London Contemporary Orchestra perform on London Underground

london concert orchestra aldwich station

1. Inside a disused train

Composer Claude Vivier wrote his unfinished 1983 opera Glaubst du an die Unsterblichkeit der Seele about a man who falls in love on the Paris metro, but is later stabbed by the object of his affections. Picture: Jana Chiellino

2. Claude Vivier, 30 years on

Vivier is now most famous for predicting his own death: his opera was the last piece he wrote, before he, like the opera's protagonist was stabbed himself. It seemed like a fitting - and haunting - choice of music to perform on the Underground 30 years after the composer's death. Picture: Jana Chiellino

3. London Contemporary Orchestra

The audience listen to music by John Cage: Imaginary Landscape No 1, piped out of speakers on the platform and accompanied by film. Picture: Jana Chiellino

4. London Contemporary Orchestra perform underground

The performance isn't just on a train, or on a platform: different pieces of music are played in varying spaces around the station. Picture: Jana Chiellino

5. The Viola in My Life - Feldman

The orchestra also played a selection of other modern works including Darknesse Visible by Adès and The Viola in My Life 3 by Feldman. Picture: Jana Chiellino

6. No ordinary concert

Gone are the plush chairs, and the stage is nowhere in sight. This is no ordinary classical concert. Picture: Jana Chiellino

7. Health and safety

The performance only allows around 50 people down to the disused tube line at one time. Picture: Jana Chiellino

8. Darknesse Visible

Performing Darknesse Visible for solo piano. Picture: Jana Chiellino

9. The location tells a story

Not as glamorous as other UK concert destinations, but in these concerts, it's the location as well as the music that tells a story. Picture: Jana Chiellino

10. Imagined Occasions

The concert is one of three fully immersive performances from the modern orchestra, titled Imagined Occasions. They're also planning a 'sound walk' where audiences will hear music as they walk between different destinations in London. Picture: Jana Chiellino