Gilbert & George: Sex, Money, Race, Religion
Iconic artists Gilbert and George join forces with the Philharmonia Orchestra to celebrate their landmark exhibition 21ST CENTURY PICTURES at the Hayward Gallery.
Gilbert and George’s groundbreaking artworks address contemporary society’s big topics – questions of identity that have preoccupied them for half a century.
See their striking pictures projected on the Royal Festival Hall’s huge screen, and get to know them through interview footage filmed at their home in Spitalfields, while the Philharmonia performs symphonic music exploring the themes of Sex, Money, Race, Religion, one of the key works in the exhibition.
Sex is represented by the sensuous, ecstatic music Wagner wrote for his doomed lovers Tristan and Isolde. The story of Dukas’ (and Disney’s) greedy apprentice illustrates the danger of our obsession with money. Duke Ellington addresses race in his symphonic fusion of work songs, spirituals and swing. Bach, a devout Christian, and Xenakis, a committed atheist, both create intricate musical constructions inspired by their opposing approaches to religion.
Gilbert and George are on record saying that they never listen to music – though they’ve chosen some of their favourite songs to complete the programme. Can the orchestra convince them that music is NOT the enemy?
Performers
Philharmonia Orchestra
Jessica Cottis conductor
Repertoire
Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 in D
Wagner: Isolde's Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde (orchestral version)
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Ellington: Black from Black, brown and beige arr. Peress for orchestra
Xenakis: Tracées for orchestra
Bach: Chorale prelude, O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde gross, BWV.622 arr. Reger for orchestra
Flanagan: Underneath the arches arr. Iain Farrington for orchestra
and a medley of songs chosen by Gilbert & George
Need to know
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For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall is open six days a week.
Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
Plan your visit
The Royal Festival Hall is home to our largest auditorium as well as The Clore Ballroom, National Poetry Library, Members’ Lounge, Festival Bar & Kitchen, Ballroom Cafe and Skylon restaurant.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
On Level 2 of our Royal Festival Hall you can grab a slice of life by the Thames with drinks and freshly made pizza at our Festival Bar & Kitchen which opens out onto our Riverside Terrace. You can grab a coffee and a slice of freshly made cake from our Ballroom Cafe. Or alternatively enjoy destination dining in the restaurant at Skylon.
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.