London Symphony Orchestra/Barbara Hannigan

Trailblazing soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan guides us through the musical landscape of America at a defining point in its history, from concert hall to musical theatre. Tonight’s concert is a journey through American music starring one of today’s most breathtaking talents, the soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan. She begins with Charles Ives’ haunting Shall we gather at the river followed by a feast of early 20th-century avant-garde composers, showing how the US broke from European tradition to forge a distinct, experimental sound. The second half celebrates a more familiar, confident American style that grew in parallel, through the Broadway hits and jazz-inspired works of Rodgers and Gershwin. Revel in this compelling arc from pioneering dissonance to popular melodic triumph. A world-class conductor and soprano, Barbara Hannigan is also one of music’s great communicators – ideal for a concert of this narrative scope and stylistic variety. The concert will finish at approximately 8.50pm, including a 20-minute interval (timings subject to change). Programme Charles Ives Shall we gather at the river Charles Ives From the Steeples and the Mountains Ruth Crawford Seeger Rissolty Rossolty Wallingford Riegger Study in Sonority Carl Ruggles Sun-treader Richard Rodgers arr Don Walker Carousel Waltz George Gershwin arr Robert Russell Bennett Porgy and Bess – a Symphonic Picture Performers London Symphony Orchestra Barbara Hannigan conductor & soprano