Triomphale, London Symphony Orchestra Livery Concert at St Paul’s

The London Symphony Orchestra Gala Concert with Sir Simon Rattle at St Paul’s Cathedral

Heralding the return to life of the City of London with a musical performance like no other, Sir Simon Rattle directs a spectacular, site-specific performance of Berlioz’s colossal Grande Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale in one of the few places that can do it justice: St Paul’s Cathedral.

“Come, you chosen heroes! Change your victors’ laurels for the garlands of immortality!” Hector Berlioz was never one for understatement, but even by his standards, the Grande Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale was something unprecedented: a towering monument in sound, written to be performed in an enormous public space and scored for a small army of marching musicians.

Any performance is a special occasion, but for Triomphale Sir Simon Rattle takes it to the next level, using the vast spaces of St Paul’s Cathedral and its surroundings to create a musical event on a scale rarely seen.  Once inside the Cathedral, three of Messiaen’s most personal masterpieces provide a dazzling complement to Berlioz’s one-off sonic spectacular – and raise the roof all over again.

The LSO Livery Concert is a wonderful homecoming celebration for the LSO, which has long enjoyed a strong association with St Paul’s Cathedral, and will raise funds to support the LSO Always Playing Appeal. As we all know, the pandemic had a devastating impact on the finances of many arts organisations, with the LSO’s income halved. Across the City, companies are seeking to bring life and employees back to their workplaces, and this landmark event Triomphale is an opportunity for the City to come together to celebrate this rebirth whilst supporting the Always Playing Appeal.

Tickets priced at either £75 or £110 each will guarantee excellent seats, a pre-concert reception from 5.30pm, and a souvenir programme. Details of this reception, as well as full joining instructions, will be sent to ticket holders closer to the time. There are a range of further opportunities to get involved with this concert, from attending a beautiful three-course post-concert dinner with music in the atmospheric Cathedral Crypt, to accessing a range of ticket prices to suit every pocket.