London Sinfonietta Highlights: November 2022

Quartet for the End of Time

This month opened with a beautiful performance of Olivier Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time alongside Krzysztof Penderecki's Per Slava and Quartet for clarinet & string trio. Read more about our concert, Quartet for the End of Time.

"A superb event and brilliant exposition of the Quartet for the End of Time. Such a powerful evocation of the elements that go to make this such a powerful piece, beautifully played by real experts in the London Sinfonietta. Thank you!" " Audience member

Changing Standards

On Friday 18 Nov the London Sinfonietta once again performed as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. This time we headed to the Southbank Centre's Purcell Room with a programme of jazz standards re-composed by some of the brightest and best British jazz composers, Trish Clowes, Elliot Galvin, Laura Jurd, Robert Mitchell and Alex Paxton. Read more about our Changing Standards concert.

A very different evening exploring the intersections of contemporary classical music and jazz. Fascinating to hear the distinctly different approaches taken by each of the composers and incredible musicianship on display throughout. Audience members around me seemed thoroughly absorbed." " Audience member

Turning Points: Takemitsu

This month's final concert was part of our Turning Points concert series, which presents music by composers whose output was so distinctive that it influenced the course of music history. This concert centered around the Japanese composer Tōru Takemitsu in a colourful programme based on the composer’s love for nature and the outdoors.

This concert was also the culmination of our podcast series Couch to Concert, which encourages people to engage with and enjoy contemporary classical music. We gave newcomers a three-part introductory podcast, a free ticket and a goody bag at the concert. The project was very well-received and we were glad to see so many new faces at our Takemitsu concert.

Loved this Takemitsu concert @Ldn_Sinfonietta @KingsPlace - intelligent programming & enjoyed films of nature, Takemitsu talking abut his inspiration and, before the Messiaen, a blackbird pic.twitter.com/pukbO8UWTe
— Caroline Potter 🇪🇺 (@carolinefrmus) November 27, 2022

Our work with young people

Project with Orchestras Live

We've been undertaking a project with Orchestras Live, Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust's Zingaresque group as well as Dexterity, a local dance group. We've helped to facilitate a creative process of young people thinking, creating and composing collaboratively.

Last Sunday was concert day, the young people performed their new pieces with choreography by Dexterity. The concert was reflective yet electric, and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone involved!

Composition Challenges

Our Participation and Learning department has been running Composition Challenges to encourage school children to create new music inspired by the works and musical ideas of living composers. Our resources are suitable for KS2 and KS3 (all abilities and levels of experience) and are free to access online.

Find out more

We released Ornette Variations - Laura Jurd

Laura wrote Ornette Variations for the London Sinfonietta's London Third Stream concert on 17 November 2021.

This brilliant piece is inspired by the American Jazz saxophonist and 20th Century icon, Ornette Coleman's 'The Shape of Jazz To Come'. Laura was inspired by "Ornette's playing and music is the way he completely gives himself to the moment, the clear connection to the blues and the direct nature of his delivery - a directness that comes from a self-taught musician who's nurtured his own, unique musical logic."