Intimate. Epic. Romantic.
Elgar and Tchaikovsky
Sir Antonio Pappano and Alisa Weilerstein
Barbican
Edward Elgar
Cello Concerto (30 mins)
Interval
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No 5 (50 mins)
Sir Antonio Pappano conductor
Alisa Weilerstein cello
London Symphony Orchestra
The concert will finish at approximately 8.55pm, 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
Two of classical music’s most heart-rending works take us from the depths of emotion to intoxicating highs.
The Music
Composed in the aftermath of World War I, Elgar’s intimate, introspective Cello Concerto is a deeply elegiac work, and a reflection of a world that had been changed forever. The melody that defines its heart-breaking opening movement is almost unparalleled in its expression of grief, yet the concerto ultimately finds a path to hope and resilience.
Tchaikovsky’s 1888 Symphony No 5, with its intense emotional narrative fed by a soaring romanticism, follows a similar trajectory to the Elgar Concerto, as it ventures from darkness to hard-won triumph, all the while accompanied by a powerful ‘fate’ motif.
The Performers
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein is one of the foremost interpreters of Elgar’s profound concerto, while Sir Antonio Pappano and the LSO are guaranteed to bring deep expressive power to bear on this stirring programme.
The work of the Chief Conductor with the LSO is generously supported by Alex & Elena Gerko, and members of the Chief Conductor’s Circle.
More to Explore
From the Archive: Elgar's Cello Concerto – 100 Year Anniversary
On 27 October 1919, the LSO performed the world premiere of one of the most popular works in the repertoire: Elgar’s Cello Concerto. It may be popular now, but it wasn’t always the case…
Five things you didn't know about Elgar
Learn more about Elgar as a composer and a conductor, his relationship with the LSO and some of his unique quirks.
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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.
Sir Antonio Pappano and Bruce Liu
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.
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
