In the first lunchtime recital of the series, Alistair Donaghue (baritone) and Polly Sharpe (piano) present an exploration of 21st Century British songs, including settings from the acclaimed CD Songs Now: British Songs of the 21st Century, and a selection of songs from a 2009 collection, the NMC Songbook. Songs Now was reviewed by Timothy […]
Peter Maxwell Davies: Economies of ScalePhilip Grange: ElegySteve Crowther: Trio for clarinet, viola & pianoSadie Harrison: Fire in Song (Gemini commission, 1st perf.)Morag Galloway: It's Getting Hot in Here (1st perf.)Philip Grange: Piano trio: Homage to Chagall Gemini ensemble Catriona Scott — clarinet Caroline Balding — violin/viola Sophie Harris — cello, clap sticks and narrator Aleksander […]
Duncan Honeybourne presents a selection of pieces from his collection Contemporary Piano Soundbites: Composers in Lockdown 2020. During the 2020 Lockdown Duncan commissioned over 30 piano miniatures from an eclectic mix of composers, ranging from distinguished senior figures to younger and emerging composers. Described by Tom Service on BBC Radio 3's New Music Show as "a […]
The Director of the Elysian Singers, Sam Laughton, has devised a fascinating programme of choral music where a contemporary work is paired with an earlier piece based on words from the same poet or source. For example, Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Rachmaninoff’s settings of All Night Vigil, James MacMillan and Granville Bantock’s settings of Burns, and […]
The first half of this lunchtime recital focuses on Tim Brooks' commissioned piece, And Another Thing, for young people. The second half features Spelk performing music by John Cage, Andriessen, Stravinsky and a new work by Murphy McCaleb. Buy tickets online
In 1845, Schumann discovered his passion for composing fugues: Even for me it is a strange and wonderful fact that almost every motif which forms within me bears the characteristics for multiple contrapuntal combinations. This recital, with Ian Pace at the piano, explores the threads that connect and resonate through a form that straddles three […]
Opening with Bach’s serene and pastoral piece in A major, the programme explores character pieces throughout different styles. A selection from Debussy’s iconic preludes are followed by lesser known, yet exquisite pieces by Lili Boulanger and Adolf Busch. The programme will conclude with Political Prayer, a powerful and thought-provoking piece written by York-based composer Steve […]
Living Songs showcases songs by living composers alongside more well-known classical song repertoire. This concert will include music by Richard Causton, Silvina Milstein, Rockey Sun Keting, Steve Crowther, Patrick John Jones, David Lancaster and Edmund Hunt. A collection will be made in aid of Safe Passage, helping refugees access legal routes to safety. Jessica Summers — […]
Clarinettist Jonathan Sage explores a world of new sounds for clarinet and basset clarinet, including Saariaho's Duft and Neil Tòmas Smith's Strange Machines, as well as new pieces from Scott McLaughlin and James Williamson. The programme also features Evan Ziporyn's masterful transcriptions of Balanese Gamelan and Shakuhachi pieces, Four Impersonations. Buy tickets online
We're all familiar with those fleeting moments: a momentary flashback, a brief glimpse from a speeding train, a conversation overheard... This exciting project (curated by Dot Dash Music) invited composers from many different backgrounds to compose new songs, each lasting no more than 100 seconds, to create a patchwork of fragmentary musical miniatures. Composers include […]
This lunchtime programme will include no fewer than eight new settings of regional and local poets, by regional and local composers. It will also include selections from Richard Rodney Bennett's Songs Before Sleep (texts: nursery rhymes) and Colin Matthews' Pig Songs (texts: Wendy Cope). Stuart O'Hara — bass Ionna Koullepou — piano Buy tickets online
The Bingham String Quartet presents a concert belatedly celebrating Beethoven’s anniversary, featuring modern string quartets by Schnittke, Tippett and Nicola LeFanu. Beethoven: String Quartet in B-flat major, op. 18 no. 6 Schnittke: String Quartet No 3 LeFanu: String Quartet No 2 Tippett: String Quartet No 2 Steve Bingham — violin Marina Gillam — violin Brenda Stewart — viola […]
Yorkshire-based ensemble Spelk presents a transatlantic programme, including a rare performance of the complete Living Room Music by John Cage, Canadian composer Monica Pierce's new studies for piano and toy piano, a new piece by Derek O'Connell and the premiere of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue by the group's artistic director Nick Williams, celebrating old school hip hop culture. […]
The Delta Saxophone Quartet is recognised both nationally and internationally for its exciting schedule of live performances and cutting-edge recordings. These blur the lines of musical categorisation, often inspired by contemporary classical, jazz and rock music. Since 1984 it has been at the leading edge of the UK's contemporary music scene. Mike Westbrook: Overture to […]
A musically wide-ranging programme covering over a century of composition new in its time and place, at times startlingly so, from America to Finland and much in between. The recital includes music by Aaron Copland, Francis Jackson, Roger Marsh, Madeleine Dring, Jan Sibelius, Charles Villiers Stanford, Alan Hovhaness, Hanns Eisler, David Lancaster and Judith Weir. […]
The final evening concert of the series features modern trios for flute, viola and harp, preceded by Debussy's Sonata. Debussy: Sonata Libby Larsen: Trio in Four Movements Yu-Liang Chong: Rainforest 1. Allegretto John Hawkins: Romantique David Lancaster: Before I fall asleep, the city, again... Hilary Tann: From the Song of Amergin Miguel del Aguila: Submerged William Mathias: Zodiac Trio for flute, viola and […]