PRESS RELEASE

MUSIC FOR DARWIN EVOLVES WORLDWIDE

The première of British composer Michael Stimpson's most recent work in Darwin, Australia in July represents the final phase in the evolutionary development of a large-scale work written to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.

Age of Wonders has evolved in four stages from a piece for violin and piano, through string quartet and string orchestra, to complete as Transmutations, for full orchestra. The work as a whole charts events throughout Darwin's life and exhibits evolution of both form and content.

Age of Wonders

i. The Man Who Walked With Henslow (violin and piano)
ii. String Quartet No. 2 (The Beagle)
iii. An Entangled Bank (string orchestra)
iv. Transmutations (full orchestra)

Stages one and three were premièred at the Wigmore Hall in January, featuring Philippe Graffin, Elizabeth Burley, and the London Sinfonietta. Stage two was premièred in February by the Maggini Quartet at the Peninsula Arts Festival in Plymouth, the departure point of the Beagle on its famous voyage. Transmutations,commissioned by the Darwin Symphony Orchestra, moves the music beyond the Darwin era, mutating and fragmenting in its more modern genetic phase.

Age of Wonders will provide the musical element of ORIGINS, an event which takes place in the city of Darwin's Civic Park on 1st July. Acknowledging the international celebrations for Charles Darwin's 200th birthday and featuring the Darwin Symphony Orchestra (conductor Martin Jarvis), Darwin Theatre Company, Darwin Chorale, and Corrugated Iron Youth Arts, ORIGINS is an interactive community celebration with orchestral music, circus, bells, choral work, performance, and multimedia "that explores our unique connection as a species to an idea that changed the world's conception of society, science and the arts". The event, as well as providing the première of Transmutations, will also mark the first occasion when all four stages of Age of Wonders appear in the same programme.

Further information about Michael Stimpson and his work is available at www.michaelstimpson.co.uk

Further information about ORIGINS is available through the Darwin Symphony Orchestra's website at www.dso.org.au

Contact:
Jim Driscoll
t: 01722 780671
m: 07846 962 886
e: jim@michaelstimpson.co.uk