Philharmonia Chamber Players: Salonen & Nielsen
This event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Members of the Philharmonia Orchestra present two engaging works for wind quintet in this free early evening concert, part of their series Nordic Soundscapes.
Esa-Pekka Salonen, one of the leading figures in a strong field of composers and conductors who honed their skills in Finland, was Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra until 2021.
So it’s fitting that the Philharmonia’s wind players have chosen his quintet as part of the orchestra’s Nordic Soundscapes series.
He explains, ‘The title Memoria refers to two things: partly to some sweet-and-sour memories from more than 20 years ago, and partly to the death of Luciano Berio, the great Italian composer, whose music I greatly admire.’
Nielsen’s Wind Quintet is a mainstay of the repertoire for this attractive and versatile combination of instruments. His biographer Robert Simpson wrote that ‘Nielsen’s fondness for wind instruments is closely related to his love of nature, his fascination for living, breathing things.’
Nielsen expertly draws out the character of each member of the ensemble, in music that is sometimes nostalgic, heir to the courtly dances and divertimenti of earlier centuries, and sometimes refreshingly modern.
The finale is a striking set of variations on a deceptively simple hymn tune written by Nielsen himself.
Need to know
Latecomers are only admitted at a suitable break in the performance
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.