Latest news with #BarbicanHall
Times
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Classical Pride review — queer composers, a drag queen and the LSO
I never imagined that I would see that fastidious composer George Benjamin sharing a platform with Jonny Woo, a voluminously bewigged drag queen who served as the concert's presenter and easily looked around seven feet tall. But that was the wonder of London's grand finale to this year's edition of the LGBTQ+ showcase Classical Pride, which highlights queer composers both past and present. It was an event so joyful and welcoming that a packed Barbican Hall couldn't stop clapping, whether the London Symphony Orchestra was playing emotionally tumescent Tchaikovsky (the suite from Swan Lake) or the rarefied sensuality of Benjamin's Dream of the Song, a 2015 song cycle for lyrical countertenor, gently wafting women's voices and a small ensemble. The audience indeed leapt into applause before this had finished, possibly keen to move the concert on toward something more user-friendly. But even if Benjamin's crystalline undulations wouldn't have been everyone's cup of tea, it was easy to appreciate that the countertenor Cameron Shahbazi was a superb singer; that the LSO, conducted by Classical Pride's founder Oliver Zeffman, was being very refined; and that the voices of Tenebrae added their own magic, weaving and wafting in the background. • Nothing stayed in the background, of course, with the powerful American mezzo Jamie Barton, famous waver of the Pride rainbow flag at the Last Night of the Proms in 2019. Each of her three numbers, nonetheless, struck a different musical note. First came the premiere of a commissioned song from fellow American Jake Heggie, forming the third in his cycle Good Morning, Beauty, exploring a love relationship's evolution over time. Written in dramatic cabaret style, Or Am I in a Rut (words by Taylor Mac) made an immediate impact. So, in the operatic vein, did an aria from Saint-Saëns' Samson et Dalila, even though Barton's urgent delivery finally became more shrill than winning. No miscalculation, happily, disturbed her sensitive account of Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz. What else? There was Jennifer Higdon's blue cathedral, a reflective and ultimately uplifting tone poem, triggered by the death of Higdon's younger brother, although the best LSO showcase remained the Swan Lake suite, dashingly conducted by Zeffman, with some gorgeous harp finery from Bryn Lewis. I should note as well the early evening half-hour song recital that usefully paraded talented young artistes (soprano Harriet Burns, baritone Jonathan Eyers, pianist/composer Edward Picton-Turbervill), but also reminded us that the shape and acoustic of a sparsely filled Barbican Hall make clearly hearing the words being sung close to mission impossible. ★★★★☆ Barbican, London @timesculture
The Guardian
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
The rise of climate denialism, with George Monbiot and special guests
From governments and big oil companies turning their back on climate promises to secretive lobby groups and far-right politicians fuelling anti-green climate moments, in the last few years we've witnessed a dramatic shift away from the progress we need to avert climate disaster. A growing lobby of economic and political denial has been empowered by the Trump administration, which has declared war on climate progress, launching more dramatic anti-green moves in its first 100 days than in his entire first term. Around the world, a growing number of lawsuits are being used against governments over environmental laws and other regulations, while groups such as Greenpeace are being targeted too. Is climate being weaponised? How do we face this new kind of opposition to climate action? Live at the Barbican Hall in London, we've invited a selection of climate and activist groups to showcase meaningful initiatives you can participate in. Before the event starts, you'll have the opportunity to connect with them, engage in insightful discussions with like-minded people, and learn more about what we can all do to tackle the climate crisis. We'll then be joined by the Guardian columnist George Monbiot; Mikaela Loach, the climate justice activist and author; and other special guests to discuss the factors driving the big climate pushback. This is your chance to hear first-hand from leading climate experts and activists, and to ask them your own questions. This panel discussion will also be livestreamed globally. Plus, by purchasing a ticket and attending this event – and all our Guardian Live events – you're directly supporting the Guardian. This helps us continue our quality, independent reporting on the environment, and curate more interactive events such as this. You can join this event in-person at the Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS, or via the livestream. Tickets start from £31.50 (£20 student tickets available) to attend the event in person, or £15 to watch it online. See tickets for further details. Book tickets – in person or livestream Date: Tuesday 16 September 2025 Time: 7.30pm-9pm (BST) Or see this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time. Location: Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS, or join via the livestream Accessibility: The Barbican is wheelchair accessible. For detailed access information for the venue, please see their website here. If you have any access requirements you are eligible for 1 x free companion ticket, to notify us of this and your requirements, please email If you miss this live event, a recording will be sent to you. It will be available for two weeks so you can catch-up or revisit the event in your own time. What are the terms and conditions? By proceeding, you agree to the Guardian Live events Terms and Conditions. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy. How do I access a livestream event? This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform Vimeo, please refer to their privacy policy and terms and conditions before purchasing a ticket to the event. After registering, please refer to your confirmation email for access to the event. Will there be closed captions available? Yes closed captions will be available for this event. Guardian Live brings you closer to the big stories, award-winning journalists, and leading thinkers in livestreamed and interactive events that you can access from wherever you are in the world. To stay informed, sign up to our newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram.
