Gilbert & George: Sex, Money, Race, Religion

Programme

Iconic artists Gilbert & George join forces with the Philharmonia to celebrate their landmark exhibition Gilbert & George: 21st Century Pictures at the Hayward Gallery.  

Gilbert & George’s groundbreaking artworks address contemporary society’s big topics – questions of identity that have preoccupied them for half a century. See their striking pictures projected on the Royal Festival Hall’s huge screen, and get to know them through interview footage filmed at their home in Spitalfields, while the Philharmonia performs symphonic music exploring the themes of Sex, Money, Race, Religion, one of the key works in the exhibition.  

Sex is represented by the sensuous, ecstatic music Wagner wrote for his doomed lovers Tristan and Isolde. The story of Dukas’s (and Disney’s) greedy apprentice illustrates the danger of our obsession with money. Duke Ellington addresses race in his symphonic fusion of work songs, spirituals and swing. Bach, a devout Christian, and Xenakis, a committed atheist, both create intricate musical constructions inspired by their opposing approaches to religion.  

Gilbert & George are on record saying that they never listen to music – though they’ve chosen some of their favourite songs to complete the programme. Can the orchestra convince them that music is NOT the enemy?  

This performance contains images and language that some people may find offensive, including swear words, sexually explicit images, and violent language.