Michael Stimpson, Composer
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NEWS -

 

60th BIRTHDAY CONCERT  
In celebration of Michael's 60th birthday a concert is to be held at the Purcell Room, at which the Exmoor Singers of London will reprise Songs of Innocence and Experience and Sioned Williams, The Stars Have Withdrawn Their Shining.

The remainder of the programme still to be finalised, will include a premi
ère of Three Auden Songs for a capella choir by James Lavino.

For more details, see the Concert page of this website
 

Exmoor




    DARWIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
  A fourth phase of Michael's new work, Age of Wonders, has been commissioned by the Darwin Symphony Orchestra for next years anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. The new commission will be for full orchestra and complete this revolutionary work.
For more details of Age of Wonders, see the Works page of this website

CD LAUNCH/ SALISBURY FESTIVAL    

String Quartet No. 1 (Robben Island) received another performance at this year's Salisbury International Arts Festival. This major festival had a South African theme for 2008 and so the quartet, first premièred by the Allegri String Quartet in 2000, was an ideal inclusion.

The concert launched Journeymen, the new CD of the string quartet, which also includes A Walk Into War, commissioned by the Allegri String Quartet for the Salisbury Festival in 2004. The CD features tenor Paul Agnew and pianist Daniel Tong.

 

  STAR IN BELGRADE AND AMSTERDAM
  Sioned Williams, principal harp of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and one of the UK's leading soloists, will be performing again the work that Michael wrote for her in 2001. The Stars Have Withdrawn Their Shining, a work based on the life of John Ruskin, was part of Sioned's programme in Belgrade this April. The work will then form a major part of Sioned's lecture recital in Amsterdam in August (World Harp Congress).

UK PREMIÈRE SET FOR PRELUDES  
A new collaboration between Michael and eminent Italian pianist Roberto Russo is planned for 2008/9. A series of Preludes interspersed with the poetry of Mario Luzi will acknowledge this remarkable Florentine writer (1914- 2005). The UK première is now arranged for Tuesday January 20th 2009 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields.   Mario Luzi

  FURTHER PERFORMANCES
Roberto   Roberto Russo, who last year toured Michael's new work for tenor and piano (Dall'Alba al Tramonto) is now to present in Italy four performances of Michael's work for violin and piano, Faulstone Hollow. This work also appeared in London's Second Glance Festival in 2007.

BRISTOL PREMIÈRE  
Saturday 29th March saw the première of a new commission for the Bristol Bach choir. The Ninth Hour: Four Latin Motets received a fine performance from the choir and conductor Peter Leech. Held at St. Mary Redcliffe in the centre of Bristol, the concert included works by British composers Herbert Howells, Howard Blake and Bryan Kelly.  

  TWO AWARDS
 

A Gala Dinner at Wilton House, near Salisbury, on Friday 14th March placed Michael as runner-up in the awards for Wiltshire Artist/Musician of the Year for 2008. www.wiltshirelife.co.uk

Another nomination, for an award with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation has also been made. Recipients of this prestigious award will be announced in the early autumn.


EVOLVING CONNECTIONS  

The Darwin200 group now features information on this new project on their web site (see also, Maggini Quartet). For Darwin 200, click here.
A full account of the planned new piece can now be found on the Works page of this website.

 

  MAGGINI QUARTET COMMISSION
  The PRS Foundation have made an award to the Maggini Quartet to assist with the commission of a new work by Michael. String Quartet No. 2 (The Beagle) will form the centrepiece of a three-stage work, Age of Wonders, to commemorate the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin in 2009

BLAKE RECORDING  
The Exmoor Singers of London, conductor James Jarvis, premièred a new work on July 28th 2007 - Songs of Innocence and Experience, for mezzo-soprano, baritone and unaccompanied choir.
This substantial new work commemorated the 250th anniversary of the birth of William Blake and had another performance at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on Monday November 12th 2007.
Plans are now underway for the inclusion of the work in a forthcoming CD of the Exmoor Singers.
The first and last movements can be heard on the Listen page of this website
 

Exmoor


NEWS ARCHIVE
2007    
 
 

 

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