Coming to Portsmouth Guildhall on 11th February 2026
Following their successful first visit to the city in 2024, the London Sinfonietta is set to return to Portsmouth Guildhall on 11th February 2026 with a beautiful evening featuring the works of Japanese composer, Tōru Takemitsu.
One of the most important voices of the post-war era, Takemitsu drew deep inspiration from nature, composing music that feels both intimate and expansive, rooted in stillness and mystery. What happens when music breathes, when sound drifts like mist, or lingers like falling rain? For Takemitsu, silence was as meaningful as any note.
Between Sound and Silence, will see Takemitsu’s world brought to life by the London Sinfonietta. Audiences can expect to hear his meditative works such as – Rain Coming, and And Then I Knew ’Twas Wind, alongside music by the composers who inspired him, including Debussy, Messiaen, and Webern.
The immersive performance will include rare video clips of the composer speaking about his work, offering a glimpse into his mind, as well as excerpts from his essays.
The London Sinfonietta is one of the world’s leading contemporary music ensembles as Resident Orchestra of the Southbank Centre and Artistic Associate at Kings Place. Formed in 1968, their commitment to making new music has seen them commission over 470 works and premiere many hundreds more.
Andy Grays, CEO of The Guildhall Trust, the charity responsible for the operation of Portsmouth Guildhall, said “It is a real coup to welcome an ensemble as fine as The London Sinfonietta to Portsmouth, and I urge everyone not to miss this spectacular and moving concert! More than just the music, our stage team are working hard alongside the ensemble to create a completely immersive audio and visual experience, a concept which worked so well with last year’s Minimalism concert. London Sinfonietta is a key highlight of our Classical Series 2025/26, a programme which features the best of orchestral, symphonic, chamber and contemporary classic music, performed by the finest musicians, and which is guaranteed to give you goose bumps!”
Andrew Burke, Chief Executive & Artistic Director for London Sinfonietta said “It’s exciting for us at the London Sinfonietta to return to Portsmouth Guildhall with this project, not least that Takemitsu was a close friend of the Ensemble and composed pieces (including Rain Coming) for us. With the amazing support of Andy Grays and the Portsmouth production team, we hope to stage a truly memorable concert experience enhanced by lighting and the video clips of the composer. The spirit of the composer and his ideas and personality will live in the concert hall along with his beautiful and meditative music”.
The full programme for The London Sinfonietta, Tōru Takemitsu: Between Sound and Silence includes:
Claude Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un Faune (arr. Benno Sachs)
Toru Takemitsu Air
Toru Takemitsu And then I knew ’twas wind
Olivier Messiaen Le Merle Noir
Toru Takemitsu Rain Spell
Anton Webern Three Little Pieces
Toru Takemitsu Rain Coming
Tickets priced from just £12, with discounts also available for under 35s and under 14s are available now!