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View all events for category: Classical music

Unnatural Harmony: Sounds of Lee Alexander McQueen

In a spectacular show, the London Contemporary Orchestra and choreographers Holly Blakey and Michael Clark reimagine the music behind the designer’s iconic moments.

Part of Multitudes

The show shines a light on 20 years of music that shaped Lee Alexander McQueen’s life and work. The LCO performs an eclectic score that takes in everything from haunting classical masterpieces by Barber, Mozart and Glass, plus tracks by Björk and Lady Gaga.

Directed by Elayce Ismail, the show includes a new film by Douglas Hart and Eddie Whelan featuring new work from Michael Clark and a new performance choreographed by Holly Blakey.

The performance premieres at our 2026 Multitudes festival as a multi-arts fashion and classical music event celebrating Lee Alexander McQueen’s iconic body of work, created by Robert Ames and John Gosling.

The London Contemporary Orchestra has established itself as one of the UK’s most innovative and respected ensembles, promoting the best new music and cross-arts collaborations.

Holly Blakey’s critically acclaimed choreography and movement direction traverses the worlds of contemporary dance, art, music and fashion.

Robert Ames is a conductor, composer and curator who has pioneered a genre-fluid approach to collaboration, opening new horizons for instrumental music in the process.

John Gosling is well known as a member of industrial music group Psychic TV and collaborator of Coil. He was a close friend of Lee Alexander McQueen and worked with him as music director on all of his shows.

Michael Clark is a dancer, choreographer and defining cultural figure who has been at the forefront of innovation in dance since his emergence in the 1980s.

Le Gateau Chocolat was named by Time Out London as one of its top-10 cabaret stars. His work spans drag, cabaret, opera, musical theatre, children’s theatre and live art. His productions have been seen from Sydney Opera House to the Royal Albert Hall and Bayreuth Festival.

Galya Bisengalieva is a Kazakh composer, producer and violinist. A champion of experimental sounds, she can be heard on TV and film soundtracks, albums by icons like Frank Ocean and Taylor Swift, and has collaborated with fashion houses including Alexander McQueen.

Commissioned by the Southbank Centre. Produced in collaboration with NEWFORM Music and the London Contemporary Orchestra.

This production is a tribute to the life and creative vision of Lee Alexander McQueen and the role that music played in his life. This production has not been made with the involvement, endorsement or sponsorship of the House of Alexander McQueen. No costumes, clothing, fabrics or designs featured in this production are the goods or products of the House of Alexander McQueen nor are they endorsed by them.

Performers

London Contemporary Orchestra

Robert Ames conductor

Galya Bisengalieva violin

Le Gateau Chocolat vocals

Sari Mizoe dancer

Willow Kerensa Fenner dancer

Repertoire

Barber: Adagio for strings

Björk: Frosti

Lady Gaga: Bad romance

Philip Glass: Morning passages from The Hours

Gosling: [with Raymond Watts]: Parts 1 - 4 from Plato's Atlantis

Handel: Sarabande from Suite in D minor for keyboard, HWV.437

Armand van Helden: Dark ages mix from The Witch Doktor

Mick Jagger: [with Keith Richards]: Paint it black

Mozart: Adagio from Piano Concerto No.23 in A, K.488

Nirvana: Smells like teen spirit

Michael Nyman: The heart asks pleasure first from The Piano

Penderecki: Threnody to the victims of Hiroshima

Purcell: When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament) from Dido and Aeneas

A Smith: Duelling banjos

Strauss: Introduction (Sunrise) from Also sprach Zarathustra

John Williams: Main theme from Schindler's List; WIld signals from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 14+
Content warnings
Contains scenes featuring flashing light effects.
Event information

Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme

Credits

Creative director: Robert Ames
Creative director: John Gosling
Director: Elayce Ismail
Live choreography: Holly Blakey
Filmed choreography: Michael Clarke
Film by: Eddie Whelan
Film by: Douglas Hart
Lighting design: Matt Daw
Sound design: Simon Hendry
Stage costumes consultant and stylist: Matthew Joseph
Film costume consultant and styling: Katy England
Film original costumes: Stevie Smith

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.