Lawrence Power with Thomas Adès: Fairy-Tale Dances

The Southbank Centre Resident Artist for Autumn/Winter 2024/25 is joined by one of Britain’s most celebrated composers for a concert like no other, celebrating song and dance. Look out, too, for foyer events around the performance with Power, Adès and their colleagues. The first half is devoted to British music past and present, with works by Adès, Britten and Tippett inspired by early songs of Purcell and Dowland, played alongside the originals. Next, Adès’ Märchentänze (Fairytale Dances) evoke the world of English folk song, with one movement celebrating the calls of skylarks. After the interval, Power and his percussionist partner perform Berio’s Naturale, subtitled ‘action for dance’ and inspired by Sicilian folk music. The duo are joined on stage by a dancer. The concert concludes with Stravinsky’s Divertimento, from the seductive ballet score Le baiser de la fée (The Fairy’s Kiss).