Sunday 8 July 2.30–3.30pm, Barbican Hall

FAMILY CONCERT

Today’s programme

VOY AGER

‘This is a present from a small, distant world, a token of our sounds, our science, our images, our music, our thoughts and our feelings ... This record represents our hope and our determination, and our good will in a vast and awesome universe.’

US President Jimmy Carter’s message on Voyager 1

The wonders of the cosmos have always been a source of fascination for humankind. 35,000 years ago, even early African and European stargazers tracked the phases of the moon as it turned about a planet that they had no idea they were on. Their curiosity for the celestial marks the beginning of a millennia-long journey from the first agricultural societies to the ancient Greeks, through Copernicus, Galileo, Sputnik, Apollo and finally to Voyager, one of the most ambitious space projects ever undertaken.

In 1977 the United States launched two Voyager probes into the heavens. Their mission over the next 30 years was to examine and measure the planets of our solar system and then venture out beyond it, into the unknown, carrying forth a message that will travel through space for the next 10,000 years.

Welcome to this afternoon’s LSO Discovery Family Concert at the Barbican. We are delighted that you are able to join us as we present Voyager, the story of a distant traveller, Kepler, who having discovered a Voyager probe, beams herself down to the Barbican Hall to learn about humankind. What will she learn about us, and with your help, will she get home to her distant galaxy?

We’ll hear music from 200 years ago alongside much more recent pieces, some of which you’ll know and some you likely won’t. From Beethoven’s best-known symphonic opening to Holst’s famous piece ‘Jupiter’ and the music which accompanied Elliott as he soared over the forest in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, it promises to be a fantastic programme. We hope you enjoy the show.

Dmitri Shostakovich Allegro from ‘Symphony No 10’ Loud and boisterous, this short movement from one of Shostakovich’s symphonies is quite the gallop! It features chugging low strings and lots of notes for the trumpet.

Charles Ives The Unanswered Question Against the backdrop of shimmering strings, a solo trumpet repeatedly asks ‘The Perennial Question of Existence’. A woodwind quartet tries in vain to answer, growing continually more urgent and confused.

Gustav Holst arr Gareth Davies Voyager to the tune of ‘I Vow to Thee, My Country’ (audience participation piece) This hymn uses the same tune as Gustav Holst’s ‘Jupiter’, which we heard earlier on, and has been set to new words by Gareth Davies. We hope you’re in good voice as you’ll need to help get kepler home!

John Williams Flying theme from ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ Conjuring images of flying bikes and extra-terrestrial spaceships, John Williams’ magical score to the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial remains a favourite for audiences. It’s one of our favourites to play too.

Richard Strauss Prelude from ‘Also sprach Zarathustra’ This music from 2001: A Space Odyssey’s iconic opening was originally taken from a piece by Richard Strauss from 1896. Hair-raisingly dramatic, the initial fanfare was titled ‘Sunrise’ by the composer.

John Adams Short Ride in a Fast Machine According to the composer, this piece from 1986 was inspired by the feeling of agreeing to ride in a terrific sports car and then wishing you hadn’t!

Ludwig van Beethoven ‘Allegro con brio’ from Symphony No 5 This is one of the best-known pieces of classical music. You’ll probably recognise its dramatic ‘dun-dun-dun-dah’ opening phrase, thought by some to represent fate knocking on the door, although Kepler has her own ideas!

Gustav Holst Jupiter from ‘The Planets’ Racing strings are followed by bold trumpets and horns in Holst’s fantastic vision of the solar system’s fifth planet. Make sure to watch the kettle drum player in the beginning – they have a lot of notes to play!

Olivier Messiaen Opening from ‘Les offrandes oubliées’ Mysterious and alien, the dark strings and woodwind from the opening of Messiaen’s 1930 piece transports the listener on a journey to another world.

NEXT TIMESaturday 27 October 2018 2.30–3.30pm Barbican Hall

LSO FAMILY CONCERT

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Under 18s can attend any LSO concert for just £5 Browse all our events at lso.co.uk

Elim Chan conductor

Born in Hong Kong, Elim Chan won the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition in December 2014, and as a result served as the LSO’s Assistant Conductor for the 2015/16 season. She was then appointed to the Dudamel Fellowship programme with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and in 2017/18 she served as Principal Conductor of the Orchestra of NorrlandsOperan. She begins her role as Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in September this year. From September 2019, she will be Chief Conductor of Antwerp Symphony Orchestra.

Elim Chan’s appearance with the LSO is generously supported by Reignwood.

Victor Craven creator & director

Victor Craven is a animator and director with a passion for classical music, theatre and film. He has many years experience of producing work for the creative arts and specialises in working with world-class orchestras and ensembles, stage directing and producing animations for live concert performance.

Gareth Davies writer

Gareth Davies joined the London Symphony Orchestra as Flute in 2000. Alongside his busy playing schedule, he has also written for BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone and Primephonic. His first book The Show Must Go On was a 2013 book of the year in the Financial Times and Classical Music Magazine. This is his second collaboration with Victor Craven for an LSO Family Concert following 2016’s ‘Game Over’.