Composers
Notes of premières of new works run from three months before to three months following publication of this issue, i.e. from 1 April to 30 September 2013. There is therefore a three-month overlap between issues, and omissions and late news for the three ‘following’ months of the current issue will be picked up in the three ‘prior’ months of the next one. News of more distant forthcoming premières is given more briefly; full details will be found in subsequent issues.
AA, MICHAEL VAN DER has been awarded the 2013 Mauricio Kagel Prize for his multimedia works. This is van der Aa's second major prize this year, following the 2013 Grawemeyer Award.
ADAMO, MARKThe Gospel of Mary Magdalene (première) – 19 June San Francisco, CA / San Francisco Opera c. Michael Christie.
ADÈS, THOMASTotentanz (première) – 17 July London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / Christianne Stotijn (mezzo), Simon Keenlyside (bar), BBC Symphony Orchestra c. composer.
ANDERSON, JULIAN String Quartet No. 1, Light Music (première) – 15 June Aldeburgh Festival, Parish Church / Arditti String Quartet. Harmony (première) – 12 July London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC Symphony Orchestra c. Sakari Oramo.
BARRY, GERALDNo Other People (UK première) – 19 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC Scottish SO c. Ilan Volkov.
BATES, DJANGOThe Study of Touch (UK première) – 28 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / Belovèd with Norbotten Big Band.
BIRTWISTLE, HARRISONThe Moth Requiem (UK première) – 12 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms, Cadogan Hall / BBC Singers, Nash Ensemble c. Nicholas Kok.
BRITTEN, BENJAMIN (d. 1976) Elegy for string orchestra (première) – 31 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / Camerata Nordica c. Terje Tønnesen.
BURRELL, DIANABlaze (première) – 5 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms, Cadogan Hall / Tine Thing Helsing (tpt), tenThing.
CASKEN, JOHN Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (première) – 30 June Durham Cathedral / Cathedral Choir c. James Lancelot.
CERHA, FRIEDRICHÉtoile for 6 percussionists (première) – 3 August Salzburg Festival, Felsenreitschule / Martin Grubinger & The Percussive Planet.
CLYNE, ANNAMasquerade (première) – 7 September London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC Symphony Orchestra c. Marin Alsop.
COWIE, EDWARDEarth Music I – The Great Barrier Reef (première) – 5 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC Philharmonic c. Gianandrea Noseda. Blues Blues; Two-Part Inventions; String Quartet No. 6 (premières) – 5 August London, Royal College of Music / Musicians from Royal Northern College of Music.
CZERNOWIN, CHAYAAt the fringe of our gaze (première) – 18 August Lucerne / West-Eastern Divan Orchestra c. Daniel Barenboim. White Wind Waiting for guitar and orchestra (première) – 10 September Lucerne / SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg c. François-Xavier Roth.
DAVIES, TANSY (and WOOLRICH, JOHN) Variations on an Elizabethan Theme (Sellinger's Round) (premières) – 24 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms, Cadogan Hall / English Chamber Orchestra c. Paul Watkins (additional variations for the famous 1953 set by BERKELEY, BRITTEN, SEARLE, OLDHAM, TIPPETT, and WALTON, ). Davies is composing an opera, conceived as a requiem for the victims of 9/11, for performance by the ENO during their 2014/15 season.
DEAN, BRETT Trumpet Concerto (première) – 31 July Grafenegg, Wolkenturm / Håkan Hardenberger (tpt), Tonkünstler-Orchesters Niederösterreich c. John Storgårds.
EÖTVÖS, PETERDoReMi (UK première) – 29 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / Midori (vln), Philharmonia c. Esa-Pekka Salonen.
FEDELE, IVANPHASING for 2 pianos and 2 percussionists (première) – 27 April Witten, Tage für Neue Kammermusik / Quatuor Makrokosmos.
FUJIKURA, DAI3 Miniatures (première) – 4 July Cheltenham Festival, Pump Room / Joseph Tong, Waka Hasegawa (pno duet).
FURRER, BEATCanti della tenebra (première) – 7 September Oslo, Ultima Festival / Tora Augestad (mezzo), Christian Ihle Hadland (pno).
GLASS, PHILIP Symphony No. 10 (UK première) – 31 July London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / Aurora Orchestra c. Nicholas Collon.
GREGSON, EDWARDThree John Donne Settings (première) – 26 July Conwy, St Mary's Church / National Youth Choir of Wales c. David Lawrence.
GUBAIDULINA, SOFIAThe Rider on the White Horse (première) – 13 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / London Symphony Orchestra c. Valery Gergiev.
HALFFTER, CRISTOBÁLAusencias (première) – 3 June Madrid, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia / Leipziger Streichquartett.
HEAD, RAYMONDLe Panorama en rondeau (première) – 15 April Woking, Christ Church / Penelope Cave (hpschd).
HESKETH, KENNETHHorae (première) – 6 July Cheltenham Festival, Parabola Centre / Clare Hammond (pno).
