Photo by Aurelien Guichard.
So, unfortunately, you won’t be able to see the specific concert that I saw because it is now finished. I say unfortunately because Leonidas Kavakos’ violin Concerto was fantastic, and Vladimir Jurowski’s interpretation of The Divine Poem was phenomenal.
But enough about sounding pomp, and onto why I’m actually writing this. Twice this last month, I’ve gone to see the symphony at the Royal Festival Hall. This Sunday I went to see Slambassadors UK, a poetry slam for kids between the ages of 12 and 18.
The whole place is called Southbank Centre. The symphony was played in a 2,500 seat auditorium; the poetry slam was played on a makeshift stage on a ballroom, open for everyone there to see.
The Southbank Centre also has a poetry library, five floors with different things on each of them, a café, a shop, a bar, and a restaurant. It’s quite big.
It’s also located right next to the river, a small walk east from the London Eye.
They host multiple events, including the symphony most days of the week. Some events are free, some will cost. Unfortunately, the symphony is not free, but if you’re a student you can get into some showings for £4. That’s right – and no matter what seat, too.
I’m going on a tangent though. I guess what I’m trying to say is that there is always something going on there. So if you ever find yourself along the South Bank and want to test your luck (or if you’ve planned ahead because you’re an organised old soul), pop into the Southbank Centre and enjoy an afternoon there. It really is a fantastic place.
As an added bonus, there’s a Foyles Book Shop below it. So if you’re a nerd like me, it’s just a win-win situation.
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