Southbank Centre Your culture fix
The Cinematic Orchestra takes over your screen and an outdoor exhibition adorns our central London site.
What’s on Festivals & series Art & exhibitions
Believe it or not
This week, we bring you a few strange facts from the history of music. Mozart wrote the overture to Don Giovanni on the morning of the opera’s opening night, while extremely hungover (his wife kept him talking so he’d stay awake). The rapper Tupac Shakur originally trained as a ballet dancer (at school, he danced the role of the Mouse King in The Nutcracker). And none of the Beatles could read or write sheet music (instead they noted down chords).
Tracing a path between tall tales, The Cinematic Orchestra spend their latest album pondering what it means to trust that something is true. This December, they’re bringing To Believe to our stages for a streamed performance you won’t want to miss – we promise!
Positive latitude
Abel’s Jazz Takeover
FRI 20 – FRI 27 NOV
According to the Telegraph, versatile musician Abel Selaocoe ‘reinvents the cello with a stirring combination of vocal and instrumental talent’. He joins the BBC Concert Orchestra for a streamed performance of Barak Schmool’s Africa-inspired 20th Meridian.
Just announced
The Cinematic Orchestra Live at the Royal Festival Hall
FRI 11 DEC
The enigmatic electronic jazz group presents their first ever streamed performance from the Royal Festival Hall. The band plays tracks from new album To Believe, called ‘heartbreakingly brilliant’ by The Guardian.
Also this week
Apollo e Dafne
UNTIL MON 16 NOV
In this broadcast performance, Handel’s cantata is given voice by baritone Roderick Williams and soprano Rowan Pierce. When Daphne catches Apollo’s eye, the Greek god does his best to win her over, but the reluctant nymph deploys an unusual method of escape.
Celebrations and Revolutions
UNTIL WED 18 NOV
The London Philharmonic Orchestra feeds your soul with Beethoven’s radiantly uplifting Fourth Symphony in an online broadcast from the Royal Festival Hall. The evening gets going with a sparkling overture by 18th-century maestro the Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
No Lockdown in the Imagination
UNTIL SUN 13 DEC
If you’re in the neighbourhood check out our outdoor exhibition representing the power of creativity in tough times. Emblazoned across our windows and popping up across our site, its audio, visual and written artworks are entries to the 2020 Koestler Awards for arts in criminal justice.
Wide horizons
Save the date: Unlimited
WED 13 – SUN 17 JAN 2021
This year, our Unlimited festival is going online. The popular series, which shares visionary art by disabled creators, takes place over five days in January 2021.
The festival features dance, performance, comedy, film, talks, workshops and art.
find out more →Popcorn at the ready
The Cinematic Orchestra: 5 must-watch performances
Coming up soon, the collective is performing an exclusive streamed concert at the Royal Festival Hall. To get you in the mood, we’ve pulled together some classic live performances (keep an ear out for the track that went stratospheric…)
Praise be
Margaret Atwood in conversation
In 2017, The Handmaid’s Tale returned to the top of everyone’s reading list and Margaret Atwood came for a visit. Our podcast includes the author reading from her creepily prescient novel and sharing her thoughts on its past, present and future.
A dab hand
Culture Picks
Did you know that ‘dab’ is a 17th-century term for skilled expert? Our resident culture pundits have gathered together the best of the arts this week, for you to enjoy at home, after you’ve finished googling our other favourite 17th-century words (‘mulligrubs’ and ‘rapscallion’, since you’re asking.)
Light it up
Mini Walnut Smart Book Light
Outside of a book, a dog is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read. So said Groucho Marx, who apparently didn’t know about this nifty LED light, disguised as a wooden book, which will illuminate your current page-turner wherever you’re sitting.
Support the Southbank Centre
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Text 70085 with the code SOUTHBANK 20 to donate £20, SOUTHBANK 10 to donate £10 or SOUTHBANK 5 to donate £5. Texts cost your donation amount plus one standard rate message. Thank you.
Name that tune
Plug in for toe-tapping music
Need a musical break? Try one of our playlists to discover new artists and shake it out with a dance around the room. We’ve got mixtapes hand-picked by Joan As Police Woman, Marius Neset and Susheela Raman, to name a few.
Lend us an ear
Learn something new with our podcasts
Our podcast series features conversations with great writers, comedians, thinkers and musicians. Consider women on the page with Roxane Gay, spend an evening with Roger Daltrey or mull mental health and creativity with Matt Haig and Jordan Stephens.