Performer: Philharmonia Orchestra

The Philharmonia’s Chief Conductor Designate takes to the floor for Johann Strauss’ Fledermaus and his own suite based on Richard Strauss' Elektra. 

Seong-Jin Cho gives an impressive performance of Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, and Santtu-Matias Rouvali crafts a mesmerising reading of Shostakovich's 11th Symphony, free of sentimentality and bombast.

At Gloucester Cathedral, works by Cecilia McDowall and Edmund Rubbra, despite their indirectness and small scale, make an impact even stronger then Beethoven.

Adrian Partington opens the 2026 Three Choirs Festival with a powerful performance of music by Elgar and Walton, plus a UK premiere from Gavin Higgins. 

A handbag? Jack Furness’ uproarious new production of Gerald Barry’s irreverent take Oscar Wilde bares some very sharp teeth. 

The Philharmonia, Santtu-Matias Rouvali and Benjamin Grosvenor shine in the recreation of an all-Strauss extravaganza that was conducted in 1947 by the composer himself. 

Manfred Honeck will become only the seventh Principal Conductor in the Philharmonia Orchestra’s history.

The new work will include the bells being cast for the eighteen towers of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, which is expected to be completed in 2026 after 144 years.

While London can often seem daunting, the Southbank Centre offers a heady mix of culture – music, theatre, film and contemporary art – within easy walking distance of under a mile.