Michael Stimpson, Composer
layout spacer image layout spacer image layout spacer image
layout spacer image

NEWS -

 

    JESSE TAKES SHAPE
Initial writing is underway on Michael's first opera which takes the athlete Jesse Owens as its core subject. The extraordinary life of arguably the greatest Olympian is a perfect subject for the Olympic year 2012. Famous for winning four gold medals in the 1936 Hitler Olympics, Jesse suffered the extremes of racial prejudice and poverty both before and after Berlin. Forced into racing motorbikes and horses, Jesse demonstrated a quiet dignity throughout.  


DARWIN SPONSOR    
  We are delighted to announce that a major sponsor has come forward to support the recording of Age of Wonders, a work to commemorate last year's anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. With so many excellent partners in the project, options are currently being explored to identify the best way forward.

    IMPACT AWARD
A new fund, Impact, set up by Arts Council South West, has announced in June 2010 support for a number of new projects. Amongst these is Michael's writing of the opera Jesse, planned for it première in 2012. 'This is an enormous boost to the project and has enabled the writing to begin', says Michael. 'ACE SW has been extremely helpful with this opera and I am delighted with the award'. A blog on the artistic approach and plan of the opera will appear shortly on this website.  

THANK YOU FROM DARWIN    
  Letter from Darwin."We write to thank you for your involvement in, and contribution to, Origins. What an epic production!...Audience estimates indicate we had about 3,000 people come through the area over the course of the evening and so, despite some fear and trepidation about competing with Territory Day celebrations, this turn out is a great success and testament to both the support bases of participating organisations and the public being open to an alternative to fireworks." Read full text here

    NEW WORKS
Three new works are at their early planning stage. A well-overdue piece for flute; a new choral work for 2012, and on a far larger scale, the preparation for Michael's first opera. Taking an Olympic theme as its background, preparation is ongoing to have the first performance ready for 2012.  

PRELUDES FOR PIANO    
  Since the completion of the four-stage Charles Darwin work Michael has put the finishing touches to a new set of Preludes for Piano. Preludes In Our Time is a comment on today's society and have a rather unusual structure. Each doubles in length with the last Prelude having codas for its own, and the previous four Preludes. The première is being scheduled for 2010/11.


    REVISION COMPLETE
Sonata for Piano Trio, completed in 1996, has undergone an extensive revision in preparation for performances in 2010. Originally presented at London's Purcell Room, this early work of Michael's received excellent reviews from The Strad and other music journals. The number 'three' pervades the whole work: three subjects, three movements, and three episodes in its final rondo form. See the Listen page for the opening of the work.  

AN ENTANGLED BANK IN PLYMOUTH  
  Conductor Simon Ible and the Ten Tors orchestra presented last October another UK performance of An Entangled Bank, for string orchestra. The programme, entitled 'Darwin's Finches', links the work to one of the most famous pieces of Darwin's great nephew (Ralph Vaughan Williams) The Lark Ascending. See Concert Information on this site for further information.

    SPECTACULAR DARWIN CELEBRATION
The Shadow Minister of Australian Arts, Alderman, Mayor, and an audience of over 1,000 were present on July 1st for the World premiere of Transmutations and the first performance of all four sections of Age of Wonders in one concert. Set to theatre, lighting and fireworks, the event marked Northern Territory Day and the opening of the Darwin Bell sculpture by Anton Hasell. For more photos click here  

BLAKE RECORDING
 
Exmoor
  Plans are now underway for the inclusion of Michael's choral work (Songs of Innocence and Experience) in a forthcoming CD of the Exmoor Singers of London. The choir, conducted by James Jarvis, premièred the work on July 28th 2007. Written for mezzo-soprano, baritone and unaccompanied choir, this substantial new work commemorated the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Blake and has had further performances at St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Purcell Room.
The first and last movements can be heard on the Listen page of this website


NEWS ARCHIVE
2009    
2008    
2007    
 
 





 

layout spacer image layout spacer image © Michael Stimpson 2007