![An orchestra of about 50 people, all with different instruments, plays in an industrial warehouse space lit with rainbow lighting. An audience, standing as a crowd, watches.](https://hackney-empire.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Show-images/2024/SEP-DEC-2024/Nonclassical-Live-Music-Live-London-Show.jpg?w=714&h=475&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721039046&s=b5b965ae4ecf5a3cc3e09542d1c95743)
![An orchestra of about 50 people, all with different instruments, plays in an industrial warehouse space lit with rainbow lighting. An audience, standing as a crowd, watches.](https://hackney-empire.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Show-images/2024/SEP-DEC-2024/Nonclassical-Hackney-Empire-Credit-Nick-Rutter.jpg?w=375&h=375&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721039047&s=371731031882492acf56591ce70d6e95)
About nonclassical at 20: NONCLAXXICAL
A bold expression of what classical music can be, NONCLAXXICAL: Nonclassical at 20 sees pioneering promoters of the best new music, Nonclassical combine forces with the legendary London Symphony Orchestra.
Sound artist and musician Beatrice Dillon presents her first commission for orchestra. Following on from her 2020 album Workaround (‘Album of the Year’ The Wire Magazine), Dillon translates her distinct vocabulary of synthetic sound and generative systems into the acoustic realm of the orchestra.
The concert features tracks from some of the leading artists of today, all of whom celebrate musical crossovers: Mica Levi’s classic Love from Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin envelops listeners in a bear hug of synths and sustained notes. Sasha Scott’s Inertia fuses intense, exhilarating electronics with the orchestra. Tonia Ko’s Breath, Contained III (Excerpt) features bubble wrap as an instrument, whilst Tansy Davies’ Neon brings twisty modernist funk.
The first ever Concerto for Drum Machine and Orchestra celebrates the Roland 808 drum machine – heard on tracks by artists including Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Afrika Bambaataa and the Talking Heads.
Presented by Nonclassical.
"…conducive to optimism about the future of classical music"
The Times
…completely committed to supporting the work of new classical performers, composers and promoters; artists who are redefining the rules of classical music”
Elizabeth Alker, BBC Radio 3
Image gallery
![An orchestra lit by dramatic blue and orange lights perform on a stage to a busy standing crowd](https://hackney-empire.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Show-images/2024/SEP-DEC-2024/7-Credit-Nick-Rutter-min.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721039058&s=0dba7701918365b0ea4a72d5de8a440e)
![An orchestra, lit in pink and blue lights, perform to a large crowd of people stood watchin](https://hackney-empire.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Show-images/2024/SEP-DEC-2024/5-Credit-Ollie-Harrop-min.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721039058&s=ede24850b1a4904edbda97a10445ecfe)
![A bearded man plays the violin, lit from behind with dramatic orange lighting.](https://hackney-empire.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Show-images/2024/SEP-DEC-2024/10-Credit-Nick-Rutter-min.jpg?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721039042&s=b24386021a35f937de22f1458bbb5c65)
![A crowd of people watch an orchestra in a brightly-lit industrial space. Some of the crowd are stood on the floor, and some are stood on the stairs and balcony to the left.](https://hackney-empire.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Show-images/2024/SEP-DEC-2024/3-Credit-Dimitri-Djuric-min.png?w=600&h=358&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721039054&s=b84c34cffe3be8d37007c3d1317f69c3)