main entrance to the Barbican is on Silk Street.
What to Expect
From the concert experience to venue facilities, find out what to expect from an LSO concert at the Barbican.
Accessibility
Find maps and guides, and join the Barbican Access Membership Scheme to let us know of your requirements and book access tickets.
Header Image © Mark Allan
