Jerwood Hall
Thomas Dunford: Solo Recital
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert
Thursday 5 February 2026 • 1pm
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John Dowland
Praeludium
Fortune my foe
A fancy
Semper Dowland, semper dolens
Mrs Winter’s jump
Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger
Toccata No 6 from ‘Libro Primo d’intavolatura di lauto’
Joan Ambrosio Dalza
Calata alla Spagnola from ‘Intabolatura de Lauto, Libro No 4’
Robert de Visée
Sarabande
Chaconne
Marin Marais
Les Voix Humaines
Erik Satie
Gymnopédie No 1
Gnossienne No 1
J S Bach
Chaconne from Partita for Violin No 2 BWV 1004
Thomas Dunford lute
The concert will finish at approximately 2.05pm.
Tickets
£16 (£14 concessions, £6 under-18s)
+ £1.50 booking fee per transaction
Save on Your Booking
Multibuy Discounts: Book 3 or more concerts, save 20%
Discounts for 18s-and-under and full-time students
Groups of 10+ save at least 20%
Free companion tickets for Barbican Access Members
Full details
The Concert
An intimate and absorbing solo recital performed by the brilliant lutenist Thomas Dunford.
The Music
Lutenist John Dowland wrote some of the most beautiful music of his – or any – age. He is known for his melancholy tunes, the most famous being ‘Lachrimae’. But he was also capable of humour: ‘Semper Downland, semper dolens’ translates as ‘always Dowland, always doleful’. His ‘Mrs Winter’s jump’ is a sparklingly good-natured contrast.
Dowland’s pieces sit alongside music from across Europe from the 1500s– 1700s, including ‘Les voix humaines’, a haunting work by Marais, the subject of the French film Tous les matins du monde. The finale is Bach’s intensely moving Chaconne, beautifully arranged for lute.
The Performers
Thomas Dunford is one of the most versatile performers of the current age, known for his sumptuous and lyrical style: he was once described as ‘A true Eric Clapton of the lute’ by BBC Music Magazine.
Download the Large Print Programme
Recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3
Booking and Discounts
Booking Your Tickets
Online at lso.co.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 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 Discount
Save 20% when you book three or more BBC Radio 3 concerts in the 2025/26 season within one transaction.
Retain your discount for any later bookings within the season.
Concessions
£14 tickets for over-60s, full-time students and unwaged/unemployed people.
18 and Under
£6 tickets. Book online, by phone or in person.
BBC Radio 3 Concerts are recommended for ages 12+. For younger children, we have a range of other events at LSO St Luke’s, including Free Friday Lunchtime Concerts which are suitable for everyone over the age of 5.
Groups of 10+
Save 20%, or 30% when booking two or more concerts in the same season. 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 LSO St Luke's
The main entrance to LSO St Luke’s is through the gates from Old Street. Please check the doors open time for your chosen concert.
What to Expect
From the concert experience to venue facilities and the Hawksmoor Space, find out what to expect at LSO St Luke’s.
Accessibility
At LSO St Luke’s we are fully committed to making the venue as accessible as possible.
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Header image © Julien Benhamou
