Philharmonia Orchestra

A few days after the Philharmonia’s 80th birthday, marked by two concerts at Carnegie Hall, the orchestra joins forces with dazzling trombonist Christian Lindberg in a programme that sings of freedom.  

Laura Karpman’s opera Balls tells the story of the Battle of the Sexes tennis match of 1973 – a decisive victory for Billie Jean King and for gender equality. Conducted by Marin Alsop, they are the perfect team to bring this turning point in the struggle for women’s rights to a 21st-century audience.

Have you ever wanted to be part of a Philharmonia performance?
We are looking for volunteers to take part in our performance of ‘Balls’ by Laura Karpman, recreating the excitement of Billie Jean King’s legendary 1973 ‘Battle of the Sexes’ tennis match by following simple stage directions while sitting in the choir stalls.

Find out more about what to expect in our 60 second beginner’s guide.

The sixth album from Philharmonia Records will be released on 24 October. Conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali, this performance was recorded at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in 2023.

Find out about access to our residency venues in London, Bedford, Leicester, Canterbury and Basingstoke, concessions, tickets for under-18s and more.