From Tragedy to Triumph
St John's Smith Square, St John's Church Smith Square, SW1P 3HA , [Venue Details]Join the London City Orchestra at Smith Square Hall to witness music's extraordinary power to transform human suffering into transcendent art.
We begin with Brahms’ ‘Tragic Overture’, which confronts darkness head-on. Composed in 1880 as the sombre counterpart to his ‘Academic Festival Overture’, it whips up a storm of emotional energy, embodying what Brahms called “the serious side of life”.
Next is Sibelius’ haunting ‘Valse Triste’. Originally composed for a 1903 play, this melancholic waltz depicts a dying woman’s fevered dream, where she dances with memories and ghosts. At the end, four solo violins add a fragile, otherworldly coda.
Shostakovich’s monumental Seventh Symphony completes the arc from despair to defiance. It was composed during the 1941 siege of Leningrad, a time of unimaginable suffering for citizens. This epic work transforms the nightmare of war – represented by the famous ‘invasion theme’ in the first movement – into ultimate victory.
The most significant performance took place in Leningrad in August 1942, when loudspeakers broadcast the work throughout the city as an act of resistance. Today, Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony remains symbolic of a spirit of hope and resilience.
More Information
Admission
Min: £15.00
Max: £24.00
Performer name: London City Orchestra
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From Tragedy to Triumph
Saturday, 4 Jul 2026 @7.30pm
St John's Smith Square, St John's Church Smith Square, SW1P 3HAMore Information
Join the London City Orchestra at Smith Square Hall to witness music's extraordinary power to transform human suffering into transcendent art.
We begin with Brahms’ ‘Tragic Overture’, which confronts darkness head-on. Composed in 1880 as the sombre counterpart to his ‘Academic Festival Overture’, it whips up a storm of emotional energy, embodying what Brahms called “the serious side of life”.
Next is Sibelius’ haunting ‘Valse Triste’. Originally composed for a 1903 play, this melancholic waltz depicts a dying woman’s fevered dream, where she dances with memories and ghosts. At the end, four solo violins add a fragile, otherworldly coda.
Shostakovich’s monumental Seventh Symphony completes the arc from despair to defiance. It was composed during the 1941 siege of Leningrad, a time of unimaginable suffering for citizens. This epic work transforms the nightmare of war – represented by the famous ‘invasion theme’ in the first movement – into ultimate victory.
The most significant performance took place in Leningrad in August 1942, when loudspeakers broadcast the work throughout the city as an act of resistance. Today, Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony remains symbolic of a spirit of hope and resilience.
Admission
Min: £15.00
Max: £24.00
Performer name: London City Orchestra
Halibuts is the only place to find ALL London's live music.
Free for all to use, we track ~1,000 London venues and list every type of live music.
To reach our home page, Click here
Or download the Halibuts APP:
IOS
ANDROID