Already set to enjoy a high profile summer as the orchestra that has recorded the national anthems to be used at the Olympics, the London Philharmonic will be celebrating a towering achievement of a different kind on Thursday, when it plays at the inauguration of The Shard.
The ceremony, to mark the opening of Europe’s tallest building, will involve a spectacular light and laser show. The LPO will accompany the visual elements with a performance of Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and the finale of Stravinsky’s The Firebird.
‘The Shard has instantly become an iconic image of London’s creativity,’ says LPO chief executive Timothy Walker about the 95-storey building. ‘The London Philharmonic Orchestra, central to London’s cultural life for 80 years, is delighted to welcome its new neighbour by being part of The Shard’s opening celebrations.’
The celebrations are set to begin at 10.15pm on Thursday and will be streamed live online.