European American Music Distributors Company is a member of the Schott Music Group

Wigmore Hall Presents the George Benjamin Series

Mar. 04, 2013

Wigmore Hall Presents the George Benjamin Series

“George Benjamin is one of the most important and distinctive voices in contemporary classical music today and a musician of the highest caliber,” comments John Gilhooly, director of London’s Wigmore Hall, about the Hall's upcoming George Benjamin Series.  A significant addition to the venue’s growing commitment to contemporary chamber music and song, the George Benjamin Series presents two concerts on March 20 and April 6 spanning the breadth of the composer’s career. 

The George Benjamin Series presents fascinating perspectives on the composer’s diverse works within the context of programs of music by his colleagues. Wigmore Hall audiences will encounter landmark contemporary works by Benjamin, his teacher and Schott composer Alexander Goehr, and a smattering of their new music contemporaries as they immerse themselves in music of sensuous beauty, vitality and compelling lyricism.

The program on March 20 features Benjamin’s Piano Figures, Upon Silence and Viola, Viola alongside Goehr’s from Shadow of Night Op. 86, Sur terre, en l'air, and Three sonnets and Two Fantasias. The evening also showcases Benjamin the pianist, joining mezzo-soprano Susan Bickley, violists Antoine Tamestit and Tabea Zimmermann, and the acclaimed viol consort Fretwork as the evening’s performing forces.

On April 6, the George Benjamin Series continues with George Benjamin Day featuring a chamber concert of Benjamin’s Flight, Shadowlines, Sonata for violin and piano, Three Miniatures for solo violin, and Three Studies; and the highly anticipated performance of Benjamin’s celebrated chamber opera Into the Little Hill. Commissioned and premiered in 2006 by Festival d’Automne and Ensemble Modern, Benjamin conducts the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group in a concert performance of the opera at Wigmore Hall.

For complete concert date and ticket information about the George Benjamin Series at Wigmore Hall, click here.   

For biographical information on George Benjamin, visit: www.fabermusic.com. 

For more information on Alexander Goehr, visit: www.schott-international.com.

George Benjamin
Into the Little Hill (2006)
chamber opera in two parts for soprano, contralto and ensemble of 15 players
libretto (Eng.) by Martin Crimp
for soprano and contralto
fl(pic, bfl).2 basset hn in F.cbcl-2 crts.tenor trbn-cimbalom.perc-2vn(2.mandolin).2 va(2.banjo).2 vc.db
40' 

Flight (1979)
solo flute
8' 

Piano Figures (2004)
solo piano
14' 

Shadowlines (2001)
solo piano
15'

Sonata for violin and piano (1977)
violin, piano
23' 

Three Miniatures for Solo Violin (2001)  
solo violin
7' 

Three Studies (1985)
solo piano
18' 

Upon Silence (1990)
mezzo-soprano; 5 viols
10' 

Viola, Viola (1997)
viola duo
10' 

Alexander Goehr
from Shadow of Night (2009/2010)
texts (Eng.) by George Chapman
for voice and viol consort
2treble viols.2tenor viols.bass viol
20' 

Sur terre, en l'air (1997)
viola and piano
10' 

Three Sonnets and Two Fantasias (2000)
for voice and viol consort
texts (Eng.) by Robert Frost and William Shakespeare
treble viol.2 tenor viols(1. treble viol).2bass viols
15' 

News