Nigel Kennedy: Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
This is the real deal: 300 years since the publication of Vivaldi’s concertos, Kennedy returns to the pieces that made his name, with staggering verve and spirit.
36 years ago, a young violinist changed the landscape of British music with an electrifying recording of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi.
The violinist was Nigel Kennedy, and the concertos were The Four Seasons – masterpieces of mood, evocation and musical storytelling that take listeners on an imaginary journey through the unbridled joys of spring, the heat of summer, the melancholy resignation of autumn and the brutal ferocity of winter.
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, which includes some of the finest instrumental players in Britain and enjoys relationships with a select handful of the world’s leading soloists, makes its Royal Festival Hall debut in this concert following appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Musikverein in Vienna.
Before Vivaldi’s concertos, Kennedy brings something special of his own. The composer’s Five Dedications – part of his self-penned collection My World – are deeply personal pieces straddling the worlds of pop, jazz and folk in which the violinist pays tribute to musicians whose works have shaped him, with luscious tunefulness and heartfelt playing.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a musical icon breathe life into another, and reveal a little of his intriguing self too.
Performers
Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
Nigel Kennedy director, violin, piano
Repertoire
Nigel Kennedy: Dla Jarka; Fallen forest; Melody in the wind; Solitude; Gibb it
Interval
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Need to know
An exclusive box package is available, which includes:
Hire of a private box (seats up to eight people).
One free drink per guest on arrival (prosecco, wine, beer or soft drink).
Dedicated host to take drinks orders throughout the event.
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.