The Barbican announces 2024-25 Winter Season including classic RSC adaptations

The Barbican Centre, a performing arts venue at the heart of London's art scene, has unveiled its programming for the 2024-25 autumn and winter season. The lineup promises both entertainment and technical excellence with opera, symphonies, musicals, and spotlights on uniquely gifted artists and troupes, as well as a spot dedicated to staging the brilliant work of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).

Something old, something new

The acting Artistic Director at the RSC, Erica Whyman, is bowing out with this upcoming season but she leaves us with an absolutely stunning roster. Co-Artistic Directors, Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey are all set to start their first season with a bang as well. Here are the titles the company will be staging at the Barbican:

• A Midsummer Night's Dream: The critically acclaimed adaptation of Shakespeare's classic, filled with twists and turns in the pursuit of love, comes to The Barbican this upcoming season.
• The Buddha of Suburbia: An adaptation of Hanif Kureishi’s award-winning novel that follows 17-year-old Karim Amir's coming-of-age in 70's London.

Goodbyes are always hard, but the show, as they say, must go on. And The Barbican is putting its best on stage with its incoming season. Here are some highlights to look out for:

• Sir Simon Rattle's 70th Birthday: The conductor and former music director of the London Symphony Orchestra leads the London Symphony Orchestra in performing his work Éclat (January 9).
• Wild Isles Live in Concert: Composer and conductor George Fenton performs his music, originally heard on the BBC 2023 Sir David Attenborough series (January 18).
• François-Xavier Roth: The brilliant conductor returns to showcase the connections between legendary and contemporary works. This includes his exploration of the works of Pierre Boulez (January 26-27) and Beethoven (October 31 & November 27-28).
• The Great British Masterpieces: Sir Antonio Pappano starts his tenure as the London Symphony Orchestra's Chief Conductor with a season-long exploration of some of the greatest British musical pieces (September 15). He will also stage a ten-day concert program exploring the works of James MacMillan (September 11).
• Indian classical music: Sitar player Roopa Panesar leads a trailblazing ensemble that includes tabla player Sudarshan Singh and Carnatic percussionist RN Prakash, with sound by Camilo Tirado (September 18).
• BBC Centenary Concert: The BBC Singers celebrate their 100th birthday alongside a host of guest artists (October 2 and December 5).
• Spinifex Gum: A celebratory political and environmental protest led by the all-female First Nations ensemble Marliya and Australia’s national children’s choir Gondwana Voices, joined by UK-based choirs (October 6).
• The Golden Stool, or the story of Nana Yaa Asantewaa: Composer Gorges Ocloo’s acclaimed Ghanaian ‘Afropera’ (October 14).
• M. Butterfly: A semi-staged version of Huang Ruo’s opera of David Henry Hwang’s smash-hit play of the same name co-presented by the BBC Symphony Orchestra (October 25).
• The BBC Symphony'sL’enfance du Christ: A Christmas concert based on Berlioz’s Christmas cantata led by Sir Andrew Davis and the BBC Symphony Chorus (December 13).

A season of unmatched mastery

In addition to some of the greatest ensembles to grace the Barbican's stage, the season also includes performances from living legends like pianists Piotr Anderszewski (October 3) and Stephen Hough (December 4), cellist Yo-Yo Ma (November 2), and musicologist and concert pianist Samantha Edge (December 1). Pianist Khatia Buniatishvili will also be under the spotlight for a season-long stint, beginning December 9.

The season will also welcome the 19th Darbar Festival (dedicated to Indian classical music) featuring world-class legends like Dr. L Subramaniam, Jasdeep Singh Degun, Dilshad Khan, Pandit Anindo Khan, and Shalmalee Joshi joining hands with emerging talents.

Speaking about the upcoming season, Barbican's Head of Music Helen Wallace stated, "Across both our own programme, and those of our resident and associate ensembles, 2024-25 hums with creativity."

She added, "From exciting new music theatre work and cross-cultural collaborations, welcome returns from both the Simón Bolivar Orchestra and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Yo-Yo Ma and Darbar Festival, to debuts from Sir Antonio Pappano as the LSO’s Chief Conductor, Spinifex Gum, LOD muziektheater and more, we’re offering audiences a rich array of perspectives, captivating performances and, above all, brilliant art music."

Be sure to book your spot in the upcoming season in advance so you don't miss out.