Mozart's World: The Last Symphonies
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, with Robin Ticciati, takes us inside Mozart’s final trio of bold, stormy and divine creations, rarely heard together.
Through the summer of 1788 Mozart was consumed in a burst of inspiration, composing three remarkable symphonies that turned out to be his last.
Grand in tone and scale for the time, collectively, these works reflect an invincible spirit and optimistic drive that inspired Mozart to continue creating brilliant music, despite the gloomy personal circumstances he faced.
Whether by chance or design the sense of the three symphonies belonging together is enhanced by their contrasting dispositions and subtle tonal relationships. No.39 (in E flat major) with its majestic opening and courtly ambience contrasts with the darker ‘sturm und drang’ era energy of No.40 (something it shares with his earlier G minor symphony, No.26).
The name Jupiter for Symphony No.41 seems fitting for what is not only Mozart’s longest symphony with the largest orchestration, but also its sheer magnificence. In the finale we find Mozart at his most confident and dramatic, commanding his powers in that inimitable way that blurs the line between humanity and divinity.
Performers
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Robin Ticciati conductor
Repertoire
Mozart: Symphony No.39; Symphony No.40
Interval
Mozart: Symphony No.41 (Jupiter)
Need to know
You can buy an exclusive box package for this event. More details of our Royal Festival Hall exclusive box package.
Level 5 Function Room, Green Side, Royal Festival Hall at 6pm: pre-concert talk, ‘Mozart’s world: pure inspiration or self promotion?’ with Robert Samuel (Open University). Admission free by concert ticket.
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.