The Rest Is Noise: February 2013

We're listening to the 20th century. Throughout 2013, the London Philharmonic Orchestra appears as the major orchestral partner in Southbank Centre’s year-long, multi-art-form festival The Rest Is Noise. The festival ooks at the key works of the 20th century through a wide lens, taking in the political happenings, social movements, cultural climates and personal stories that gave rise to these inspiring and sometimes controversial pieces of music. The 1920s collaboration between Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht on The Threepenny Opera created one of the biggest musical hits of its time. The combination of 18th-century ballad texts, European swing and dance music and American jazz all conceived on an operatic scale successfully bridged the gap between mass entertainment and elitist high culture. The LPO's Principal Conductor Vladimir Jurowski introduces the work. LPO bassoonist Gareth Newman talks about the famous solo opening of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, and principal percussionist Andy Barclay explains the huge changes in the use composers made of percussion in the orchestra during the course of the 20th century. Visit lpo.org.uk for full details of all the LPO's concerts and recordings.