Brâncuși’s Sculptures Inspire Orchestral Works in London

Five composers debuted orchestral pieces inspired by the work of Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși at London’s Southbank Centre on July 15th. The London Philharmonic Orchestra performed the new compositions as part of its Foyle Future Firsts Development Programme, marking 150 years since Brâncuși’s birth.

The project aimed to capture the ideas behind Brâncuși’s sculptures, not simply recreate their forms in sound. Composers, guided by Sir George Benjamin, translated the essence of Brâncuși’s work, his reduction of complex subjects to essential geometric shapes, into musical language.

The five works, titled “Arcus,” “Étude pour un oiseau de bronze,” “Leda,” “Socle,” and “Beginning of the World,” explore themes of flight, love, and connection. The Romanian Embassy in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and the Romanian Cultural Institute in London supported the event. Organizers hope the concert demonstrates Brâncuși’s enduring influence on artists seeking new ways to express abstract concepts.