Anguished. Tender. Searing.
Britten, Bernstein and Tchaikovsky
Sir Antonio Pappano and Denis Kozhukhin
Barbican
Benjamin Britten
Sinfonia da requiem (20 mins)
Leonard Bernstein
The Age of Anxiety (Symphony No 2) for piano and orchestra (30 mins)
Interval
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No 6, ‘Pathétique’ (47 mins)
Sir Antonio Pappano conductor
Denis Kozhukhin piano *
London Symphony Orchestra
The concert will finish at approximately 9.20pm, including a 20-minute interval (timings subject to change).
Tickets
£72 £56 £39 £26 £18
+ £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction
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
Tchaikovsky juggles beauty and suffering, Britten reflects powerfully on grief and conflict, and Bernstein grapples with the modern world.
The Music
Composed in the midst of global conflict, Britten’s 1940 Sinfonia da Requiem is a grief-stricken cry, its turbulent music finally giving way to Mahlerian tenderness – and hope.
Bernstein’s post-war symphony The Age of Anxiety, based on W H Auden’s poem, is a piano concerto in all but name, full of Shostakovich-inspired spirit and snatches of Broadway.
The concert ends with Tchaikovsky’s journey to the depths of the soul. Despite ending on a note of utter despair, the ‘Pathétique’ is among the composer’s most beautiful works.
The Performers
The LSO is sure to draw high emotion from Britten and Tchaikovsky, while pianist Denis Kozhukhin joins Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano for Bernstein’s fizzing symphonic concerto.
The ‘Pathétique’ Symphony features some of Tchaikovsky’s most heartrending music.
Sir Antonio Pappano
* Change of Artist
Beatrice Rana is expecting a baby and will be withdrawing from her concerts in spring 2026 with the LSO and Sir Antonio Pappano. The LSO is pleased to announce that Denis Kozhukhin will now be the piano soloist for this performance of Leonard Bernstein’s The Age of Anxiety (Symphony No 2).
Posted Thu 22 Jan 2026. Ticket holders will be contacted separately
The work of the Chief Conductor with the LSO is generously supported by Alex & Elena Gerko, and members of the Chief Conductor’s Circle.
Recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3
More to Explore
Sir Antonio Pappano: The 2025/26 Season
Sir Antonio Pappano begins his second season as Chief Conductor of the LSO, with works from British and American composers amongst the highlights.
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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.
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%
Retain your discount for any later bookings within the season. Find out more about Multibuy Discounts.
£12 or £16 (£12 or £15 for Half Six Fix concerts), plus booking fee. Check availability using the Wildcard link in the Tickets section above. On the concert night, show your Wildcard order email at the Stalls box office to receive a valid ticket worth at least £18 (£15 for Half Six Fix). Not available for LSO Discovery Family Concerts or concerts at LSO St Luke’s. 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
