Serene. Haunting. Soulful.
Music from the North: Sibelius, Adès & Rautavaara
Thomas Adès and Johan Dalene
Thursday 23 October 2025 • 7pm
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Jean Sibelius
Symphony No 4 (35 mins)
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Deux Sérénades (14 mins)
Interval
Thomas Adès
The Origin of the Harp (for chamber orchestra) (9 mins)
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No 6 (29 mins)
Thomas Adès conductor
Johan Dalene violin
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
Thomas Adès leads us through Sibelius’ Finland and conjures magical images in his own evocation of a Celtic legend.
The Music
Icy restraint, subtle beauty and soulful warmth combine in two of Sibelius’ lesser-performed symphonies. The Fourth’s austerity and playfulness meet the shimmering Sixth, whose opening contains some of the composer’s most beautiful music.
In between, Adès conducts his own short chamber work, its bubbling soundscapes inspired by a Celtic tale of love, loss and the power of music.
Unfinished at his death in 2016 but completed by composer Kalevi Aho, Rautavaara’s Deux Sérénades are ravishing, and redolent of Sibelius at his richest.
The Performers
The LSO and Adès continue their Sibelian journey, and Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene joins for Rautavaara’s poignant Serenades.
While other composers are serving up cocktails of every colour, I’m giving my audiences pure cold water.
Jean Sibelius on his Sixth Symphony
More to Explore
Sibelius: a Guide to the Symphonies
From folk-songs to Finnish nationalism, Andrew Mellor explores the symphonies of Jean Sibelius.
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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.
Header Image © Mats Bäcker