HILLBORG, ANDERSThe Strand Settings for soprano and orchestra (première) – 26 April New York, Carnegie Hall / Renée Fleming, NYPO c. Alan Gilbert.
HINDSON, MATTHEW String Quartet No. 2 (première) – 16 August Coffs Harbour, NSW / Elias String Quartet.
HOLT, SIMONEscaramuza (première) – 10 July Cheltenham Festival, Pump Room / Mark Simpson (cl), Leonard Eischenbroich (vlc), Igor Levit (pno).
HYYTIÄNEN, MIKALa figure de la terre (première) – 13 April Berlin, Sophiensäle, dir. Jaakko Nousiniainen
KHAN, NISHATThe Gate of the Moon (Sitar Concerto No. 1) (première) – 12 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / composer (sitar), BBC National Orchestra of wales c. David Atherton.
KYLLONEN, TIMO-JUHANI music for Oreet Ashery's Party for Freedom (première) – 1 May London, Millbank Media Centre.
LACHENMANN, HELMUTTanzsuite mit Deutschlandlied (UK première) – 15 July London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / Arditti Quartet, Bamberg SO c. Jonathan Nott.
LANG, DAVIDwhen we were children (première) – 20 July Cooperstown, NY / Glimmerglass Opera.
LISTER, RODNEYFriendly Fire (première) – 21 April Cambridge, Mass., Pickman Hall / Charles Blandy (ten), Collage New Music c. David Hoose.
LLOYD, GEORGE (d. 1998) HMS Trinidad March (UK première of orchestral version) – 7 September London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC Symphony Orchestra c. Marin Alsop.
MACMILLAN, JAMESAlleluia (première) – 6 July Eugene Oregon / Berwick Chorus of the Oregon Bach Festival c. Matthew Halls. The Death of Oscar (première) – 11 July Stuttgart, Beethovenhalle / Radio-Sinfonieorchester of Stuttgart des SWR c. Stephane Déneve. The Offered Civist (première) – 20 July Chichester Cathedral / Cathedral Choir.
MARTINSSON, ROLFTour de Force (première) – 15 May Gothenburg / Gothenburg SO c. Nikolai Znaider.
MATTHEWS, COLINNowhere to hide (première) – 5 July Cheltenham Festival, Pump Room / Schubert Ensemble. Turning Point (première) – 29 July London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC National Orchestra of Wales c.Thomas Søndergård.
MATTHEWS, DAVIDSkies now are Skies (première of version for string orchestra) – 31 May Stratford, Civic Hall / The Orchestra of the Swan c. David Curtis. Four Portraits for piano (première) – 14 June London, Spitalfields Festival / William Howard (pno). Double Concerto (première) – 7 July Cheltenham Festival / Anthony Marwood (vln), Lawrence Power (vla) / Welsh Sinfonia c. Mark Eager. A Vision of the Sea (première) – 16 July London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC Philharmonic c. Juanjo Mena.
McCABE, JOHNJoybox (première) – 25 July London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC Philharmonic c. Juanjo Mena.
DAVIES, PETER MAXWELL Oboe Quartet (première) – 21 June Kirkwall, Orkney, St Magnus Cathedral.
ONAC, DAVID String Quartet No. 6 (première) – 8 July Cheltenham Festival, Pump Room / Carducci Quartet.
O’REGAN, TARIKChaābi (European première) – 26 May Brighton Festival, The Dome / Brighton Festival chorus, Britten Sinfonia c. Thierry Fischer.
PAYNE, ANTHONY orchestration of WILLIAMS, VAUGHANFour Last Songs (première) – 4 September London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / Ruby Hughes (sop), Jennifer Johnston (mezzo), BBC Symphony Orchestra c. Osmo Vänskä.
PICKER, TOBIASDolores Claiborne, opera in 2 acts (première) – 18 September San Francisco, War Memorial Opera House / c. George Manahan.
PINTSCHER, MATTHIASBereshit for ensemble (première) – 24 May St Paul / St Paul Chamber Orchestra c. composer.
RAINIER, PRIAULX (d. 1986) Movement for strings (première) – 10 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / Camerata Ireland c. Barry Douglas.
RASCH, TORSTENDas Haus der Temperamente (première) – 17 April Chemnitz, Städtische Theater / Robert Schumann Philharmonie Chemnitz c. Frank Beermann. Four Songs (première) – 30 July Gloucester, Three Choirs Festival / Roderick Williams (bar).
RASKATOV, ALEXANDERNight Butterflies, concerto for piano and orchestra (première) – 11 May The Hague / Tomoko Mukaiyama (pno), Residentie Orchestra c. Reinbert de Leeuw.
RIHM, WOLFGANGKlangbeschreibung 2 (première of new revised version) – 15 June Paris, Cité de la musique / Ensemble Intercontemporain c. Francis-Xavier Roth. A Tribute (première) – 23 June Aldeburgh Festival, Snape Maltings / Hallé Orchestra.
RZEWSKI, FREDERIC Piano Concerto (première) – 19 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / composer (piano), BBC Scottish SO c. Ilan Volkov.
