BBC Symphony Orchestra: Making America Events
Fri 24 Apr 2026
- 19:30Barbican, London
Hollywood dreams meet all-American nightmares. Fabien Gabel conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in music from Vertigo and The Sea Hawk – and dives into the myths and memories of a new American century.
Hollywood dreams meet all-American nightmares. Fabien Gabel conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in music from Vertigo and The Sea Hawk – and dives into the myths and memories of a new American century.
Programme
- Suite from 'Vertigo'
- Bestia: Concerto for Trumpet & OrchestraBBC Co-Commission and World Premiere
- interval
- Suite from 'Fire Shut Up in My Bones'
- The Sea Hawk
Performers
- Fabien Gabelconductor
- Selina Otttrumpet
Fri 8 May 2026
- 19:30Barbican, London
Dark ships and shining seas: John Adams’s Harmonielehre is the dazzling climax to a concert celebrating the American dream at its most terrible – and hopeful.
Dark ships and shining seas: John Adams’s Harmonielehre is the dazzling climax to a concert celebrating the American dream at its most terrible – and hopeful.
Programme
- Hundred Heads
- Diaspora: Concerto for Saxophone and OrchestraUK Premiere
- interval
- Harmonielehre
Performers
- Elena Schwarzconductor
- Steven Bankssaxophone
Composers
Sun 17 May 2026
- 19:30Barbican, London
The BBC Symphony Orchestra presents Requiem for America: Singing for the Invisible People — Brent Michael Davids’s searing work which confronts hard truths about America’s founding.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra presents Requiem for America: Singing for the Invisible People — Brent Michael Davids’s searing work which confronts hard truths about America’s founding.
Programme
- Requiem for America: Singing for the Invisible People
Performers
- Teddy Abramsconductor
- Brent Michael DavidsNative American flute
- BBC Symphony Choruschorus
Composers
Fri 22 May 2026
- 19:30Barbican, London
Strangers in a strange land: Sakari Oramo conducts music by Bartók and Korngold, European composers stranded in America and dreaming of a better world.
Strangers in a strange land: Sakari Oramo conducts music by Bartók and Korngold, European composers stranded in America and dreaming of a better world.
Programme
- Violin Concerto in D major
- interval
- Concerto for Orchestra
Performers
- Sakari Oramoconductor
- María Dueñasviolin
Composers



