Turangalîla: Infinite Love
A super-sized Royal Philharmonic Orchestra turns the dial up to 11 for a performance of Messiaen’s cosmic symphony, with animations from 1927 Studios.
Imagine an explosion of love on a cosmic scale. Mix in some 1940s Hollywood glamour, a pounding rhythmic workout and the sounds of a Javanese gamelan, and then wash it all in blissful impressionist colours.
Now add a huge orchestra, a world-class pianist and a vintage electronic instrument straight out of science fiction, and you’re still not even halfway to imagining Messiaen’s mind-boggling Turangalîla-Symphonie. Nearly 80 years after its premiere, it still sounds like nothing on Earth.
‘A love song, a hymn to joy, time, movement, rhythm, life and death’ was how Messiaen himself described this vast, vibrant psychedelic masterpiece, conducted tonight by Vasily Petrenko. This is indeed music that contains multitudes.
Inspired by the golden age of silent cinema, 1927 Studios – the visionary team behind the Komische Opera Berlin’s 2012 production of The Magic Flute (★★★★ The Guardian) – create an original film to play alongside the epic symphony.
Commissioned by the Southbank Centre and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Performers
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko conductor
Steven Osborne piano
Cécile Lartigau ondes Martenot
1927 Studios animation
Repertoire
Messiaen: Turangalîla-symphonie
Need to know
Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme
Image gallery
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.