Duncan Ward Conducts BMW Classics: Free Summer Concert in Trafalgar Square on 13 July 2024

This year’s BMW Classics, the free summer concert on 13 July at 5pm, highlights the continued partnership between BMW Group and the London Symphony Orchestra, which for the last twelve years has brought superlative live orchestral music to audiences in one of the world’s most iconic public spaces, Trafalgar Square, and to tens of thousands more around the globe watching on YouTube.

The 2024 BMW Classics concert conducted by Duncan Ward opens with Emmanuelle Chabrier’s exuberant crowd-pleasing Joyeuse marche with Brahms’ similarly frenzied and rhythmic dance piece Rondo alla zingarese to follow. For the central section of the concert, the LSO plays the world premiere of Joanna Lee’s new work, beams.bellows.bounds, specially commissioned for this occasion. This piece, written for a mixed-ability orchestra, brings together LSO musicians with 50 young musicians from east London as part of the LSO Discovery programmes. For the final half of the concert the Orchestra will perform Stravinsky’s magical score for the ballet Petrushka.

Dame Kathryn McDowell, Managing Director of the LSO: “BMW Classics concerts are the highlight of the Orchestra’s London Season, an important fixture in London’s summer calendar of music events and always a great moment to capture an audience of first timers and passersby, there is nothing quite like it. On behalf of the LSO and our audiences in Trafalgar Square and online, a big thank you to our esteemed partner BMW Group, and the Mayor of London for making this possible.”

Mr Walter Mertl, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Finance: “We are pleased to announce that we will continue our partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra for another three years. Thanks to our ongoing collaboration, on 13 July it will once again be possible to experience an unforgettable concert evening with first-class live orchestral music. BMW Group’s commitment to great music is an integral part of our global cultural engagement, which has been inspiring people around the world for more than half a century. I am very much looking forward to seeing Duncan Ward, the LSO and young musicians on stage.”

Sadiq Khan, The Mayor of London: “I am delighted that the London Symphony Orchestra will return to play in the heart of our capital this summer for BMW Classics. Trafalgar Square will once again become our biggest open-air classical concert venue entertaining both Londoners and visitors with this free performance. It will also be a fantastic opportunity for young musicians from East London to perform alongside the LSO on this world-renowned stage, as we build a better London for everyone.”

Joanna Lee, composer: “It is a complete honour to be commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra to compose a piece for LSO Discovery young musicians to perform alongside the LSO. beams.bellows.bounds is inspired by my time working nearby Trafalgar Square, when I would often sit in the Square and observe the dance-like nature of life, from morning to late: from the balletic beams of the still morning sun; to the brash bellows of taxis in cyclical motion and the pounding heartbeat of lines of protesters; and the exuberant bounds of street performers and audiences. The piece embraces the importance of music and musicians, and I am excited to hear its premiere at BMW Classics!”

BMW Classics 2024
London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor Duncan Ward
Saturday, 13 July 2024, 5pm
Trafalgar Square & Online  

Emmanuelle Chabrier Joyeuse marche
Johannes Brahms Rondo alla zingarese
Joanna Lee beams.bellows.bounds (world premiere) *
Igor Stravinsky Petrushka  

Duncan Ward conductor
LSO Discovery Musicians *
Guildhall School Musicians *
London Symphony Orchestra  

For audiences around the world, the concert will be live streamed on the London Symphony Orchestra’s Youtube Channel and Facebook page, and will be available to watch on demand from 14 days after the concert for up to 90 days.

For further information please refer to the website www.lso.co.uk/bmwclassics. For press material, please visit  https://lso.co.uk/more/press.html.