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

World Premiere of Huw Watkins's Cello Concerto at the BBC Proms

Jul. 08, 2016

World Premiere of Huw Watkins's <em>Cello Concerto</em> at the BBC Proms

The 2016 BBC Proms is set to feature a range of exciting performances of works by Schott|EAM composers this summer, including the world premiere of a new cello concerto by Huw Watkins and the UK premieres of works by Jörg Widmann, Thomas Larcher, and Julian Anderson.

Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Huw Watkins’s Cello Concerto receives its premiere on August 12 led by Thomas Søndergård and with the composer's brother, cellist Paul Watkins, as soloist. Watkins writes of the work:

I’ve been promising my brother a cello concerto for many years now. When I became composer in association with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, an orchestra with which we both have had long relationships, the concerto seemed to be the obvious piece to write first. Paul’s wonderfully expressive and deeply musical cello playing has been at the front of my mind while writing the piece. Perhaps this explains why the two outer movements are largely slow, with the lyrical qualities of the cello to the fore.

Several works also receive their UK premieres during the festival, including Jörg Widmann’s Armonica with the BBC Philharmonic on August 1, Thomas Larcher’s Symphony No. 2 on August 28 the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Julian Anderson’s Incantesimi, written for Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker, on September 3.

Other notable performances include: 

• Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time with the BBC National Orchestra and BBC National Chorus of Wales and conductor Mark Wigglesworth on July 23.

• Wolfgang Rihm’s Gejagte Form with the Aurora Orchestra and conductor Nicholas Collon on July 31.

• Henri Dutilleux’s The Shadows of Time with the BBC Philharmonia Orchestra and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen on August 8.

• Thomas Adès leads the Britten Sinfonia in a performance of his own Lieux retrouvés (UK premiere of version for cello and orchestra) and Francisco Coll’s Four Iberian Miniatures on August 15.

• Colin Matthews’s Berceuse for Dresden (London premiere) with the Hallé orchestra and conductor Sir Mark Elder on August 16.

• Arvo Pärt’s Nunc dimittis and Triodion with The Sixteen conducted by Harry Christophers on August 16.

• Jörg Widmann’s Con brio with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and conductor Daniel Barenboim on August 17.

• György Ligeti’s Ramifications, Georg Friedrich Haas’s Open Spaces II, and Harrison Birtwistle’s The Message with the London Sinfonietta and conductor Andrew Gourlay on August 20. 

• Matthias Pintscher’s Reflections on Narcissus with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra with cellist Alisa Weilerstein, Matthias Pintscher conducting, on August 21.

• Pierre Boulez’s Éclat with the Berlin Philharmonic and conductor Sir Simon Rattle on September 2, followed by Anthèmes 2 and Cummings ist der Dichter with Ensemble Intercontemporain and conductor Baldur Brönnimann (details). 

For tickets and the full concert schedule, visit bbc.co.uk/proms.

Click below for more information on the composers:
Thomas Adès | Julian Anderson | Pierre Boulez | Francisco Coll
Henri Dutilleux | Georg Friedrich Haas | Thomas Larcher
György Ligeti | Colin Matthews |  Arvo Pärt |  Matthias Pintscher
Wolfgang Rihm | Michael Tippett | Huw Watkins | Jörg Widmann

Huw Watkins
Cello Concerto (2016)
for cello and orchestra
2.2.2.2-4.2.0.0-2perc-cel.hp-str
26’ 

Jörg Widmann
Armonica (2006)
for orchestra
1.2.2.2-2.2.0.0-timp.3perc-glasharm-hp.cel.acc.pno-str
14’

Con brio (2008)
for orchestra
2(2.pic.)2.2-.2.2.0.0-p-str.(14.12.10.8.6)
12’ 

Thomas Larcher
Symphony No. 2, “Kenotaph” (2015-2016)
for orchestra
3(2.afl., 3.pic).3(3.ca).3(2.Ebcl., 3.bcl&cbcl)3.(3.cbsn)-4.3(1.pictpt).3.1-timp.5perc-acc.cel.pno(with preparation).hp-str(14.12.10.8.6 [db4-6 are 5 string basses])
30’

Julian Anderson
Incantesimi (2015-2016)
for orchestra
pic.2(2.pic).2.ca.2(2.bcl).2(2.cbsn)-4.2.3.0-3perc-str
8’

Michael Tippett
A Child of Our Time (1939-1941)
an oratorio for soloists (SATB), chorus, and orchestra
2.2.ca.2.2.cbsn-4.3.3.0-timp.perc-str
66’

Wolfgang Rihm
Gejagte Form (1995/2002)
for orchestra
2.1.2.1-2.2.2.1-3perc-hp.pno.ebass-2vn.va.vc.db
15’ 

Henri Dutilleux
The Shadows of Time (1997)
for orchestra
4.3.ca.2.bcl.3.csbn-4.4.3.1-3perc-hp.cel-str
22’ 

Thomas Adès
Lieux retrouvés (2009)
version for cello and small orchestra
2(2.pic).1.1.bcl.1.cbsn-1.1.1.0-2perc-hp.pno(cel)-str(4.4.3.1.2)
17’ 

Francisco Coll
Four Iberian Miniatures (2014)
for violin and chamber orchestra
2.1.1.bcl.1.cbsn-1.1.1.0-2perc-pno-str
12’ 

Colin Matthews
Berceuse for Dresden (2005)
for cello and orchestra
2.afl.2.ca.2.bcl.2.cbsn-4.2.3.1-timp.1perc-hp-str
11’

Arvo Pärt
Nunc dimittis (2001)
for mixed choir a cappella
7’30” 

Triodion (1998)
for mixed choir a cappella
15’ 

György Ligeti
Ramifications (1968-1969)
for string orchestra or 12 solo strings
9’

Georg Friedrich Haas
Open Spaces II (2007)
for 12 string instruments and 2 percussion
16’ 

Matthias Pintscher
Reflections on Narcissus (2004/2005)
for cello and orchestra
3(2, 3. pic).2(2. ca).2(2.Ebcl).bcl.2.cbsn-4.3.3.1-4perc-hp.pno.cel-str
40’

Pierre Boulez
Éclat (1965)
for 15 instruments
1.1.0.0-0.1.1.0-1perc-vn.vc
8’

Anthèmes 2 (1997)
for violin and live electronics
24’ 

Cummings ist der Dichter (1970/1986)
for 16 solo voices or mixed choir and instruments
text by E.E. Cummings
2.2.3.2-2.2.2.1-3hp-3vn.2va.2vc.db
13-14’

News