In the 2016–17 season, the Barbican and its resident and associate orchestras celebrate the birthdays of composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass who both turn 80 this season, and John Adams who turns 70. The series, titled Reich, Glass, Adams: the Sounds That Changed America, kicks off with two days celebrating Steve Reich, who turned 80 last month, and his music this weekend, featuring Barbican Associate Ensemble Britten Sinfonia and the London Symphony Orchestra, the Centre’s Resident Orchestra.

The first evening concert, in the Barbican Hall on Saturday, features Three Tales, a collaboration with video artist Beryl Korot. Following the piece's 2002 premiere, the Independent declared that Reich "has written some of his finest music of the last 20 years" for this cautionary multimedia triptych about 20th-century technological advances. Performed by Britten Sinfonia conducted by Clark Rundell, the concert also includes Reich's Different Trains and the European premiere of his Pulse, a Barbican co-commission, which received its world premiere at Carnegie Hall earlier this week. The program also features New York–based electric guitar ensemble Dither playing Reich's Electric Counterpoint arranged for 13 electric guitars and Pendulum Music. Earlier in the day, Guildhall School Musicians perform Reich’s City Life and his seminal 1971 piece Drumming. During his stay in London, Reich will also do a coaching session with the musicians.

This Sunday is an LSO Discovery Day on Steve Reich at the Barbican and LSO St Luke’s. Access to the morning rehearsal at the Barbican with the LSO and conductor Kristjan Järvi is followed by an afternoon at LSO St Luke’s, featuring Steve Reich in conversation and performances including the UK premiere of his Six Pianos, arranged for piano solo performed by Vincent Corver, and New York Counterpoint performed by Corver and LSO's Chi-Yu Mo. The day concludes with the LSO, conducted by Kristjan Järvi, performing Reich’s You Are (Variations), Daniel Variations, and The Desert Music in the Barbican Hall.

As part of the birthday celebration, filmmaker Tal Rosner has a created a two-channel video installation in response to Steve Reich's 1981 work Tehillim (Hebrew for "Psalms"). Visitors to the Barbican’s Stalls Lounge will be able to watch two screens, side-by-side, like a giant digital open book.

For additional details on all of these events and the upcoming events presented as part of the Barbican series Reich, Glass, Adams: the Sounds that Changed America, visit barbican.org.uk.