Sombre. Sinister. Striking.
Half Six Fix: Shostakovich 8
Sir Antonio Pappano
Barbican
Wednesday 17 March 2027 • 6.30pm
Public booking opens Friday 24 April 10am
Priority booking for LSO Supporters:
Fri 17 April 10am LSO Ambassador Friends and Pioneers
Mon 20 Apr 10am All LSO Friends
Dmitri Shostakovich
Symphony No 8 (64 mins)
Sir Antonio Pappano conductor and presenter
London Symphony Orchestra
The concert will finish at approximately 7.45pm (timings subject to change).
Tickets
£36 £27 £18 £15
+ £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction
Save 10–40% when you book more than one concert with Multibuy
Wildcard Tickets
£12/£15 + 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
Half Six Fix Season Pass
£99 + booking fee as above
Check availability and book
A guaranteed Wildcard for all ten Half Six Fix concerts in the season.
Other Discounts
Save when booking multiple concerts. Discounts also available for young people, students, groups, and Barbican Access Members. Half Six Fix concerts are recommended for ages 12+. Full details
The Concert
Kick-start your evening with a 60-minute Half Six Fix concert. Introduced by the performers, with screens in the hall to bring you closer to the action.
The Music
Composing in 1943 under scrutiny from Stalin, Shostakovich was expected to write an optimistic symphony to celebrate a recent military victory. Instead, Symphony No 8 is a far more honest portrayal of World War II than Soviet officials had hoped. The first movement opens with ominous sustained strings, with the subsequent crashing climax symbolising the horrors of global conflict. The following movements unfold into grotesque marches and a mournful fourth movement. Rather than a heroic finale, the piece concludes with serene fragility. Instead of triumphant propaganda, Shostakovich’s ‘Stalingrad Symphony’ musically reflects the brutality of war.
The Performers
The LSO’s Chief Conductor Sir Antonio Pappano will present and lead the orchestra in one of Shostakovich’s darkest symphonies, offering compelling commentary on the piece.
More to Explore
Shostakovich: a Guide to the Symphonies
Timmy Fisher guides us through an intense musical journey spanning almost 50 years, as we explore the symphonies of Dmitri Shostakovich.
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.
More Half Six Fix Concerts
Half Six Fix: Mahler 4
Sir Simon Rattle and Lucy Crowe
Wednesday 20 May 2026 • 6.30pm
Mahler's transcendent Fourth Symphony is brought to life by Sir Simon Rattle and the LSO, alongside soprano Lucy Crowe.
Half Six Fix: Enigma Variations
Sir Antonio Pappano
Wednesday 10 June 2026 • 6.30pm
Sir Antonio Pappano guides the audience through Elgar's 'Enigma' Variations, exploring its tender portraits of family members and the unsolved mystery at its core.
Half Six Fix: Bruckner 9
Sir Antonio Pappano
Wednesday 21 October 2026 • 6.30pm
Kick-start your evening with this 60-minute Half Six Fix concert. Sir Antonio Pappano introduces and conducts Bruckner's Ninth Symphony, a piece that contrasts epic walls of sound with moments of aching fragility.
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.
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