Classical Music in London: A Comprehensive Guide
Contents
A comprehensive guide to classical music in London, featuring performance listings, ticket information, and venue details.
Introduction
Classical music in London is some of the best in the world. If you’re a fan of classical music, there’s no better place to be than the capital of England.
There are plenty of options for classical music lovers in London. From world-famous orchestras to more intimate settings, there’s something for everyone.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the best places to enjoy classical music in London. We’ll also give you some tips on how to make the most of your experience.
The History of Classical Music in London
The Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music is a conservatoire in London, England, and a constituent college of the University of London. It was founded in 1720 by George I with the help of the French composer Jean-Baptiste Lully and the Italian virtuoso Giovanni Battista Draghi. The school offers training from undergraduate to doctoral level in all aspects of Western art music; its Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) is a relatively new degree which was introduced in 2015.
The RAM has an international reputation as a leading centre for music education, with alumni including Sir Simon Rattle, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Nicola Benedetti CBE, Gareth Malone OBE and John Carey CBE. The current Director of the Royal Academy of Music is Jonathan Freeman-Attwood.
The Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a world-renowned conservatoire in London, and has been at the forefront of musical education since it was founded in 1882. The college offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in music, as well as a range of other programmes such as performance and composition.
Some of the most famous alumni of the Royal College of Music include Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Adrian Boult, Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, and Sir John Barbirolli. The college has also been home to some of the world’s greatest performers, such as Dame Shirley Bassey, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Plácido Domingo, Simon Rattle, and Sting.
The Guildhall School of Music and Drama
The Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a world-renowned institution in the heart of London. Founded in 1880, it is the oldest music school in the UK and has been at the forefront of musical education for generations.
The school offers a wide range of programmes, from undergraduate degrees to postgraduate research, and is a leading training ground for classical musicians and actors. With over 1,000 students from more than 60 countries, the school has a truly international community.
The Guildhall School is also home to one of the finest orchestras in the country, the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, which gives regular concerts at the Barbican Centre and other venues across London. If you love classical music, then a visit to the Guildhall School should definitely be on your list!
The Best Places to Hear Classical Music in London
London is a city with a rich history of classical music. From the royal family to world-renowned orchestras, there are plenty of opportunities to hear classical music in London. In this guide, we’ll cover some of the best places to hear classical music in London.
The Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is one of the most popular places to hear classical music in London. The world-renowned concert hall is home to the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The Barbican Centre also presents a wide variety of other musical performances throughout the year, making it one of the most versatile classical music venues in London.
The Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is one of the most popular and well-known venues for classical music in London. The hall is located on the South Bank of the Thames, near Waterloo station. It was built for the 1951 Festival of Britain and has been a Grade I listed building since 2007. The Royal Festival Hall is home to the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta, and the Philharmonia Orchestra. It also hosts regular concerts by world-renowned orchestras and soloists.
The Wigmore Hall
If you’re a fan of classical music, London is the perfect place to be. The city is home to some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, and it’s easy to find live music being performed every night of the week.
One of the best places to hear classical music in London is the Wigmore Hall. This world-famous venue plays host to over 400 concerts each year, featuring some of the biggest names in classical music. The acoustics at the Wigmore Hall are said to be some of the best in Europe, so it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for an authentic musical experience.
another great place to hear classical music in London is St. Martin-in-the-Fields. This historic church is located in Trafalgar Square and hosts regular concerts, many of which are free to attend. St. Martin-in-the-Fields has a wonderful atmosphere that’s perfect for listening to classical music, so be sure to check out their concert schedule if you’re in town.
The Future of Classical Music in London
It is safe to say that classical music in London is in a good place. The city has a rich history of classical music, dating back to the days of Henry VIII, and there are plenty of opportunities to hear classical music performed live.
The London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is one of the world’s most celebrated orchestras. Based in the Barbican Centre in London, the LSO has been at the forefront of musical life in the city for over 120 years.
The Orchestra has a rich history of performing classical music, with a repertoire that encompasses everything from Baroque to 21st-century works. It is also known for its innovative programming, and for its championing of new music.
The LSO has been led by some of the world’s most celebrated conductors, including Sir John Barbirolli, André Previn, Gergiev and Daniel Barenboim. In recent years, it has attracted a new generation of fans with its highly acclaimed BBC Proms performances and critically acclaimed recordings.
The LSO is one of the busiest orchestras in the world, giving around 100 concerts each year. As well as its regular season at the Barbican Centre, the Orchestra tours extensively across the UK and Europe, and appears regularly at festivals such as Glyndebourne and Salzburg.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is one of the world’s finest orchestras. It is based in London, England and performs most of its concerts in the city’s renowned Barbican Centre. The LPO also has a strong association with America, touring there frequently and maintaining close ties with a number of US orchestras.
The LPO has a long and illustrious history, dating back to 1832 when it was founded by conductor Sir George Smart. Since then, the orchestra has gone on to perform under some of the most eminent conductors of the day, including Hans Richter, Gustav Mahler and Arthur Nikisch. In recent years, the LPO has been under the baton of soloists such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, André Previn and Bernard Haitink.
The LPO is widely regarded as one of the leading ensembles in Britain and is regularly invited to perform at prestigious events such as the BBC Proms and atRoyal Albert Hall. The orchestra also undertakes an extensive international touring schedule, performing in major concert halls around the world.
The LPO has an impressive list of recordings to its name and its discography includes critically acclaimed albums on a number of different labels. The orchestra regularly releases new recordings and DVDs, both live and studio-based.
The Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House (ROH) is a major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply “Covent Garden”, after a previous use of the site of the opera house’s original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Originally called the Theatre Royal, it served primarily as a playhouse for the first hundred years of its history. In 1734, ballet company owner John Rich commissioned The Beggar’s Opera from composer John Gay. In 1789, actor-manager RichardBrinsley Sheridan look over management of the theatre and increased its popularity with a series of sensationalist dramas that ran until 1809 when he lost control of the theatre to new owners who preferred more legitimate fare.
The theatre was closed in 1816 for repairs and reopened in 1818. It was renamed the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1820 and became one of London’s leading musical theatres hosting some of the most popular performers from across Europe. Under Napoleonic law no foreign artists were allowed to perform so many British artists such as Michael Balfe, Catherine Hayes and Jenny Lind made their debuts at Drury Lane.
In 1830 Giacomo Meyerbeer’s opera Robert le Diable became a huge success at Drury Lane and began a vogue for French grand opera in London that continued until well into the 20th century. Composer Gaspare Spontini put on his final two operas at Drury Lane: La Vestale (1807) and Agnes von Hohenstaufen (1809), greatly enhancing his reputation in London and Europe; these works would enter into standard repertory and be revived many times over throughout 19th century.
After 280 years use as a theatre, plans were drawn up during 1935 to demolish it and replace it with an office block; these plans were blocked by personal interventions from George Bernard Shaw, Noël Coward, Laurence Olivier and other leading figures in British cultural life after which historic preservation group Shelter was founded to campaign for listed status which was achieved in 1950. A new block was added containing rehearsal rooms, offices, bars and dressing rooms this opened behind the main façade on 10 June 1991 coinciding with opening night of Simon Rattle’s production with The Royal Ballet of Maurice Ravel’s ballet Daphnis et Chloé
