Two British masterpieces flank Beethoven’s dramatic and intense third Piano Concerto.
The Planets remains by far Holst’s most popular work; one of the 20th century’s great colouristic showpieces. Its conception has a boldness, excitement and epic sweep that remain immediately impressive after a hundred hearings. Vaughan Williams once said that the work was “the perfect equilibrium” of Holst’s nature – the melodic, precise and structured, combined with the mystic and unexplainable.
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 came straight from the heart of its creator and was a showcase for his own amazing pianistic talents. Revolutionary in its scale, drama and intensity, it is a masterful partnership between soloist and orchestra, opening with an unprecedented sense of power, purpose and potential.
Vaughan Williams’ symphonic impression is a beautifully written masterpiece. Like the fenland landscape, the music doesn’t impose itself, evoking the wide-open skies over the flat countryside, dark clouds pierced by shafts of sunlight.
Presented by Bristol Beacon
Karl-Heinz Steffens Conductor
Paul Lewis Piano
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Programme
Vaughan Williams In The Fen Country
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3
Holst The Planets
Pre-Concert Talk with Jonathan James
Lantern Hall, 18:25. Free with concert ticket.
Format: Reserved seating
Age: For all ages (Under 16s to be accompanied by an adult)
Performance Times
Doors: 19:00
Start Time: 19:30
All timings are approximate and subject to change
“A life affirming performance, demonstrating, once again, that the BSO is often in a class of its own.”
Bachtrack
Pre-concert Talk
with Jonathan James
18:00 or 18:25, Lantern Hall (30 mins) Please check the event page for start time
Free with a concert ticket
Hosted by conductor, music educator, writer and presenter Jonathan James, pre-concert talks are a great way to take a deep dive into the season’s concerts.
With his breadth of expertise and bags of enthusiasm, Jonathan introduces the works being performed, interviews members of the orchestras and demystifies the creative process
Please check the event page for pre-concert talk start times.
Orchestral Ticket Prices
There are five price bands for every concert in the 2024/25 orchestral season: Premium and Bands A – D, with the exception of Víkingur Ólafsson’s Piano Recital on Tue 8 Apr 2025.
Within price bands A-D, there are two types of ticket: Standard and Open Concession.
If you are under 26, there is a fixed ticket price available on a limited number of seats for every concert.
Ticket Offers
Take advantage of our 2024/25 Orchestral Season Multibuy offer and save up to 30% on tickets!
Buy 3 concerts save 10%
Buy 4-7 concerts save 20%
Buy 8-10 concerts save 25%
Buy 11+ concerts save 30%
To qualify for the discount, tickets for the corresponding number of concerts must be purchased in one transaction.
A group booking offer is also available – book 10+ tickets for any one concert in the season and save 10%.
About Beacon Hall
Our new flagship venue at Bristol Beacon
Seating plans
Seating plans
Beacon Hall has three levels that can be used in a seated or standing format. View seating plans, auditorium entrances and exits and accessible viewing areas.
Venue information
Venue information
Take a closer look at our beautifully restored venue, see what’s on and view detailed information about the performance space.
The venue
Beacon Hall
at Bristol Beacon
Getting to the venue
Location: Beacon Hall is located within Bristol Beacon. Head to Level 1 and follow signs to find the auditorium.
Address: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR
Bicycle
Bicycle racks can be found in front of the main entrance on Trenchard Street, Colston Street, and on the city centre promenade. Find your nearest cycle routes using Cycle Planner.
Car parking
Trenchard Street multi-storey car park is 200m away, directly behind Bristol Beacon.
Bristol Clean Air Zone
Bristol Beacon is inside the Bristol Clean Air Zone. Check if your vehicle will be charged and how much you’ll have to pay.
Bus
Most bus services stop in and around the city centre promenade, 250m from Bristol Beacon.
Access
Mobility
Spaces for wheelchair users are in:
- row S in the centre of the rear Stalls (10 spaces)
- row Z in the left and right wings at the back of Lower Tier (4 spaces, 2 on each side),
- rows G/H on the left only at the back of Upper Tier (2 spaces)
Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs and emotional support animals are allowed in the performance space. Seats in row F are most suitable. If you prefer, you can leave your animal with a member of staff during the performance.
Hearing Facility
A Sennheiser MobileConnect assistive listening system is installed in the venue. Download the free App and use your own mobile device and headphones to listen to the performance. (Devices are available on request.)
Eat & Drink
Eat & Drink
We’ve got plenty of places for you to relax and refill. From coffee and cake, to delicious sharing boards, to full menus.
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Event Ticket Coverage
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Select a date
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19:30