Performer: Philharmonia Orchestra

Any performance of Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony is an event, but this mighty Philharmonia account at the Royal Festival Hall proves extra special. 

The Icelandic pianist and Finnish conductor make a superb case for John Adams' latest concerto; the Philharmonia play Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé strongly but don't convince completely.

Stepping in for Sir Donald Runnicles at very short notice, Lawrences Renes conducts the Philharmonia in a sleek and vivid reading of Bruckner's magisterial Eighth Symphony. 

The new work will include the bells being cast for the eighteen towers of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, which is expected to be completed in 2026 after 144 years.

While London can often seem daunting, the Southbank Centre offers a heady mix of culture – music, theatre, film and contemporary art – within easy walking distance of under a mile.

The conductor who transformed The Cleveland Orchestra into one of the world's leading ensembles died on 6th September 2025, just two days before his 96th birthday.