NEWS
ARCHIVE - 2008
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ROBERT
TEAR TO READ DARWIN |
| Distinguished
singer Robert Tear has kindly agreed to be involved in
the Wigmore Hall, Darwin anniversary concert on January
21st 2009. He will read extracts from Darwin's autobiography
(one of which gave the title of one of the pieces, An
Entangled Bank) and the poem by Samuel Wilberforce
(1805-73) which gave rise to the overall title Age
of Wonders. A poster can be viewed
here |
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| WIGMORE
HALL CONCERT CONFIRMED |
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The first
and third phases of Age of Wonders, a new 4-stage
work to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth
of Charles Darwin, are now booked for premiere at the
Wigmore Hall on January 21st 2009. This falls just a few
days prior to Darwin's birthdate in early February.
Philippe Graffin (violin) and Elizabeth Burley (piano)
première The Man Who Walked With Henslow,
and in the same concert, London Sinfonietta strings première
An Entangled Bank, a work based on the later life
and publications of Darwin.
See Concert Info for further information. |
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PENINSULA
ARTS FESTIVAL HOSTS
NEW STRING QUARTET
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The
outstanding Maggini Quartet will première
Michael's new string quartet at the Peninsula Arts Festival
on February 28th 2009. String Quartet No. 2 (The Beagle)
is the second part of Age of Wonders, a new
four-part work to commemorate the 200th anniversary of
the birth of Charles Darwin.
See the Concert Info and Works pages
of this website for more information |
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| 60th
BIRTHDAY CONCERT |
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In
celebration of Michael's 60th birthday a concert was held
at the Purcell Room on October 20th. The Exmoor Singers
of London, conducted by James Jarvis gave another excellent
performance of Songs of Innocence and Experience,
a work based on the poems of William Blake. In the same
programme Sioned Williams (harp) had the audience spell-bound
with her masterful performance of The Stars Have Withdrawn
Their Shining, a work that Michael wrote for her some
years ago.
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DARWIN
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA |
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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 |
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| CD
LAUNCH/ SALISBURY FESTIVAL |
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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.
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STAR
IN BELGRADE AND AMSTERDAM |
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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). |
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| UK
PREMIÈRE SET FOR PRELUDES |
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| A new set
of Preludes for piano are planned for 2008/9. The
UK première is now arranged for Tuesday January
20th 2009 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields. |
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Mario
Luzi |
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| BRISTOL
PREMIÈRE |
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| 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. |
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TWO
AWARDS |
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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.
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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
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.
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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 |
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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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NEWS
ARCHIVE
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| 2007 |
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