The Southbank Centre is seen as an arbiter of London cultural taste, especially latterly under the leadership of Jude Kelly. And after 2013-14's season, themed after the Alex Ross book The Rest Is Noise (a brilliant conceit), there is considerable interest in her follow-up.
So, the headlines. A new work from Harrison Birtwistle, marking his 80th birthday (funny how composers are expected to effectively write their own birthday presents...it might have been nice to have also asked other composers to write something in his honor). And contemporary music looms large as a major theme.
Hence, a percussion festival stretching across four months.
There will be new works by female composers such as Anna Clyne (whom, incidentally, Classicalite just interviewed). Kelly made the point in a press conference that women need to be more fully and fairly represented at all levels of classical music.
And there will also be a new work based on The Pied Piper of Hamelin by Michael Morpurgo.
Tradition and star names will also be there in abundance, as ever. Daniel Barenboim will play a Schubert piano series, there will be a Rachmaninov focus, and Simon Rattle will work with amateur and children musicians for a special event in the Clore ballroom.
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