London

"A foggy day in London Town, Had me low and had me down..." Ira Gershwin wrote in a famous song 'A Foggy Day' from 1937. But London is a cornerstone in the history of Western music and a global center for architecture and art, full of museums and concert halls, a place for great classical and Rock & Roll music.

Westminster Abbey is the crowning and burial place of most British Monarchs. Composers Henry Purcell and George Friederic Handel used to live in London and are buried here. The latter's visit to London was a great success, a fact that encouraged him to stay here for the rest of his life. Joseph Haydn also traveled to London twice in his life. His last 12 symphonies and many other works were written for London and first performed here. Another great composer who moved to London was the British Gustav Holst. He studied at the Royal College of Music and became head of the music department at St. Paul's Girl's School. Several composers are buried in St.Paul's Cathedral, the most famous amongst them is Sir Arthur Sullivan.

Abbey Road studios, London's world famous recording venue of The Beatles is one of the most important places for pop music lovers. The most prominent rock band recorded here masterpiece albums like 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' and 'Abbey Road'. Although the studios are closed to the public, you might dare to have a picture taken in the middle of the famous crossing where the Beatles' picture for the 'Abbey Road' album cover was taken.

The Royal Albert Hall with its oval plan and 8000 seats is one of the most famous concert halls in London. It is most famous for the classical music concerts that it holds (including the BBC Proms) but also for rock concerts. The Big Ben chimes are quoted in the Vaughan Williams's Symphony no. 2 ('London' Symphony)

London's musicals are most famous and with great Londoners musicals' writers such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Elton John and Tim Rice team, you must go to one of the great hits, such as 'Cats', 'Phantom of the Opera' or 'Miss Saigon'.