Barbara Hannigan in Focus, Barbican

Charismatic Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan is the focus of this two-day celebration at the Barbican. A superstar of the singing world, she has attracted some effusive praise. Over two performances, Hannigan will be able to show her skill as both a performer and a conductor, across a repertoire that ranges across a century.
Themed around classicism, the first concert at the Barbican Hall brings together the music of Mozart and Haydn with Stravinsky’s take on the music of the eighteenth century. An eclectic mixture of operatic arias, symphonies and overtures offers a tantalizing taste of this sonic milieu. Haydn’s dark-hued and sombre La Passione symphony rubs shoulders with Mozart’s striking Overture to Idomeneo, while Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite bursts with piquant dissonances and good humour.
The second evening, in the more intimate Milton Court Concert Hall, transports us to fin-de-siècle Vienna. “Decadent and dripping with passion”, this luxurious programme is suffused with love, loss and longing, with rich harmonies and sensuous textures. The groundbreaking harmonic experiments of Schoenberg’s poetic String Quartet No. 2 jostle with the luxurious romanticism of Richard Strauss’s Capriccio, while Mahler’s Piano Quartet exposes the darker, more turbulent side of its composer. Pieces by Berg and Chausson complete the line-up.
Known for their adventurous programming and dynamic performances, the Britten Sinfonia are an ideal ensemble to accompany Hannigan on her musical journey. As both conductor and singer, these concerts provide a chance to sample her multi-faceted talent. The combination of exceptional ensemble and outstanding artist should provide something special indeed.