The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), founded in 1904, is the oldest of London's symphony orchestras and one of the most recorded ensembles in the world, with over 2,500 recordings to its name. Based at the Barbican Centre, it has performed under legendary conductors including Sir Colin Davis, Valery Gergiev and Sir Simon Rattle. Since September 2024, Sir Antonio Pappano - previously the longest-serving music director of the Royal Opera House - leads the orchestra as Chief Conductor. The LSO also runs its own label, LSO Live, which has collected Grammy, Gramophone and Classical Brit Awards since its launch in 1999.
The LSO announced its 2026/27 season at the Barbican, opening in October 2026 with Sir Antonio Pappano conducting the UK premiere of Dai Fujikura's Amber Alchemy alongside Mahler's 'Resurrection' Symphony.
Sir Antonio Pappano opened his second season as LSO Chief Conductor on 14 September 2025 at the Barbican with Bernstein's Symphony No. 3 'Kaddish' and Copland's Symphony No. 3.
The LSO officially reopened LSO St Luke's, its venue in a former East London church on Old Street, as a concert and community space.
The LSO announced a new cohort of postgraduate musicians as 2025/26 LSO Conservatoire Scholars, continuing its education programme.
Sir Antonio Pappano formally took up the role of LSO Chief Conductor in September 2024, succeeding Sir Simon Rattle.
The London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world's most renowned orchestras, performs in Dortmund.
World-renowned orchestra from London performing at Tonhalle Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf.
The London Symphony Orchestra performs at Kölner Philharmonie in Cologne.
The world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra performs at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.