Principal Conductor Edward Gardner Principal Guest Conductor Karina Canellakis Conductor Emeritus Vladimir Jurowski KBE Artistic Director Elena Dubinets Chief Executive David Burke Patron HRH The Duke of Kent
Mahler 8 Saturday 26 April 2025 | 7.30pm Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 8 in E flat major (‘Symphony of a Thousand’) (85’) Part 1: Veni, Creator Spiritus Part 2: Closing scene of Goethe’s Faust, Part II There is no interval. Concert generously supported by a syndicate of donors. Edward Gardner conductor Sarah Wegener soprano (Magna Peccatrix) Emma Bell soprano (Una Poenitentium, Gretchen) Jennifer France soprano (Mater Gloriosa) Christine Rice mezzo-soprano (Mulier Samaritana) Jennifer Johnston mezzo-soprano (Maria Aegyptiaca) Andrew Staples tenor (Doctor Marianus) Tommi Hakala baritone (Pater Ecstaticus)* Derek Welton bass-baritone (Pater Profundus) London Philharmonic Choir Artistic Director: Neville Creed London Symphony Chorus Chorus Director: Mariana Rosas Tiffin Boys’ Choir Director: James Day Tom Morris director Tal Rosner video artist Ben Ormerod lighting design Oscar Simms associate director Katie Thackeray show caller Tim Claydon movement consultant Gillian Moore musical dramaturgy Matthew Lynch assistant conductor Nicholas Ansdell-Evans music staff Video Team Programmer: Arthur Skinner Additional Animation: Dale Croft, Darren Culley Live Action DoP: Kieth Ingram Camera Assistant: Sean Monroe Live Action Producer: Antonia Bain Faust: Tristan Sturrock With thanks to Tali Oiver and Scottish Opera. *Unfortunately Tomasz Konieczny unable to perform in this concert due to illness. We are very grateful to Tommi Hakala for stepping in at short notice.
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London Philharmonic Orchestra Uniquely groundbreaking and exhilarating to watch and hear, the London Philharmonic Orchestra has been celebrated as one of the world’s great orchestras since Sir Thomas Beecham founded it in 1932. Our home is at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, where we’re at the beating heart of London’s cultural life. You’ll also find us at our resident venues in Brighton, Eastbourne and Saffron Walden, and on tour worldwide. In 2024 we celebrated 60 years as Resident Symphony Orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera. Edward Gardner has been our Principal Conductor since 2021, succeeding Vladimir Jurowski who in the same year became Conductor Emeritus. Karina Canellakis is our current Principal Guest Conductor, and Tania León our Composer-in-Residence. We’re one of the world’s most-streamed orchestras, and in 2023 were the most successful orchestra worldwide on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. You can hear us on countless film soundtracks, and we’ve released over 130 albums on our own LPO Label, which in 2025 celebrates its 20th anniversary. We’re committed to inspiring the next generation of musicians: our dynamic and wide-ranging Education and Community programme provides first musical experiences for children and families; offers creative projects and professional development opportunities for schools and teachers; inspires talented teenage instrumentalists to progress their skills; and develops the next generation of professional musicians.