"The vast sky that surrounds us has fired our imagination from the beginning of Time. The heavens above with the earth below have inspired terror and tranquillity, mythology and religion, and humbled us with infinity. The 17th-century astronomer Johannes Kepler postulated a grand 'harmony of the spheres' for our universe - our performance will create earthly harmonies on both sides of the Prime Meridian." Stephen Montague, Artistic Director
Performances from 19.00 to 21.15
Audience arrivals from 19.00 to 20.00
Box Office 020 8312 6608 or bookings@nmm.ac.uk
IMPORTANT ARRIVAL INFORMATION
Ticket-holders should arrive between 19.00 and 20.00 to embark on their exploration of Harmony of the Spheres. Please note that the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, is situated in the centre of Greenwich Royal Park, which is closed to foot traffic and cyclists from 18.00. After this time ticket-holders may enter the Park by car via Blackheath Gate (Charlton Way, SE10) and park at the Royal Observatory. Those arriving on foot or by bicycle should arrive at St Mary's Gate (King William Walk, SE10) to travel to the Observatory by shuttle service (included in ticket price). Please refer to detailed information provided with your ticket.
See www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/greenwich_park for a plan of the park.
Harmony of the Spheres is the culmination of the Festival of Time & Space, a four-week festival of science and music produced by Trinity College of Music and the National Maritime Museum as part of the UNESCO 2009 International Year of Astronomy.
NMM Bookings - call 020 8312 6608 (10.00 - 16.00 daily) or email bookings@nmm.ac.uk
TCM Box Office - call 020 8463 0100 or book online at ticketweb.co.uk
Sun 25 Oct, 3-5pm Royal Observatory, Greenwich Festival of Time & Space Launch Launch of four weeks of astronomy-inspired musical interpretations including the first showing of film compositions in the planetarium and sound installations in the Astronomy Galleries. Admission free
Sat 14 Nov, 2 - 4 pm Queens House, National Maritime Museum Music of Space and Stars Explore the beautiful setting of Queens House and encounter performances by early music and composition students from Trinity College of Music inspired by the International Year of Astronomy. Part of the Greenwich International Early Music Festival and Exhibition 2009. Admission free
Thu 19 - Sat 21 Nov, DAILY - Timed tickets from 7pm Royal Observatory, Greenwich Harmony of the Spheres Join us on a unique after-hours journey through the historic home of the Astronomers Royal and the impressive 21st-century Royal Observatory, brought to life in a site-specific performance. Directed by multi award-winning composer Stephen Montague, Harmony of the Spheres is inspired by the constellation Pleiades, a cluster of sister stars immortalised in mythology. Explore the world-famous site at night and encounter 'scenes' created and performed by Trinity Laban students. £12 (£10 concessions) Box Office: 020 6312 6608 (10am - 4pm daily); E-mail: bookings@nmm.ac.uk
Sat 21 Nov 2009, DAILY National Maritime Museum Greenwich Time Symposium Symposium of musicians and scientists exploring creative, historical and cultural relationships between the concepts of time and space: in science and the arts. See www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/events/greenwich-time-symposium for details.
Mon 26 Oct - Sat 21 Nov, DAILY Royal Observatory, Greenwich Planetarium Shorts Travel into space, swing on a star, glide through constellations... New sound compositions by Trinity students and composer Edward Jessen, set to visual imagery in the state-of the-art Peter Harrison Planetarium. Showing as short films before planetarium shows throughout the festival Includes price of full planetarium show £6 adults, £4 children and concessions £16 family ticket (two adults and two children or one adult and three children) Visit www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/planetarium-shows for further details.
Mon 26 Oct - Sat 21 Nov, DAILY Royal Observatory, Greenwich Time and Space Sound Installations Sound installations, created by Trinity students with composer Dominic Murcott, animating clocks, timepieces and exhibition spaces within the ROG¹s historic galleries Admission free
Thu 10 Sept 2009 - Sun 10 Jan 2010 Royal Observatory, Greenwich Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2009 As the technological capability of cameras and telescopes improves and becomes affordable, increasing numbers of amateur astronomers are capturing striking images of nebulae, galaxies, the Moon and more. Offering a unique view of the night sky through the eyes of photographers of all ages, this exhibition showcases the award-winning images in a search for the best and most creative vision of the cosmos. Admission free Visit nmm.ac.uk/astrophoto for further details
Sun 8 Nov, 3pm Queens House, National Maritime Museum Time Hear Promenade performance by residents of the Isle of Dogs aged 13 96 inspired by Jem Finer¹s 1,000 year composition Longplayer. Time Hear is created by young people, elders and Trinity students directed by Natasha Lohan and Jason Rowland. Admission free For advance reservations or further information call 020 8305 4356 or email iodmusic@tcm.ac.uk
Tue 10 Nov, 4 - 6pm National Maritime Museum Journeys in Time & Space Special performance by Trinity students and local schools directed by Tim Palmer; inspired by time travel and space adventures. Admission free For advance reservations or further information call 020 8305 4367 or email hhendry@tcm.ac.uk
Mon 26 and Thu 29 Oct, 12 - 4pm Royal Observatory, Greenwich Make & Play; Space Music Be inspired by the festival, make your own musical instrument and play astronomy-inspired tunes. Admission free Visit nmm.ac.uk/families for further details
Sat 14 Nov, 2-6pm Queens House, National Maritime Museum Music of Space & Stars Encounter performances by early music and composition students from Trinity College of Music Admission free
Thu 12 Nov, 7.45pm Old Royal Naval College Chapel Avison Ensemble Programme featuring Pavlo Beznosiuk (Soloist and Director) to include Violin Concerto in D by Sir Frederick William Herschel (1738 - 1822). £16 (£12 concessions) Box Office 020 8463 0100
Fri 13 Nov, 7.45 pm Old Royal Naval College Chapel Handel: Oratorio - The Triumph of Time and Truth Paul Goodwin conducts the Trinity College of Music Baroque Orchestra and Choir. £10 (£7 concessions) Box Office 020 8463 0100
Sat 14 Nov, 7.45pm St Alfege Church Trinity College of Music Early Music and Composition Faculties Showcase Cantatas from the Italian Baroque juxtaposed with contemporary works for early instruments in a programme inspired by the International Year of Astronomy. Part of the Greenwich International Early Music Festival and Exhibition 2009. £10 (£7 concessions) Box Office 020 8463 0100
Sat 21 Nov, 10am - 4pm National Maritime Museum Greenwich Time Symposium An annual symposium to explore concepts of time. Inspired by the festival, musicians and scientists will discuss creative, historical and cultural relationships between the concepts and perceptions of time and space: in science and the arts. Speakers include Jem Finer, one of the founding members of The Pogues and the composer of Longplayer, a piece of music which will play for 1,000 years without repeating, Penelope Gouk, historian of 17th-century science and music and The Fragmented Orchestra a huge distributed musical structure modelled on the firing of the human brain¹s neurons. £25 (£20 concessions) Advanced bookings only Visit nmm.ac.uk/timesymposium for booking and further details
Tue 10 Nov, 7-8pm National Maritime Museum Poems of Space Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, leading female Astronomer and Fellow of the Royal Society of Science, talks about her Dark Matter poetry anthology with poet Kelley Swain and astronomer/writer Pippa Goldschmidt. £8 Advanced bookings only
Thu 19 Nov, 7.30pm Great Hall, Blackheath Halls Trinity College of Music Chamber Orchestra Conducted by Nic Pendlebury Haydn Clock Symphony Leo Brouwer - Concerto No 5 (Helsinki) - British Premier - Soloist Graham Devine Karl Jenkins - Imagined Oceans
