THE NATURE DIALOGUES
From stars to storms, wildlife to oceans, some of today’s leading scientists and storytellers illuminate the natural world in a fascinating series of pre-concert talks as part of our year-long series Harmony with Nature.
Open and free to the public, ‘The Nature Dialogues’ offer an opportunity to delve deeply into the wonders of nature and gain a fresh appreciation for the music of the current season.
Harmony with our Oceans –
Friday 31 October 2025 (6 PM)
With wildlife biologist & broadcaster Liz Bonnin and physicist & oceanographer Helen Czerski
Ahead of the 7.30pm LPO concert – A Sea Symphony
Known for TV documentaries such as Drowning in Plastic and Blue Planet Live, Liz shares insights from her work with the BBC and National Geographic, highlighting the urgent need to protect marine life, reduce pollution and restore the blue heart of our planet. Helen, a leading voice in ocean science and author of Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes our World, brings her expertise on the physics of the seas and their vital role in regulating Earth’s climate and sustaining life. Together, their perspectives will resonate alongside the evening’s ocean-inspired works by Vaughan Williams and Sibelius.
Harmony with Distant Planets –
Saturday 29 November 2025 (6 PM)
With composer Robert Laidlow & astronomer David Kipping
Ahead of the 7.30pm LPO concert – Sheku Kanneh-Mason plays Bloch
The LPO will also present a fascinating conversation from British astronomer David Kipping, Associate Professor of Astronomy at Columbia University, joins composer Robert Laidlow to explore the cosmic inspiration behind his new work Exoplanets, ahead of its world premiere later in the evening. David, whose YouTube channel ‘Cool Worlds’ has captivated over a million followers with his deep dives into exoplanets and astrophysics, collaborated with Robert to bring this musical voyage to life – exploring the possibilities of planets beyond our solar system.
Harmony with the Volcanic World –
Saturday 17 January 2026 (5 PM)
With broadcaster and writer Kate Humble
Ahead of the 6.30pm LPO concert – The Firebird
Celebrated broadcaster Kate Humble – known for BBC’s Springwatch, Wild in Africa and Into the Volcano – explores Earth as a living, breathing force, constantly shifting and renewing itself. In this pre-concert talk, Kate will bring volcanoes and other awe-inspiring natural phenomena to life, illuminating the forces that shape our world and setting the stage for Gustavo Díaz-Jerez’s piano concerto Tajogaite. Inspired by the volcano on La Palma which erupted for 85 days in 2021, the work receives its UK premiere in the evening’s concert.
Harmony with our Rivers –
Saturday 21 March 2026 (5 PM)
With extreme angler, author and broadcaster Jeremy Wade
Ahead of the 6.30pm LPO concert – Four Season of Buenos Aires
Jeremy Wade, presenter of TV’s River Monsters and Mighty Rivers, has spent 40 years exploring the world’s remotest waterways, tracking down and documenting elusive underwater creatures – some never seen on television before. In this pre-concert talk, he reflects on the dramatic decline of freshwater habitats, where many species are becoming locally extinct, and champions the revival of the rivers that sustain both nature and communities. His insights set the stage for an evening of music inspired by water and the Earth, including John Luther Adams’s Become River and Clarice Assad’s bassoon concerto Terra.
Harmony with our Fragile Earth –
Wednesday 8 April 2026 (6 PM)
With scientist Johan Rockström, environmentalist & Chair of Natural England Tony Juniper and composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir
Ahead of the 7.30pm LPO concert – Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony
Earth system scientist Johan Rockström and environmentalist Tony Juniper explore the delicate, interconnected systems that sustain life on Earth, and the limits within which we can safely operate without causing irreversible damage – the ‘safe operating space’ for humanity. Johan – Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research PIK – and Tony – Chair of Natural England – are joined by Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, whose insights offer a lens through which to experience her work CATAMORPHOSIS, which opens the evening’s concert – a powerful musical reflection on our fragile relationship with the planet.
Harmony with our Changing Planet –
Friday 17 April 2026 (6 PM)
With social scientist Gail Whiteman
Ahead of the 7.30pm LPO concert – Terence Blanchard: A Requiem for Katrina
Professor Gail Whiteman, Head of the Nature & Climate Impact Team at the University of Exeter, leads a thought-provoking conversation on resilience, creativity and climate change. As extreme weather events grow more destructive, how can societies adapt – and how can art help us face loss and find hope? In tonight’s concert, we hear Terence Blanchard’s deeply personal response to Hurricane Katrina, A Tale of God’s Will, which transformed grief into powerful symphonic jazz, capturing both the devastation of his native New Orleans and the enduring strength of its people. This pre-concert talk explores what it means to live – and make music – in harmony with a changing planet.
About the London Philharmonic Orchestra
One of the finest orchestras on the international stage, the London Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1932 by Sir Thomas Beecham. Since then, its Principal Conductors have included Sir Adrian Boult, Bernard Haitink, Sir Georg Solti, Klaus Tennstedt and Kurt Masur. In September 2021 Edward Gardner became the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor, succeeding Vladimir Jurowski, who became Conductor Emeritus in recognition of his transformative impact on the Orchestra as Principal Conductor from 2007–21.
The London Philharmonic Orchestra has performed at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall since it opened in 1951, becoming Resident Orchestra in 1992. It also has flourishing residencies in Brighton, Eastbourne and Saffron Walden, and performs regularly around the UK. Each summer it plays for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where it has been Resident Symphony Orchestra for over 60 years. The Orchestra also tours internationally, performing to sell-out audiences worldwide.
The Orchestra broadcasts regularly on television and radio, and has recorded soundtracks for numerous blockbuster films. It has made many distinguished recordings over the last eight decades and in 2025 celebrates the 20th anniversary of its own LPO Label.
The LPO is one of the world’s most-streamed orchestras, with over 15 million plays of its content each month. In 2023 it was the most successful orchestra worldwide on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, with over 1.6m followers across all platforms, and in 2024 it featured in a TV documentary series on Sky Arts: ‘Backstage with the London Philharmonic Orchestra’, which was nominated for a 2025 BAFTA Award and is still available to watch via Now TV. During 2025/26 the Orchestra is once again working with Marquee TV to broadcast selected live concerts.