The inspiring and seminal Listen to the 20th Century presents an odyssey into the history of 20th century music led by the awesome London Sinfonietta.

In the wake of the ambitious and much-acclaimed The Rest is Noise festival, London’s Southbank Centre and London Sinfonietta now bring this sweeping expedition through 20th century music to Singapore in a four-day tour-de-force.

A concert entitled Early Modernism and the Jazz Age opens this programme with music of the turn of the century that reveals early breaks with classical traditions. Listen then dives into The Age of Fear, with Russian composers whose works suffered censorship at the hands of the Soviet regime.

In an epic three-part concert, Post War Directions leads us into a fascinating period of experimentation with pioneers of the avant-garde, contemporary spirituality and minimalism. Fast forward to the "now" in the final concert, No More Rules, the audience will find the new and radical compositions a stimulating surprise.

Wonderfully distilling the brilliance of a century of music, this concert series will be performed by the London Sinfonietta and Singapore’s Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Orchestra.

Early Modernism and the Jazz Age
3 September, 8pm (1h15, with intermission)
Pre-show talk begins at 6.30pm

Claude Debussy | Prélude à l’après midi d’un faune
Anton Webern | Passacaglia
Arnold Schoenberg | Five pieces for orchestra
Edgard Varèse | Octandre
Kurt Weill | With a variety of songs for mezzo soprano
Igor Stravinsky | Three Pieces for String Quartet
Darius Milhaud | La Création du monde

The Age of Fear
5 September, 8pm (1h15, with intermission)
Pre-show talk begins at 6.30pm

Serge Prokofiev | Peter and the Wolf (with film)
Dimitri Shostakovich | Symphony No 5 opus 47

Post War Directions (A 3-Part Concert)
6 September, 6pm (3h, with breaks)
Pre-show talk begins at 4.30pm

Avant Garde
Karlheinz Stockhausen | Gesang der Junglinge
John Cage | Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano
Gyorgy Ligeti | Chamber Concerto
Luciano Berio | Folksongs (chamber version)
- Break (1h)-

Contemporary Spirituality
Steve Reich | Different Trains
Arvo Pärt | Fratres
Alfred Schnittke | Concerto Grosso No 1

- Break (1h)-

Minimalism
Terry Riley | In C

No More Rules
7 September, 3pm (1h15, with intermission)
Pre-show talk begins at 1.30pm

Toru Takemitsu | Rain Coming
Tom Ades | Chamber Symphony
Unsuk Chin| Gougalon
James MacMillan | The Confessions of Isabelle Gowdie

Southbank Centre
This world-famous arts centre located on London's South Bank is known for attracting diverse audiences and its wide range of cultural events.

London Sinfonietta
Founded in 1968, the London Sinfonietta is an English chamber orchestra placing the best contemporary classical music at the heart of today’s culture.


Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Orchestra
One of Asia's leading conservatory orchestras.