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Gilbert & George: Sex, Money, Race, Religion

Royal Festival Hall
£12 – £72
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General booking opens 10am Tuesday 29 April. Join the Friends to book today.

Gilbert and George at home in Spitalfields, London UK

Artists

Jessica Cottis – conductor

Programme

Elgar Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 (Land of Hope and Glory)

Wagner Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde

Dukas The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Ellington arr. Peress Black, Brown and Beige: 1. Black

Xenakis Tracées

Bach arr. Reger O Mensch bewein

Flanagan/Connelly arr. Farrington Underneath the Arches

Medley of songs chosen by Gilbert & George

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. 

Need to know

Prices & Discounts

£12 – £72

Multibuy offer available; under-18s and concessions discounts available.

The price of your ticket includes a £2 restoration levy which will be shown as part of your total at checkout. The restoration levy goes towards the upkeep and improvement of Southbank Centre’s historic venues.

Booking fee: £3.50 (online), £4 (phone) per transaction.

Running time

Approximately 1 hr, no interval

Recommended age

There is no age guidance for the performance, but please be aware that it contains images and language that some people may find inappropriate for children, including swear words, sexually explicit images, and violent language.

Programme notes

Free printed programmes will be available at the venue. Digital programme notes will be available a week before the concert.

Box office

Philharmonia Box Office: 0800 652 6717
Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm

Before the event

Venue

Royal Festival Hall

Royal Festival Hall

Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road
London
SE1 8XX

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