Víkingur Ólafsson & Yuja Wang: Two Pianos
Two supernovas of today’s piano world share the stage in virtuoso works for two pianos and four hands, crossing three centuries of music.
Tonight is a rare chance to hear Yuja Wang and Vikingur Ólafsson, two superstars of the piano, making dazzling music together. Each has been lauded for jaw-dropping virtuosity and the ability to push the artform’s boundaries.
They perform works for two pianos and piano four hands that range from Schubert’s deeply personal Fantasia in F minor to Thomas Adès’ arrangement of one of Conlon Nancarrow’s Studies for Player Piano, termed ‘impossible’.
They also travel from the energetic minimalist textures of John Adams’ Hallelujah Junction to Rachmaninov’s own two-pianos version of his last orchestral work, the kaleidoscopic Symphonic Dances.
Along the way they explore the ceaseless inventiveness of Berio and the sparsity of Cage’s Experiences No.1.
Performers
Víkingur Ólafsson piano
Yuja Wang piano
Repertoire
Berio: Wasserklavier (Water piano) arr. for 2 pianos
Schubert: Fantasia in F minor, D.940
Cage: Experiences No.1 *
Nancarrow: Player Piano Study No.6 arr. Thomas Adès
John Adams: Hallelujah Junction
Interval
Arvo Pärt: Hymn to a great city
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances arr. for 2 pianos
Need to know
Exclusive box package available, including:
Hire of a private box (seats up to 8 people)
One free drink per guest on arrival (prosecco, wine, beer or soft drink)
Dedicated host to take drinks orders throughout the event
Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme
* Please note change to 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.