London Symphony Orchestra – Groundbreaking Collaborations 

Opening the series is Tangram x SANSARA: Chronicle at LSO St Luke’s on 30 and 31 August. Created by multidisciplinary artist collective Tangram in collaboration with acclaimed vocal ensemble SANSARA, Chronicle is an immersive work of choral theatre inspired by the poetry of six remarkable women spanning more than a thousand years of Chinese history. Blending newly commissioned music with movement, visual design and text, the production reflects Tangram’s distinctive cross-cultural approach to storytelling and marks one of the first major projects of the collective’s residency as LSO St Luke’s Associate Artists.

On 16 September, composer, singer, songwriter and cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson presents New Roots: First Light, launching her own Associate Artist residency at LSO St Luke’s. Inspired by her forthcoming album New Roots, the performance brings together live music, spoken word, dance and conversation in an evening exploring identity, ancestry, healing and renewal. Joining Witter-Johnson will be poet Inua Ellams, dancer Remi Ferdinand, presenter Ashley Joseph and members of her band, continuing a creative relationship with the London Symphony Orchestra that stretches back more than fifteen years.

The season culminates at the Barbican on 19 November, when acclaimed saxophonist, composer and rapper Soweto Kinch reunites with the London Symphony Orchestra as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. Trilogy brings together the three large-scale works Kinch has created with the Orchestra since 2019: The Black Peril, White Juju and Soundtrack to the Apocalypse. Conducted by André de Ridder, the concert traces themes of history, identity and social change through an ambitious fusion of jazz, orchestral music, hip hop and spoken word, celebrating one of the most significant ongoing creative partnerships between the LSO and a contemporary British jazz artist.

Stephanie Hutchinson, Head of LSO Discovery, said:

“These three concerts capture the spirit of what we aim to achieve across LSO St Luke’s and the Barbican by working with artists who are expanding the possibilities of live performance. Tangram, Ayanna Witter-Johnson and Soweto Kinch each bring a unique artistic voice, creating work that draws together different musical traditions, disciplines and communities. We’re proud to support these long-term creative relationships and to share performances that invite audiences to experience orchestral music in fresh and unexpected ways.”

Together, these performances reflect the London Symphony Orchestra’s commitment to supporting long-term artistic collaborations and championing original voices across contemporary music. From immersive choral theatre and multidisciplinary performance to orchestral jazz, the programme demonstrates the breadth of the Orchestra’s creative partnerships and its commitment to presenting work that crosses artistic and cultural boundaries.