SAWER, DAVIDThe Lighthouse Keeper (première) – 4 July Cheltenham Festival, Parabola Centre / 2 actors, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group c. Martyn Brabbins.
SAY, FAZILGoethe-Lieder for soprano, string orchestra and percussion (première) – 23 June Stuttgart, Beethoven-Saal / Stuttgarter Kammerorchester c. Michael Hifstetter. Water (Su) for piano and orchestra (première) – 18 August Stolpe, Gutshaus / Gstaad Festival Orchestra c. Kristjan Järvi.
SCHLEE, THOMAS DANIEL Symphony No. 2 (première) – 15 June Vienna, Musikverein / Wiener Symphoniker c. Manfred Honeck.
SCHNEIDER, ENJOTTDunkelwelt Untersberg (Symphony No. 7) for orchestra with tone modulation (première) – 19 April Bad Reichenhall / Bad Reichenhaller Philharmonie c. Christoph Alt. Der Rhein (Symphony No. 6) for soprano, chorus and orchestra (première) – 29 June Cologne, Philharmonie / Bonner Operisten, Collegium Cantandi Bonn, Deutz-Chor Köln, Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen c. Heinz Walter Florin.
SCHWERTSIK, KURTMusik: Leicht Fluchtig (première) – 28 September Pölten, Festspielhaus/Tonkünstler-Orchesters Niederösterreich c. Andrès Orozco-Estrada.
SEITHER, CHARLOTTELanguage of Leaving (première) – 28 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC Singers, BBC Symphony Orchestra c. Josep Pons.
SHEPHERD, SEANMagiya (European première) – 21 July London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / National Youth Orchestra of the USA c. Valery Gergiev.
SIGURĐSSON, VELGEIRDreamland for chamber orchestra (première) – 4 June Eindhoven, Muziekgebouw / BBC Scottish SO c. Ilan Volkov.
SOHAL, NARESHThe Cosmic Dance (première) – 2 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / Royal Scottish National Orchestra c. Peter Oundjian.
STAUD, JOHANNES MARIACanto XXVI for ensemble (première) – 11 June Vienna, Konzerthaus / ensemble xx. Jahrhundert c. Peter Burwik. K'in for bassoon and string quartet (première) – 19 September Schwaz, Austria, Klangspuren Festival / Pascal Gallois (bn), Hugo Wolf Quartett.
SUCKLING, MARTINRelease (première) – 12 May Glasgow, City Halls / BBC Scottish SO c. Ilan Volkov.
TAVENER, JOHNIf ye love me; Love Duet from ‘Krishna’; The Death of Ivan Ilyich (premières) – 7 July Manchester, Bridgewater Hall / BBC Philharmonic c. Tecwyn Evans.
TURNAGE, MARK-ANTHONYAt Sixes and Sevens (première) – 3 July London, Guildhall Great Hall / Ben McAteer, Ailish Tynan, LSO Choir and London Children's Choir, London Symphony Orchestra c. Nick Collon. Frieze (première) – 11 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / National Youth Orchestra of reat Britain c. Vasily Petrenko.
TUOMELA, TAPIOSwap, concerto for saxophone and orchestra (première) – 10 April Joensuu / Sasha Mäkilä (sax), Joensuu City Orchestra c. Joonatan Rautiola.
WILLIAMS, RALPH VAUGHAN (d. 1958) see PAYNE, ANTHONY
VIR, PARAMCave of Luminous Mind (première) – 21 August London, Royal Albert Hall Proms / BBC Symphony Orchestra c. Sakari Oramo. Intimations of Luminous Clarity (première) – 21 London, Royal College of Music / Musicians from Royal Academy of Music.
WEINBERG, MIECZYSLAW (d. 1996) The Idiot (première of original Russian version) – 5 May Mannheim, Nationaltheater / c. Thomas Sanderling.
WILLIAMS, ADRIANThe Idea of Peace (première) – 4 July City of London Festival, St Paul's Cathedral / Gillian Keith (sop), Toonkunstkoor Utrecht, English Chamber Orchestra c. Jos Vermunt.
WOOLRICH, JOHN see DAVIES, TANSY
Books Received
(A listing in this column does not preclude a review in a future edition of Tempo)
John Cage and David Tudor. Correspondence on Interpretation and Performance by Iddon, Martin. Cambridge University Press ‘Music Since 1900’, £55.00/$95.00.
New Music at Darmstadt: Nono, Stockhausen, Cage and Boulez by Iddon, Martin. Cambridge University Press, £70.00/$110.00.
Orientalism and Musical Mission: Palestine and the West by Willson, Rachel Beckles. Cambridge University Press, £65.00/$99.00.
Experiencing Stravinsky. A Listener's Companion by Maconie, Robin. Scarecrow Press, Inc. £27.95.
The Aesthetic Life of Cyril Scott by Sarah Collins. Boydell, £55.00.
First and Lasting Impressions: Julius Rudel Looks Back on a Life in Music by Rudel, Julius and Paller, Rebecca. University of Rochester Press, £30.00.