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London Symphony Orchestra coming to Aust

Liz HobdayAAP
Sir Simon Rattle will lead the London Symphony Orchestra concerts held in Australia next year. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO)
Camera IconSir Simon Rattle will lead the London Symphony Orchestra concerts held in Australia next year. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO) Credit: AAP

The London Symphony Orchestra will play a series of concerts in Australia, led by conductor Sir Simon Rattle in his final season as music director.

The orchestra last toured Australia in 2014, and the trip will be the fourth Down Under in its 120-year history.

The LSO will play two concerts in both Brisbane and Melbourne and five at the Sydney Opera House, which it first played while the landmark was built in 1966.

Sir Simon said the program for the tour in April and May 2023 includes some of his favourite pieces, and has been designed to show off the musicians' range and skill.

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"It is always wonderful to be in Australia, and even more so after recent years - the feeling of sharing and experiencing live music together is something truly special," he said.

Including Australian violinists Naoko Keatley and Belinda McFarlane, 114 musicians will play on the tour, the largest-ever contingent of LSO players to travel to Australia.

The program features John Adams' Harmonielehre, Claude Debussy's La Mer and Maurice Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe Suite No.2.

A second program features Gustav Mahler's epic Symphony No.7, a third will showcase Sun Poem by British composer Daniel Kidane, with extra shows at the Opera House to feature a complete performance of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No.7.

The London Symphony Orchestra is among the world's best, and has recorded soundtracks including Star Wars, Indiana Jones and The Shape of Water.

Tickets go on sale later in August.

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