Referencing the concept that a butterfly flapping its wings in one location can cause a hurricane elsewhere, Dani Howard’s The Butterfly Effect reflects on how small actions can have a lasting impact, and how a decision can affect the rest of your life.
After the success of his Second and Third Piano Concertos, Rachmaninov revised the First in 1917. It is very different from his later works; in exchange for less memorable melodies, this concerto incorporates elements of youthful vivacity and impetuosity in a concise and spirited fashion.
The Tenth Symphony is now widely regarded as Shostakovich’s finest work in the genre – a perfect balance of expressive qualities and political meaning. This is music that sums up all that Shostakovich wanted to say about living under Stalin’s oppression, inspiring us through his resilience of spirit, determination, and courage to hold on to the truth, when even truth itself was under threat.
Presented by Bristol Beacon
Mark Wigglesworth Conductor
Sir Stephen Hough Piano
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Programme
Howard The Butterfly Effect
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1
Shostakovich Symphony No. 10
ONLINE PROGRAMME
An online programme is available containing full programme notes, artist biographies and orchestra credits. It complements the printed freesheet which will be available on the night.
Format: Reserved seating for concert
Age: For all ages (Under 16s to be accompanied by an adult)
Pre-Concert Talk with Jonathan James
Lantern Hall, 18:15. Free with concert ticket. Unreserved seating
Performance Times
Pre-concert talk: 18:15
Doors: 18:30
Start Time: 19:00
Interval: 19.45
Restart: 20.05
Finish: 21.15
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Did you know patients in the city’s central hospitals can listen to a live broadcast of this concert on Hospital Radio for Bristol? Find more info on how patients can tune in at bhbsradio.com
Musical Insights with Catherine Bott and Mark Wigglesworth
Catherine Bott and Mark Wigglesworth talk through the programme for tonight’s concert – Standing Up For Truth – featuring music by Dani Howard, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich.
Saver Seats
Grab yourself a surprise deal with £15 Saver Seats!
We have a limited number of Saver Seats for this concert.
The deal: Saver Seats cost £15 each and are your last minute ticket to tremendous music at a greatly reduced price.
The surprise: You won’t find out where you will be sitting until the night.
We don’t offer Saver Seats for every concert, but when we do, you’re in for a treat with access to one of the best available seats on the night.
How to book:
- Click ‘book tickets’
- Select “Saver Seats”
- Proceed to checkout
- On the night of the event, visit Box Office from 17:30 with your order confirmation email to be allocated a best available seat. You will not receive your ticket in advance.
Terms and conditions
- Saver Seats are available to all, subject to availability.
- By purchasing a Saver Seat, you are not selecting a specific seat.
- Box Office will allocate Saver Seats from the best seats available from 17:30 on the evening of the concert, on a first come first served basis. We cannot allocate Saver Seats before this time and you will not receive your ticket in advance.
- It may not be possible to seat all of your Saver Seat tickets together.
- All other ticketing terms and conditions apply.
ACCESS CUSTOMERS: Please contact Box Office if you have any questions Tel. 0117 203 4040
Orchestral Ticket Prices
There are five price bands for every concert in the 2025/26 orchestral season: Premium and Bands A – D
Within price bands A-C, there are two types of ticket: Standard and Open Concession.
Exceptions include:
- Anna Lapwood’s Organ Recital – Sun 11 Jan 2026
- Manchester Collective – Fri 5 Dec 2025 & Tue 3 Feb 2026
If you are under 26, there is a fixed ticket price available on a limited number of seats for every concert.
Ticket Offers
2025/26 Orchestral Season Multibuy offer
Take advantage of our 2025/26 Orchestral Season Multibuy offer and save up to 30% on tickets!
Buy 3 concerts save 10%
Buy 4-8 concerts save 20%
Buy 9-11 concerts save 25%
Buy 12+ concerts save 30%
Applies to Standard Price tickets only. To qualify for the discount, tickets for the corresponding number of concerts must be purchased in one transaction.
Group booking offer
Book 10+ tickets for any one concert in the season and save 10%
Book 20+ tickets and save 20%
Pre-concert Talk
with Jonathan James
Lantern Hall (30 mins)
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.
About Beacon Hall
Our new flagship venue at Bristol Beacon
View Beacon Hall
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View Beacon Hall
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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),
- row Z on the right 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.
More from 2025/26 Orchestral Season
2025/26 Orchestral Season
Award-winning orchestras on your doorstep
18 dazzling concerts from iconic orchestras including our partners London Symphony Orchestra and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; international ensembles from Poland, Spain and the Czech Republic; plus the Bristol Beacon debut of shape-shifting ensemble the Manchester Collective.
Classical
Orchestral Season 2025/26
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
with Mark Wigglesworth and Jess Gillam
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City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
with Osmo Vänskä and Helena Juntunen
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Orchestral Season 2025/26
Manchester Collective & The Marian Consort
Wintering
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London Symphony Orchestra
with Sir Antonio Pappano and Antoine Tamestit
Classical
Orchestral Season 2025/26
Manchester Collective
Sky with the Four Suns
Classical
Orchestral Season 2025/26
Czech Janáček Philharmonic
with Daniel Raiskin and Jennifer Pike
Classical
Orchestral Season 2025/26
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
with Mark Wigglesworth and Clara-Jumi Kang
Classical
Orchestral Season 2025/26
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
with Mark Wigglesworth and Alexandre Tharaud
Classical
Orchestral Season 2025/26
Spanish Galicia Symphony Orchestra
with Roberto González-Monjas and Thibaut Garcia