Santtu and Fazıl Say
Celebrated Turkish pianist-composer Fazıl Say performs a new piano concerto in an afternoon of music rooted in the earth of home, with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Awarded the International Beethoven Prize for Human Rights and Freedom in 2016, Say describes himself as ‘a bridge-builder between cultures.’
His music is a brilliantly effective blend of Western and Middle Eastern classical traditions, and his live performances are ‘one of a kind … full of energy and brilliance’ (Bachtrack).
Sibelius’ symphonic poem En Saga draws listeners into a mysterious Nordic world of shifting moods and shadowy colours. Its sweeping themes and rugged musical terrain evoke ancient folklore and the wild, wide-open landscapes of Finland.
The sound of birdsong ripples through Dvořák’s Symphony No.8, and its third movement waltz is sprinkled with passages that evoke the folk dances of his native Bohemia.
It’s been described as ‘35 minutes of life-enhancing joy’ (The Guardian) – a taste of summer on a November afternoon.
Performers
Philharmonia Orchestra
Santtu-Matias Rouvali conductor
Fazıl Say piano
Repertoire
Sibelius: En Saga *
Fazıl Say: Piano Concerto (Mother Earth) (UK premiere)
Interval
Dvořák: Symphony No.8
Need to know
* Please note change of repertoire from originally advertised
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.