NEWS
ARCHIVE - 2007
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PREMIÈRE SET FOR PRELUDES |
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| 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. |
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Mario Luzzi |
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MAGGINI
QUARTET COMMISSION |
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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. See below for further information. |
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| EVOLVING
CONNECTIONS |
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The Darwin200 group now features information
on this new project on their web site (see above, 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.
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NEW
AWARD |
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A
new award has been made by The Bliss Trust to assist with
Michael's writing. This outstanding Trust has made a contribution
to the writing of The Ninth Hour: Four Latin Motets
(see above) |
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BLAKE
RECORDING |
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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. |
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| FURTHER
PERFORMANCES |
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| Italian pianist 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 (see below). |
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ALLEGRI
STRING QUARTET RECORDING RELEASE |
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'England's
most respected quartet' together
with celebrated tenor Paul Agnew and pianist Daniel
Tong,
have now completed a recording of Michael's work - to
be released on CD in Spring 2008.and launched at the
Salisbury International Arts Festival on June 8th.
Michael
and the Allegri have enjoyed two important collaborations
in recent years and now the quartet have recorded these
works which are to be released by Riverrun Records.
The works are String Quartet No. 1 (Robben Island),
originally premièred at St. John's Smith Square
in 2000 and A Walk Into War for tenor and piano
quintet, premièred at the Salisbury Festival
in 2002. Details on how to purchase the CD will be published
shortly.
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| TWO
WORKS FOR SECOND GLANCE FESTIVAL |
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| Faulstone
Hollow (violin and piano) and String Quartet No.
1 (Robben Island) were included in the innovative
London Festival, Second Glance (June 2007). The Robben
Island quartet, the CD of which is to be released shortly
by the Allegri String Quartet, was given a splendid performance
by the young Carducci Quartet. To hear part of these works,
click on 'Listen' and select the appropriate piece. |
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