The Bach Choir: Belshazzar's Feast
The Bach Choir and the Philharmonia Orchestra join forces for an evening of British music that tells gripping stories and describes stunning surroundings.
Walton invokes a huge orchestra, eight-part choir, organ, and two brass bands to transport us to the fabulously wealthy and decadent city of Babylon, where we witness the downfall of its tyrannical ruler.
This thunderous ensemble gives way to a solo baritone, accompanied by eerie, whispering percussion, to describe the chilling moment when Belshazzar is accused by a disembodied hand writing on the wall – yes, this is the story that gave us the phrase ‘the writing’s on the wall’.
First, there’s a rare opportunity to hear Delius’ The Song of the High Hills, its wordless chorus adding an ethereal sound to the orchestra. Decades of summer holidays in Norway (and a lifelong friendship with Grieg) inspired this celebration of nature – Delius wrote in the programme for its first performance ‘I want to express the joy and exhilaration one feels in the mountains.’
Architect Antoni Gaudí’s extraordinary La Sagrada Familia cathedral is often referred to as Barcelona’s Unfinished Symphony – and now it has a symphony of its own.
Richard Blackford’s tribute to Gaudí’s masterpiece is in three movements which correspond to the cathedral’s three facades – ‘Nativity’ opens with celebratory fanfares, ‘Passion’ is full of grief and violence, and ‘Glory’ builds on a plainsong theme to a rapturous climax. The symphony’s accompanying film highlights the ornate details of the cathedral.
Performers
Philharmonia Orchestra
David Hill conductor
Amy Carson soprano
Harry Jacques tenor
Christopher Purves baritone
The Bach Choir
Repertoire
Delius: The Song of the High Hills for soprano, tenor, chorus & orchestra
Richard Blackford: La Sagrada Familia Symphony (World premiere)
Interval
Walton: Belshazzar's Feast
Need to know
The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall at 6.15pm: insights talk. Conductor David Hill, composer Richard Blackford and Delius expert Andrew J Boyle discuss the evening’s programme. Admission free.
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.