THE BIG ISSUE The Big Issue - 11 January 2016 | Page 37

WorldMags.net MUSIC CLASSICAL / DAVID FAY Battle of the batons W More art is on display at Robert Indiana: Don’t Lose HOPE (until January 31, Mayfair, London; continiartuk.com). The American pop artist is famous for his sculptures with the signature sloped ‘O’ (notably the iconic LOVE series) and this collection brings together his HOPE pieces for Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008. Black Georgians: The Shock of the Familiar (until April 9, Brixton, London; bcaheritage.org.uk) redresses the balance in terms of depictions of the Georgian era. It takes the focus away from the well-trodden tales of Austen and iconography of Hogarth to explain the reality for black people in the UK. From slaves and domestic help to seamen and soldiers, there is the additional story of British-born freemen who, through education and business interests, paved the way for a new black British bourgeoisie. Ada Lovelace (until March 31, South Kensington, London; sciencemuseum.org. uk) is commonly referred to as “the daughter of Lord Byron” but she must be allowed to escape that shadow and have her remarkable achievements in maths and science put in their own spotlight. Her work in the 1800s foreshadowed modern computing and this exhibition displays not only the pioneering calculating machines she used but also her letters and notes. Eamonn Forde ith musical fireworks illum- inating both of London’s main symphonic venues courtesy of some of the biggest names in classical music, 2016 is starting with a bang in the capital. It could be billed as a battle of the curly-haired conductors, with Sir Simon Rattle joining forces with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre, and Gustavo Dudamel bringing his Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela High-octane: Gustavo Dudamel is set to electrify the RFH to the Royal Festival Hall. Add Daniel Barenboim and a stellar line-up of singers fabulous all-star cast: Magdalena Kožená into the mix and you’ve got a roll call of and Christian Gerhaher singing the parts musicians to make even the most seasoned of the two lovers, and Gerald Finley as the of concertgoers weak at the knees. jealous Golaud (Mélisande’s husband and It’s not just the spectacular roster of Pelléas’s half-brother). If you missed it, performers that is so exciting, though – it’s don’t worry, for Rattle will serve up what they’re performing. Some of the most some more transfixing and intriguing revolutionary, breathtaking orchestral 20th-century French music on January 13, music ever written will burst forth from in a concert that will be broadcast live on Dudamel’s baton, with Stravinsky’s BBC Radio 3. ballet scores The Firebird and The Rite of Violinist Leonadis Kavakos plays Henri Spring on Tuesday and Messiaen’s Dutilleux’s concerto L’arbre des Songes; Turangalîla on Saturday. The soprano Julia Bullock sings visceral energy and searing Maurice Delage’s Four Hindu power of Stravinsky promises Poems, and Ravel’s sumptuous second Daphnis et Chloé suite to be matched by the expansive, ecstatic thrill of Messiaen’s sen- will draw the