The Beginning of Summer – Mahler’s Third Symphony
Colossal. Optimistic. Moving.
Barbican
The Concert
Gustav Mahler Symphony No 3
Michael Tilson Thomas conductor
Alice Coote mezzo-soprano
Sopranos & Altos of the London Symphony Chorus
Tiffin Boys’ Choir
London Symphony Orchestra
The concert will finish at approximately 8.45pm (timings are subject to change)
Concert repeated Sunday 12 May
Tickets
£70 £55 £39 £25 £18
+ £4 booking fee per online/phone transaction
Wildcard Tickets
£12/£16 + booking fee as above
Guaranteed entry – your seat will be allocated on the day.
Limited releases throughout the season. Full details
Save on Your Booking
Multibuy Discounts – save up to 40%
Under-18s – £6 tickets
14–25s – discounts for Young Barbican Members
Groups of 10+ – save at least 20%
Access – free companion tickets for Barbican Access Members
Full details below
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Mahler’s magnificent vision of a world teeming with joyful life.
The Programme
‘Bring along ears and a heart,’ Mahler instructed his audiences, reluctant to explain the meaning behind the music. But we know that in his Third Symphony, Mahler set out to compose a work that encompassed the whole of existence.
Summer marches in, heralded by horns. Delicate flowers emerge in the meadow. Forest creatures startle at the approach of humankind. A voice sings, cloaked in night. We hear the sparkling music of bells and angels and, finally, a rapturous slow movement evokes the beauty of love.
The Performers
Conductor Laureate Michael Tilson Thomas is passionate about Mahler, and his recordings of the composer’s oeuvre have won no fewer than seven Grammy awards. He’s joined by expert Mahlerian vocalists.
In this symphony of nature, the LSO becomes what the poet Dylan Thomas called ‘the force that through the green fuse drives the flower’.
The symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything.’ Mahler
Recorded for future broadcast by Symphony.live
Header Image © Mark Allan
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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
£4 booking fee per transaction when booking online or by phone
Refunds and Exchanges
If you can no longer user your tickets, you can exchange them for another LSO concert or Barbican credit voucher (valid for six months). Please inform the Box Office at least 24 hours before the performance (two weeks for group bookings). A per-ticket administration fee applies for all exchange services.
Questions About Your Booking?
Contact the Barbican Box Office at tickets@barbican.org.uk.
Visit the Barbican website for conditions of sale.
The LSO reserves the right to change artists or programmes if necessary. If the event is cancelled, all bookers will receive a refund. All discounts are subject to availability and may not be combined. Box office calls may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance or training purposes.
Multibuy Discounts
Book 2 to 3 concerts and save 10%
Book 4 to 7 concerts and save 20%
Book 8 to 11 concerts and save 30%
Book 12 or more concerts and save 40%
Plus retain your discount for any later bookings within the season.
Multibuy Discounts: Full Details
Wildcards
£12 or £16 (£10 or £15 for Half Six Fix concerts), plus booking fee. You are guaranteed entry to the concert but you won’t know your exact seat until the evening of the performance. Will you be lucky and bag a top-price seat in the stalls? Find out more about Wildcards.
Young People
£6 tickets for under-18s. Discounted tickets are available for selected LSO concerts for 14–25s through Young Barbican, and for full-time students through Student Pulse London.
Groups of 10+
Save 20%, or 30% when booking two or more concerts in the same season, plus 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.
