Events Calendar

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Turangalîla: Infinite Love

Thursday 23 April 2026, 7.30pm
Royal Festival Hall

Messiaen Turangalîla-Symphonie

Vasily Petrenko Conductor
Cécile Lartigau Ondes Martenot
Steven Osborne OBE Piano
1927 Mixed-media theatre company

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Imagine an explosion of love on a cosmic scale. Mix in some 1940s Hollywood glamour, a pounding rhythmic workout and the sounds of a Javanese gamelan, and then wash it all in blissful impressionist colours. Now add a huge orchestra, a world-class pianist and a vintage electronic instrument straight out of science fiction and you’re still not even halfway to imagining Messiaen’s mind-boggling Turangalîla-Symphonie. 77 years after its premiere, it still sounds like nothing on earth. 

‘A love song, a hymn to joy, time, movement, rhythm, life and death’ was how Messiaen himself described this vast, vibrant psychedelic masterpiece, and Vasily Petrenko, star pianist Steven Osborne and a super-sized Royal Philharmonic Orchestra turn the volume up to 11. Inspired by the golden age of silent cinema, 1927 Studios – the visionary team behind the Komische Opera Berlin’s 2012 production of The Magic Flute (★★★★ The Guardian) – create an original film to play alongside the cosmic symphony. This is music that contains multitudes: every performance is a special occasion. Don’t miss this one. 

This performance is part of the Southbank Centre’s Multitudes festival.


Eye icon website large print programmes

Large print versions and digital formats of the programme for this concert are available on request for customers with accessibility requirements. Please email your request to Doran Crowhurst crowhurstd@rpo.co.uk at least one full week before the performance.


Ticket information

Doors: 6.45pm

Concert starts: 7.30pm (approximate end time: 9pm)

Tickets from £18*

*Booking fees apply online (£3.50) and over the phone (£4). There are no booking fees for in-person bookings, Southbank Centre Members, Supporters Circles and Patrons.

Ticket prices include a £2 restoration levy, enabling the Southbank Centre to care for its historic buildings. Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand. See the Southbank Centre website for information about concessions. Under-12s must be accompanied by an adult on the Southbank Centre site. Find all of the Southbank Centre’s ticket terms and conditions at southbankcentre.co.uk/website-ticket-terms. If you'd like to get in touch, write to Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX, phone 020 3879 9555 or email hello@southbankcentre.co.uk

Subscription discounts

Save 10% off tickets when you book three or more Royal Philharmonic Orchestra x Vasily Petrenko concerts at the Southbank Centre.

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