From minimalism to modernism, electronics to experimentalism and complexity to collaborations: welcome to the exciting and compelling world of new music and sound that makes up our 2009/10 season.

John Adams conducts the season-opening concert at Southbank Centre
The season opens on 27 September at the QEH with John Adams conducting the ensemble in the UK premiere of his Son of Chamber Symphony. This concert also features a European premiere from Paul Dresher and works by John Cage and David Lang.

Sonic Explorations festival at Kings Place
The following week, 1-3 October London Sinfonietta host a mini festival at Kings Place: Sonic Explorations. This 3-day event, curated with Jonathan Harvey explores the vast and compelling world of electroacoustic music through a series of concerts, talks, films, workshops and more. Classic works from around the globe including Stockhausen’s Pole and Berio’s Différences feature alongside world premieres and music from some of Britain’s best emerging composing talent including Mira Calix, Tim Exile, Dai Fujikura, Emily Hall and Claudia Molitor.

Steve Reich performs with the London Sinfonietta for the first time
Later on 31 October, Steve Reich joins the ensemble Steve on stage to perform his iconic Music for 18 Musicians.

World premiere from Richard Barrett
On 3 December the London Sinfonietta performs Jonathan Harvey’s Bhakti, alongside the London premiere of Richard Barrett’s new work Mesopotamia, commissioned by the ensemble. Both are conducted by Pierre-André Valade.

George Benjamin celebration
George Benjamin turns 50 in 2010, and in tribute to the close relationship he has with the ensemble, London Sinfonietta are marking the occasion at the QEH on 7 February. This concert will celebrate Benjamin’s work as a composer, conductor, performer and teacher and will feature At First Light, his first ever commission from the London Sinfonietta.

Rihm, Barry and Ayres premieres
March sees a month of premieres, with the UK premiere of Wolfgang Rihm’s Concerto ‘Séraphin’ on 13 March at the Barbican. There is also the London premiere of Gerald Barry’s Beethoven , a work based around the only surviving love letter written by Beethoven, and the UK premiere of Richard Ayres’ unusual and touching work about love in the mountains No 42 (In the Alps). Both these works will be performed at the QEH on 17 March.

Neglected master Castiglioni performed by Oliver Knussen
March also sees the return of our Conductor Laureate Oliver Knussen for a performance on March 31 featuring a selection of works by the important but neglected Italian composer Niccolò Castiglioni.

Varèse 360º
Between 16-18 April, the London Sinfonietta take part in a major retrospective at Southbank Centre exploring the iconic, modernist and visionary composer Edgard Varèse whose complete works will be performed over a weekend in collaboration with experimental New York video artist Gary Hill.

London Sinfonietta Reveal
29 April – 1 May sees the London Sinfonietta continue its series of mini festivals at Kings Place with three days of events that uncover contemporary music and explore new collaborations. Reveal will uncover the soundworld of some of the most important figures in contemporary music with a series of bitesize composer portraits, as well as opening up the workings of the ensemble to the public with open rehearsals, workshops, and much more. Don’t miss the surprising musical collaborations of the final performance, including a set with emerging indie band Micachu and the Shapes.

London Sinfonietta Collective Night
The season closes in June with a unique event curated by the new London Sinfonietta Collective . The LS Collective is a group of young people from across London who will create, curate and produce work and events throughout the season culminating at this concert on 3 June. The concert will feature world premieres from Dai Fujikura and Larry Goves, both of whom have been members of our Blue Touch Paper scheme.

Touring in UK and Internationally
Throughout the season the London Sinfonietta will also be touring around the UK and overseas. In November they visit the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival where Richard Barrett’s Mesopotamia will receive its world premiere. In April, sees a welcome return to the Turner Sims Hall in Southampton and there will also be two trips to Suffolk next summer for the second half of the Surf and Turf community project which started so successfully this year, in partnership with Orchestras Live. Overseas touring includes visits to Polish festivals Sacrum Profanum (Krakow) and the Warsaw Autumn Festival in September, Mexico in November, Adelaide Festival in February and Spain in February and March.

London Sinfonietta goes digital
All of the events in the season will be enhanced by digital content online including interviews, podcasts and videos designed to help you find out more about the music and the people behind it. The season’s progress can also be followed on the new London Sinfonietta blog and through our social network pages on Twitter, Facebook , My Space and Dilettante.

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