Barbican Centre

Barbican Centre Review

Opened in 1982, the Brutalist-style Barbican is the largest performing arts center in Europe. The main concrete theater is most famous as the home of the London Symphony Orchestra. As well as the LSO (www.lso.co.uk), the Barbican is also the frequent host of the English Chamber Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and has an excellent concert season of big-name virtuosos. Performances by British and international theater companies make up part of its year-round BITE (Barbican International Theatre Events), which also features groundbreaking performance, dance, drama, and musical theater. Innovative exhibitions of 20th-century and current art and design are shown in the Barbican Gallery and the Curve (usually free). In addition to Hollywood films, obscure classics and film festivals with Screen Talks are programmed in the three movie theaters here. Saturday Family Film Club has adventure and animation to please all ages. You could listen to Elgar or watch some Russian theater, see some 1960's photography or an exhibition on art and science, and catch some German animation with live musical accompaniment, possibly all in one evening.