News
Angry Garden Soloists Confirmed
September 15, 2019
We are delighted to be working with Stephanie Corley, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Ed Lyon and William Berger in the recording of The Angry Garden on September 21st 2019.
Picture credits:
Stephanie Corley: used by permission of Hazard Chase
Marta Fontanals-Simmons: Victoria Cadisch
Ed Lyon: Gerard Collett
William Berger: used by permission of William Berger
Mark Bebbington: Piano soloist for Silvered Night
August 29, 2019
International concert pianist Mark Bebbington has been confirmed as the soloist for a recording of Michael's new work Silvered Night which is to be recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and City of London Choir this September 21st.
See Mark's website here:- https://markbebbington.co.uk
Image used by permission from Catherine Gosney
Hilary Davan Wetton confirmed as conductor of two new works
August 14, 2019
September's recording of The Angry Garden and The Silvered Night will feature Hilary Davan Wetton as conductor. Hilary has led a distinguished career as a choral conductor and we are looking forward to his involvement with this project.
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Recording: The Angry Garden
July 09, 2019
On September 21st this year, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and City of London Choir will record Michael's large-scale work The Angry Garden in London.
Originally premiered in aid of the World Wildlife Fund, the work is intimately connected with Michael's concern for the state of our planet.
More info can be found at the Works page. The text of the work is by poet Simon Rae.
Michael records new work for Flute and Piano in London
November 08, 2018
On Monday 29th October, Michael recorded a new work for flute and piano, The Balancing of Opposites. One of the UK's leading flautists, Philippa Davies, joined pianist Megumi Fujita who was in the country to premiere a new work for piano to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One. The five-movement work for flute and piano is inspired by the sculpture Discobolus, by Myron.
See the Works page for an introduction to the work.
Pianist Megumi Fujita performs new work by Michael in Centenary Concert
October 30, 2018
Last month's concert featured a World Premiere of Michael's latest work, Variations on Papaver Rhoeas inspired by the Remembrance Poppy. The pianist was award winning musician Megumi Fujita.
John Francis, Vice-chairman of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society was guest speaker at the concert. While he focused on the extraordinary courage and dedication of Vaughan Williams in the War, Michael spoke more generally about the involvement of composers in and around the War. Less well known than the War poets, composers such as George Butterworth, Rudi Stefan, Frederick Septimus Kelly, Cecil Coles and William Denis Brown lost their lives in the War while other composers such as Arthur Bliss, Arnold Schoenberg, and Alban Berg took part in the conflict and fortunately survived. The new work of Michael's to mark the occasion, Variations on Papaver Rhoeas, was recorded for future release.
First World War 100th Anniversary Concert to feature a new composition by Michael
August 15, 2018
To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, pianist Megumi Fujita presents a concert of music by composers who were involved or connected with the War: Ralph Vaughan Williams was a stretcher-bearer with the Royal Army Medical Corps; Maurice Ravel enlisted as a truck driver; Enrique Granados drowned when his cross-channel ferry was torpedoed in 1916; and Claude Debussy died in the last year of the War, his funeral marked by bombardment in Paris.
The programme is complimented by the World Premiere of Variations on Papaver Rhoeas by Michael Stimpson. 'Papaver Rhoeas' is the Latin name for the Remembrance poppy, characterised by four petals which surround the central black core. Written in the shape of the flower, the piece is a symbol for all those affected by conflict, in World War One and beyond.
Further Coverage of Quartet in Mandela Anniversary
July 19, 2018
Two further performances of the Robben Island string quartet were included in the Reflections of a Legen programme of the Odeion String Quartet on the 9th and 10th July in South Africa. On the day of the anniversary, the 18th July, Michael also gave a short interview to the BBC discussing what inspired him to write the work some 20 years ago. Another BBC interview is scheduled for 22nd July.
String Quartet in South Africa
July 12, 2018
At the Guy Butler Theatre in South Africa, the Odeion String Ensemble included music from String Quartet No. 1 (Robben Island) in a programme of music to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela - Reflections of a Legend. The quartet was in a programme which included music by Brahms and Tchaikovsky. To see Ann Knight's article in the South African newspaper,The Herald, click on the button below.
100th Anniversary of the Birth of Nelson Mandela
July 08, 2018
July 18th 2018 is the 100 anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. Michael's first string quartet was written not long after the breakdown of apartheid, and given the subtitle Robben Island, where Mandela was held in prison. Premiered at. St. John's Smith Square in London by the renowned Allegri Quartet, the performance was in the presence of the new High Commissioner for New South Africa, and Denis Goldberg, a prisoner who had been on trial with Mandela. The Allegri Quartet widely performed the work and subsequently recorded it for the Journeyman CD, which can be purchased/downloaded on this site.