News and Press

The French composer Francis Poulenc was no stranger to London. Over the course of his life he made intimate connections with orchestras, audiences and critics in the city that warmly received his music throughout the mid-twentieth century and beyond. A composer of ballets, chamber music, piano works, operas and choral music, he had a natural tendency towards the fluid yet fragile quality of the human voice and its infinite capacity for devotion, as demonstrated in the opera Dialogues of the Carmelites and pieces such as La voix humaine and Gloria. A man known for his sense of humour that permeated his music, he was a devout Catholic, and his religious feelings can be felt most keenly in his choral repertoire.

Want to go beyond the concert programme in our 2025–26 Season? Accompanying our series with Music Director Vasily Petrenko at Southbank Centre and the Royal Albert Hall, our #MoreMusic playlists help you discover music with pieces that defined the lives and journeys of the composers we feature, as well as historical recordings and works by their contemporaries.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) Resound team was thrilled to take part in an exciting day of learning and fun at Thorpe Park, as part of ACS International Schools’ STEAM Day, celebrating science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. It offered young people the chance to learn about a variety of topics through interactive experiences. After taking part in learning activities, participants collected stamps that could be redeemed to enjoy their favourite rides at Thorpe Park.