'A joy to hear'
The Strad
in this month ...
On the 4th October 2000, the Allegri Quartet premiered Michael's first string quartet, Robben Island, written to commemorate Nelson Mandela. Read more about the piece here.
The Sun and the Moon to be recorded and to receive performance
Michael's six-movement work for clarinet quintet, The Sun and the Moon, is to be recorded by clarinettist Mark van de Viel and the Piatti Quartet for Signum early next year. The piece will also receive a performance by them at Bob Boas' salon concert series at 22 Mansfield Place in London in December this year. The CD, due for release in summer 2028, will also contain Brahms' clarinet quintet and another new work, 6 Gnossiennes, by Noah Max.
The Sun and the Moon is inspired by the Pyramides del Sol y de la Luna in Mexico City. It was first performed by David Campbell and the Vanbrugh Quartet in 2005.
Suite Gromignana now available
Suite Gromignana, a four-movement piece for brass quintet, was recorded by Onyx Brass in January 2025. The piece was released on 16th April 2026. It is available to stream on all digital platforms, and also for download as 96kHz stereo wavs below.
Dylan in Swansea and NYC
To commemmorate the 70th anniversary of the death of Dylan Thomas in New York City in November 1953, Michael's song cycle Dylan, which charts the Welsh poet's life, received performances in Swansea, where he was born, and New York City, where he died.
The Swansea performance took place in the front room of 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, the very house where Dylan Thomas was born and grew up and which has been lovingly restored in a period fashion.
Box set of recorded works
Box set containing all 7 CDs of Michael's recorded music, featuring works from across his career
RECORDINGS
ABOUT
The works of Michael Stimpson have been performed, commissioned, and recorded by some of the UK’s most distinguished artists including the English Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Allegri and Maggini String Quartets, Bristol Bach Choir, Roderick Williams, Paul Agnew, David Campbell, Philippe Graffin, and Sioned Williams. A number of the UK’s finest venues have featured performances of his work including the Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, and Cadogan Hall, as well as a variety of UK festivals. International recognition has prompted performances in Australia, Europe, Iran and the USA.
FEATURED WORK
The Sun and the Moon
A piece for clarinet quintet inspired by the magnificent 'Piramides del Sol y de la Luna' at the ancient city of Teotihuacán outside of Mexico City.
The piece is due to be recorded and performed in late 2026/early 2027.
Read more about the piece here.
FEATURED SCORE
Dall'Alba al Tramonto
Tenor and piano. Based on poems by Giovanni Pascoli.
2006. 23 mins (approx). Premiered by Alessandro Maffucci (tenor) and Roberto Russo (piano) , 21st April 2006, Pieve Romanica di San Leolino, Panzano, Chianti, Italy.
Buy here