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World Premieres by Julian Anderson, Gerald Barry and Tom Coult at the BBC Proms

Jul. 01, 2017

World Premieres by Julian Anderson, Gerald Barry and Tom Coult at the BBC Proms

The BBC Proms returns this summer with the world premieres of three major new works by Julian Anderson, Gerald Barry and Tom Coult, along with performances of many recent works by today’s leading composers.

Julian Anderson’s new piano concerto, The Imaginary Museum, has its debut on July 26 with soloist Steven Osborne and Ilan Volov leading the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. In composing the work, Anderson made sure to take advantage of Osborne’s wide ranging playing styles, which runs from Bach to Feldman and includes free improvisation and jazz. The work is made up of many short movements, each, as he describes, “very different in timbre, acoustic, and speed.” Anderson splits the orchestra into several small groups which dialogue with the soloist and with each other. “This creates the feeling of the piano travelling in a perpetually changing musical landscape,” he writes, “encountering new colors and climates at every turn.”

Listen to a recording of Anderson's Incantesimi from the 2016 BBC Proms:

Like many of his works, Gerald Barry’s new work Canada for voice and orchestra, which has its premiere on August 21, draws a close link to Beethoven’s life and music. With Canada, Barry sets the well-known “Prisoners’ Chorus” from Fidelio in his own uniquely acerbic and brilliantly brash style. “Canada,” Barry reflects, “the name and country, is both everyday and strange to me – exotically normal: Canada! What joy in the open air! / Breathing freely again! / Only here is life! Only here! / Speak softly! / We are watched with eyes and ears.” Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla leads tenor Allan Clayton and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in the premiere.

Listen to a recording of Barry’s Beethoven for bass voice and ensemble:

Opening the First Night of the Proms on July 14 is the world premiere of rising British composer Tom Coult’s St John’s Dance. Edward Gardner conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the premiere. This Proms season also includes the UK premieres of Anders Hillborg’s Sirens (July 28 with sopranos Hannah Holgersson, Ida Falk Winland, and James Gaffigan conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus) and Thomas Larcher’s Nocturne – Insomnia (August 15 with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Robin Ticciati), as well as performances of Francisco Coll’s Mural and Thomas Adès’s Polaris on August 5 with Adès leading the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, David Sawer’s the greatest happiness principle (July 29 with the BBC Philharmonic) and Wolfgang Rihm’s IN-SCHRIFT (September 1 with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra).

Visit the links below for more information on the composers:

Thomas Adès | Julian Anderson | Gerald Barry
Francisco Coll | Tom Coult | Anders Hillborg
Thomas Larcher | Wolfgang Rihm | David Sawer

Julian Anderson
The Imaginary Museum (2016)
concerto for piano and orchestra
3.3.3.3-4.3.3.1-timp.3perc-hp.pno.cel-str
25’ 

Gerald Barry
Canada (2017)
for voice and orchestra
text (Ger) from the Prisoners’ Chorus of Beethoven’s Fidelio
3.3(ca).3(bcl).3-4.3.3(btbn).1-perc-pno-str
10’ 

Tom Coult
St John’s Dance (2017)
for orchestra
pic.2.3.Ebcl.2(2.bcl).2.cbsn-4.4.2.btbn.1-3perc-hp-str
6’

David Sawer
the greatest happiness principle (1997)
for orchestra
3.2.3.2-4.3.4.1-timp.3perc-hp-str
12’ 

Francisco Coll
Mural (2013-2015)
for large orchestra
2pic.2.2.ca.2.bcl.2.2.cbsn-4.4.2.btbn.cbtbn.1-timp-6perc-hp-pno-str
24’

Anders Hillborg
Sirens (2011)
for two sopranos, mixed chorus and orchestra
text (Eng) by Homer
3(pic).3(3.ca).3(3.bcl).3.cbsn-4.4.3.1-3perc-hp.pno-str
37’

Thomas Larcher
Nocturne – Insomnia (2007-2008)
for ensemble
1(pic, afl).1.2(2.bcl).1(cbsn)-2.1.1.0-2perc-acc.pno-str(1.1.1.1.1)
15’

Wolfgang Rihm
IN-SCHRIFT (1995)
for orchestra
3.0.3.1-4.3.6.1-timp.5perc-hp-7vc.7db
20’

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