Pekka Kuusisto Plays Sibelius

Pekka Kuusisto joins the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall on Wednesday 24 February 2027, for a programme that puts the Finnish violinist at the centre of the evening. He's the main draw here, and the set is built around his relationship with Sibelius.

The night opens with Sir George Benjamin's Concerto for Orchestra, a brilliant piece written as a homage to an old friend. From there, the focus shifts to Sibelius, with Kuusisto taking the lead on the Violin Concerto and the orchestra following with The Swan of Tuonela from the Lemminkäinen Suite. The evening closes with Tippett's Symphony No. 4. The whole thing runs about two hours and five minutes.

Kuusisto is one of the more original talents working in orchestral music right now, and he's built his reputation on a certain kind of spontaneity. He's spoken about growing up with the idea that playing the violin was about being in the moment rather than following a script, and that comes through in his approach to the Sibelius concerto. It's a work that gives a soloist plenty of room to make their own mark, so it suits a player who likes to keep things fresh.

The LPO is conducted by Edward Gardner, and the concert is part of their Classical Season for Spring/Summer 2027 and their Artist Residencies. Standard entry starts from £20, with concessions available. It starts at 7.30pm at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.