The Rest Is Noise

Last week, the Southbank Centre announced it would be staging a year-long cross-art form festival of concerts, talks, films and performances inspired by Alex Ross’ The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century. The festival will run from 19 January 2013 – December 2013. 

Winner of a Guardian First Book Award and America’s National Book Critics Circle Award, The Rest Is Noise has been translated into 15 languages and sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide since publication in 2007. Led by Artistic Director Jude Kelly, Southbank Centre’s The Rest Is Noise Festival, in partnership with BBC Four, will provide audiences with an enriched listening experience by bringing to the fore the cultural and political stories behind the most important musical works of the 20th century.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra, with over 30 concerts, is the backbone of the festival that reveals the stories behind the rich, exhilarating and sometimes controversial compositions that have changed the way we listen forever.

BBC Four will support the Festival by broadcasting a landmark television series about 20th century classical music alongside other activities to be announced later in the year.

To find out more about this important festival, visit the website.