High-Spirited. Evocative. Dramatic.
Musgrave, Walton and Vaughan Williams
Antoine Tamestit: Spotlight Artist
Thursday 11 December 2025 • 7pm
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Thea Musgrave
Phoenix Rising (23 mins)
William Walton
Viola Concerto (rev 1962) (27 mins)
Interval
Ralph Vaughan Williams
A London Symphony (rev 1920) (44 mins)
Sir Antonio Pappano conductor
Antoine Tamestit viola
London Symphony Orchestra
The concert will finish at approximately 9.05pm, 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
Thea Musgrave paints with radiant colours, Walton gives flight to the viola, and Vaughan Williams dreams of London.
The Music
Phoenix Rising is one of Thea Musgrave’s most electrifying and adventurous scores, blazing an incandescent trail at the start of this concert of British music.
We then hear Walton’s Viola Concerto, a work of introspection and playful abandon, played here by LSO Spotlight Artist, Antoine Tamestit.
Finally, we enjoy the sights, sounds and spirit of London in Vaughan Williams’ atmospheric portrait of the city.
The Performers
The LSO is one of the most brilliant exponents of British classical music, and Antoine Tamestit will surely relish the chance to play one of the viola’s greatest works.
You can hear the Westminster chimes, the Strand is described, and Hampstead Heath on an August holiday.
Sir Antonio Pappano on Vaughan Williams’ A London Symphony
Phoenix Rising is supported by the Royal Philharmonic Society, with a grant from the RPS Thea Musgrave Fund.*
Filmed for broadcast by Marquee TV
More to Explore
Snippets from history: Walton & the LSO
During his lifetime William Walton had a long and close relationship with the LSO. Read on to discover more about the composer, his history with the LSO and his majestic Viola Concerto.
What you should know about Ralph Vaughan Williams
Discover the life of Ralph Vaughan Williams, the quintessential British composer, known for his evocative symphonies, folk music collecting and enduring legacy.
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.
Related Events
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 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.
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 (£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). Find out more about Wildcards.
Young People and Students
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+
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.
*For over 200 years, the Royal Philharmonic Society has raised funds to support composers to write music that inspires performers and audiences. The charity has enjoyed a particularly happy association with Scottish composer Thea Musgrave whose groundbreaking Clarinet Concerto the RPS commissioned in 1968, and who received RPS Honorary Membership in 2022 in recognition of her remarkable musical achievements. From 2025, with generous support from Thea and her husband, the conductor Peter Mark, the RPS is delighted to have launched the RPS Thea Musgrave Fund, to support more composers and performers dedicated to contemporary music.
Header Image © Julien Mignot
