Sir Simon Rattle conducts Messiaen and Jolas

Join us at the Barbican Centre for an exquisite program under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, who leads the venue’s resident ensemble, the London Symphony Orchestra, in the performance of one of the most prominent masterworks of the 20th century: Olivier Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie.

The centerpiece of a trilogy dedicated to the legend of Tristan and Isolde, Turangalîla-Symphonie stands out through its orchestration and rich sonic textures. Its performance requires an ensemble of 103 musicians, including numerous percussionists tasked with mimicking the sounds of the Balinese gamelan. At the ondes Martenot sits Cynthia Millar, a leading performer of the composer's signature instrument. Ces belles années, a sublime and sentimental work by Betsy Jolas, sung here by the composer’s niece—soprano Faustine de Monès, who also premiered the piece—completes the experience.