Kensington Symphony Orchestra

Wrenching loss and murderous dreams: Kensington Symphony Orchestra celebrates 70 years with a rare concert performance of Korngold’s finest opera. Kensington Symphony Orchestra returns to the Barbican to mark its 70th anniversary with a performance of Korngold’s opera Die tote Stadt (1917-20), based on a psychological drama exploring love, lust and grief. The orchestra gave the UK première of the work in January 1996, when its performance — celebrating KSO’s 40th anniversary — was hailed as ‘a feast of brilliant playing’ (The Evening Standard). Now, Russell Keable again takes the baton to conduct Korngold’s sweepingly romantic score, which was one of the biggest hits of the 1920s before being banned by the Nazi regime. Described as ‘one of the very best amateur groups in the country’ by Classical Music magazine, KSO has been hailed by Classical Source for ‘putting on bold, adventurous programmes that few of the “big five” in London would either think of or get away with’. This performance will finish at approximately 9.45pm. There will be an interval. Programme Erich Wolfgang Korngold Die tote Stadt Performers Russell Keable conductor Alan Tuckwood leader Kensington Symphony Orchestra