City of London Sinfonia explores ‘Patterns of Nature’ with autumn programme

City of London Sinfonia (CLS) is set to return to Smith Square Hall (formerly St John’s Smith Square) in autumn with a three-part concert series centred around the theme of ‘patterns of nature’. The brand-new programme is curated with three who will collaborate with CLS to explore climate awareness and environmental themes through music.

The programme will feature Oxford University Professor of Mathematical Physics James Spark; science communicator, atmospheric physicist and author Dr Simon Clark and transdisciplinary researcher and Chelsea Physic Garden composer-in-residence Dr Helen Anahita Wilson alongside guest performers including mezzo-soprano Yvonne Howard, tenor Satriya Krisna and conductor Kenneth Woods.

CLS chief executive officer Rowan Rutter said: ‘Over the past year we’ve been asking ourselves why we do what we do, beyond the making and sharing of music – because we as an orchestra want to be a more significant vehicle for social change and impact. We also want to redefine and broaden the concept of excellence within our output of classical music; expanding the definition beyond the excellence of playing to incorporate an excellence of experience and interaction for our audiences and the way that they share in the process with us. This also gives us the opportunity to broaden who we work with, inviting speakers, academics, activists, scientists, composers from beyond classical music, and writers to share our platform, meet our audiences, and present work together. This mini-series is the start of this new approach to inclusive programming, using our programme and platform not only to share music, but to explore ideas and to ask questions about the world around us.’

The series opens with Professor Sparks teaming up with the orchestra to present Shimmering Interference, looking at the mathematical patterns connecting Béla Bartók and John Adams’ music with the natural world. This is followed by a concert presented in collaboration with Dr Clark presenting Music from Pole to Pole, exploring the range of cloud formations and impact of human actions on the ecosystem. The series closes on 13 November with a performance of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth) with an introduction by Dr Wilson followed by a discussion on grief, healing and hope in relation to the natural world.

Alongside the new concert series, CLS also announced its inaugural Artist Council, designed to broaden the organisation’s musical expertise and develop inclusive and diverse practices. Co-chaired by Rutter and CLS creative director and orchestra leader Alexandra Wood, the council has seven new members including former BPA music programme director Phillipa Anders; composer and sound designer Nicola T Chang; former Syrian National Symphony Orchestra member Raghad Haddad; Royal Northern College of Music international chair of music education professor Nathan Holder; UK- and Brazil-based music educator Anahi Ravagnani, Dr Sita Thomas, artistic director and CEO of Fio (a theatre company that creates work with Welsh Global Majority creatives and participants); and former ENO Mackerras Fellow British-Ghanaian conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren.