A new work by one of today's leading composers, Thomas Ades, and young Israeli video artist Tal Rosner, will be given its world premiere in the Royal Festival Hall on 28 April, at 7.30pm as the climax to the ETHER festival, Southbank Centre's annual festival of art and technology.

Belgian brothers David and Stephen Dewaele's indie live phenomenon Radio Soulwax will take over the spaces and foyers of the Royal Festival Hall on 24 April for a one-night party. The evening features the premiere of their new movie, Part of the Weekend Never Dies, directed by Saam Farahmand and Soulwax. Soulwax will perform live and 2manyDJs will play alongside a special guest on the night.

Centre today announced that the sensational Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela with conductor Gustavo Dudamel will return to London on 14 – 18 April 2009 for a special residency at Southbank Centre as part of the 2008/09 Shell Classic International season.

Shell Classic International continues to bring the world's greatest orchestras to the Royal Festival Hall, complementing Southbank Centre's Resident Orchestras' season. For the new season (October 2008 – May 2009) there are several major highlights.

Following in the mercurial footsteps of previous directors John Peel, Robert Wyatt, Scott Walker, David Bowie, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Morrissey, Patti Smith and Jarvis Cocker, this is the first time a group has accepted the much-coveted invitation from Southbank Centre to curate their own festival.

Southbank Centre concerts and talks programmed by the renowned and muchloved folk singer Shirley Collins. Over the past few years, interest has grown in the artist who, whether performing solo, with her sister Dolly, or collaborating on seminal albums with Davey Graham or the Albion Country Band, has been central to the British folk revival of the 1950s and 1960s.

Southbank Centre Zurich Opera under the baton of Music Director Franz Welser-Most returns to the Royal Festival Hall on 12 April, at 6.30pm with a concert performance of Richard Strauss' first comic opera, Der Rosenkavalier. The cast includes international soloists Nina Stemme, Michelle Breedt, Malin Hartelius and Alfred Muff.

Southbank Centre welcomes a host of top writers, poets, performers and children’s authors for its annual Imagine: Children’s Literature Festival.

In what will be a highlight event of the London orchestral season, one of the finest conductor/orchestra partnerships returns to the Royal Festival Hall on 8 March with a programme of orchestral music from Wagner’s operas, on Saturday 8 March, 2008, at 7.30pm.

As part of Southbank Centre’s festival Southbank Centre, London will present 'From the Canyons to the Stars: The Music of Olivier Messiaen', from 18 February to 7 December 2008.

Southbank Centre ends the year in style with two unique parties on Monday 31 December 2007. While The Ballroom and foyer spaces of the Royal Festival Hall are transformed into a playground – with the Super Furry Animals and Deerhoof headlining - the popular Silent Disco will take over The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall.

In the first major UK gallery survey of its kind, Laughing in a Foreign Language explores the role of laughter and humour in contemporary art through the work of 30 international artists.