Rousing. Unexpected. Irrepressible.
Lachenmann and Beethoven 7
Ilan Volkov
Barbican
Helmut Lachenmann
My Melodies (Music for Eight Horns and Orchestra) (37 mins)
Interval
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No 7 (37 mins)
Ilan Volkov conductor
LSO Horns
London Symphony Orchestra
The concert will finish at approximately 8.40pm, including a 20-minute interval (timings subject to change).
Tickets
£70 £55 £39 £26 £18
+ £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction
Save on Your Booking
Wildcards
£12/£16 + booking fee as above
Guaranteed entry. Your seat will only be allocated on the day.
Limited releases throughout the season. Full details
Other Discounts
Multibuy Discounts: save up to 40%
Discounts for 18s-and-under, 14–25s and full-time students
Groups of 10+ save at least 20%
Free companion tickets for Barbican Access Members
Full details on all discounts below
The Concert
Two sound worlds, two centuries apart: Lachenmann’s Melodies meets Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.
The Music
In Lachenmann’s My Melodies the orchestra makes some unconventional sounds, from whistles to scrapes to whispers. It is an atmospheric backdrop to the force of eight solo horns, operating together like a vast single instrument and showcasing the virtuosity of the LSO’s own musicians.
Beethoven’s Symphony No 7 is one of his most energetic and optimistic. It was a huge success at its premiere – the audience demanded an encore of the famous second movement – and Beethoven himself wrote that it was ‘one of my very best’. To hear it live is a thrilling experience.
The Performers
A versatile conductor and champion of contemporary music, Ilan Volkov brings a wealth of experience to lead the LSO in this fantastically diverse programme.
The Seventh Symphony … gives us a feeling of true spontaneity — the notes seem to fly off the page as we are born along on a flood-tide of inspired invention.
Antony Hopkins
Change of Conductor
Conductor François-Xavier Roth has withdrawn from his engagements with the London Symphony Orchestra in the 2024/25 season. The LSO is grateful to Ilan Volkov for stepping in to conduct the Barbican concerts on 27 and 28 November. The programmes for these concerts will remain as originally planned.
Dive Deeper
Booking and Discounts
Booking Your Tickets
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)
Refunds and Exchanges
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 six 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.
Questions About Your Booking?
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.
Multibuy Discounts
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.
Wildcards
£12 or £16 (£10 or £15 for Half Six Fix concerts), plus booking fee. Check availability using the Wildcards button 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). Find out more about Wildcards.
Young People and Students
18 and under: £6 tickets. 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 £6 or £10 tickets to selected LSO concerts.
Groups of 10+
Save 20% to 30% and enjoy additional benefits. Find out more about group booking.
Access Members
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.
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