Shostakovich Piano Concerto No.2 with Nobuyuki Tsujii
The extraordinary pianist, an audience favourite known to his many fans as Nobu, makes an eagerly anticipated return to the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Nobuyuki Tsujii, who has been blind from birth and relies on intense, incredibly detailed listening to work with an orchestra, performs Shostakovich’s upbeat Piano Concerto No.2.
Written as a graduation piece for the composer’s son Maxim, its outer movements show off the soloist’s playful energy and precision, while the central slow movement is a lyrical outpouring of love.
Tonight’s programme opens with US composer Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s tuneful, shimmering Primal Message, for strings, harp, celesta and percussion. The piece is her homage to the ‘Arecibo message’, binary code broadcast into interstellar space in 1974. Could music be the way to tell extraterrestrial life what it is to be human?
And to complete this hugely enjoyable evening, conductor Xian Zhang has put together her own selection from Prokofiev’s ballet score Romeo and Juliet – listen out for the imposing tread of the ‘Dance of the Knights’.
Performers
Philharmonia Orchestra
Xian Zhang conductor
Nobuyuki Tsujii piano
Repertoire
Nokuthula Ngwenyama: Primal Message
Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No.2
Interval
Prokofiev: Excerpts from Romeo and Juliet
Need to know
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
05 Nov 2026, 7.30pm
Run time
1 hour and 45 minutes (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £17 + £4 booking fee
Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
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Multi-buy Autumn/Winter 26/27 discount
3 – 4 events: 10% discount
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8 – 10 events: 20% discount
11 – 14 events: 25% discount
15+ events: 30% discount
Discounts apply to selected events, September 2026 – January 2027 inclusive. Offer can’t be combined with the Spring/Summer 2026 multi-buy.
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For your visit
This event is held at the Royal Festival Hall Southbank Centre
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Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 11pm
Monday, closed.
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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.
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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.
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