If London really is the most cosmopolitan city in Europe, it shows clearly in the bewildering array of live music it has to offer. Even central London presents rich pickings for the discerning live music fan. The north London scene is largely centred around three areas – Camden Town, Kentish Town and Highbury and Islington. London also boasts at least four world-class orchestras and numerous notable ensembles. The London Symphony Orchestra, at the Barbican Centre, is arguably the pick of the bunch, closely followed by the Philharmonia and the London Philharmonic Orchestra (both at the South Bank Centre). In addition, there are a number of venues which hold regular concerts by internationally-renowned musicians, local artists and students. One of the best is the Wigmore Hall. Barbican Centre, T 020-7638 8891, http://www.barbican.org.uk. Some say strange acoustics but still the awesome 1970s designer home of the London Symphony Orchestra. London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, T 020-7632 8300, http://www.eno.org. The Coliseum, on the other hand, likes to think of itself (without necessarily being so) as the antithesis of the ROH. Housing the English National Opera, its programme tends to be more ambitious, tickets are cheaper and the music is sung in English. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, T 020-7589 8212. A grand setting for just about any and every type of entertainment spectacular from high to lowbrow but most famously home to the Sir Henry Wood Promenade Concerts (Proms for short), running from July to September with music ranging from the well-loved to the new and cutting-edge. Royal Opera House, Bow St, T 020-7240 1200, box office T 020-7304 4000, http://www.royaloperahouse.org. Despite the Royal Opera House’s rather stuffy and conservative reputation, the old place appears to have loosened up a touch since its long-awaited refurbishment. Prices remain exorbitant (up to £115), though there are seats available in the gods for under £20. There is also a restaurant and bar and tours are available for the curious. South Bank Centre, including: Royal Festival Hall, Purcell Room, and Queen Elizabeth Hall, T 020-7960 4242. The wonderful Royal Festival Hall holds large-scale symphonic orchestral and choral concerts, while the smaller Queen Elizabeth Hall and smaller still Purcell Room stick to chamber music, though the QEH can also stage opera. Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore St, T 020-7935 2141, http://www.wigmore- hall.org.uk. Purpose-built in 1901 by the piano- maker Bechstein, it stages a huge variety of world-class chamber music and song, lunchtimes at 1300 and evenings. Astoria, 157 Charing Cross Rd, T 020-7434 9592. On the outskirts of Soho, and arguably the most eminent and varied venue, despite the lack of any aesthetic value whatsoever. Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Rd, T 020-7771 2000. An old Victorian hall that has a capacity which attracts big acts while not appearing overlarge, it is invariably full.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
 |
 |
London - £5.99
|
|
||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
 |
||||
|
| ||||
|
||||
 |
||||||||
|
|
|
||||||
|
||||||||
