Concertgebouworkest Young
It’s a huge honour to write a piece for Concertgebouworkest Young’s 2023 programme.
Concerts are:
23 August 2023 at 8.00 p.m. in Concertgebouw Amsterdam
25 August 2023 at 8.15 p.m. in Konzerthaus Berlin
De Theorie Van Alles /
The Theory Of Everything
A new opera for children at Dutch National Opera & Ballet, performed in December 2023 -January 2024.
Libretto Roziena Salihu
Concept and stage direction Naomi van der Linden
Concept and musical direction Hanne van de Vrie
Set and costumes Dymph Boss
Lighting Ianthe van der Hoek
Arrangement Jan van Eerd
Dramaturgy Naomi Teekens
De Theorie van Tijd
In March 2023, 180 children from around the Netherlands sang the newly commissioned piece ‘De Theorie van Tijd’, to experience what it’s like to be on stage and perform opera. At the Children’s Chorus Festival 2023 at Dutch National Opera.
Libretto - Roziena Salihu
Music Director - Hanne van de Vrie
Director - Naomi van der Linden
Dramaturg - Naomi Teekens
UPROAR Wales New Music Ensemble
Forest Bathing is a new piece written for UPROAR’s Scenes From A Street tour, conducted by Michael Rafferty. It’s also broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Carlijn Metselaar’s Forest Bathing followed, a beautiful, Debussy-like exercise in tranquillity…an entrancing evocation.
Buzz Magazine
Carlijn Metselaar’s Forest Bathing was a gentle foil to this, inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku, finding wellbeing by being among trees. Quietly unhurried and atmospheric, the piece’s use of low instruments – cello, bass clarinet, contrabassoon and double-bass – to carry the darkly meandering melodic lines added a strong feeling of groundedness.
The Guardian
Into The Living Mountain
It was a huge privilege to be part of the RSNO Composers Hub:2019. My piece ‘Into The Living Mountain’ was premiered in February 2022 by the RSNO, conducted by Thomas Søndergård.
There’s a link of the announcement here. Also, there’s a short video below in which I discuss the piece with RSNO Associate Principal Oboe Peter Dykes.
Inner Voices is a new CD with music commissioned and performed by BBC NOW violist Laura Sinnerton. It's released by Birmingham Record Company and has new compositions by six different early career composers. It's been really inspiring to get to work with her on a new piece for this CD, especially during lockdowns. Have a listen to some beautiful and interesting new viola music, with composers Sarah Lianne Westmore, Patrick Ellis, Jimena Maldonado, Anselm McDonnell and Emily Abdy.
The CD is available here, and there’s an interview with Laura here.
Many thanks to Wild Plum Arts for offering librettist Sophie Rashbrook and me a residency at Made At The Red House in August to work on a new children’s opera together!
Time For Your Walk
Many thanks to BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Maxime Tortelier for performing ‘Time For Your Walk’ as part of their Digital Concert Series!
The concert is available to watch in the UK here.
Vorfreude Fanfare
My orchestral ‘Vorfreude’ fanfare was premiered at the inaugural concert of Andrés Orozco-Estrada as the new Music Director of the Wiener Symphoniker following a Call For Scores competition. The piece was performed in the Vienna Konzerthaus in October 2020.
You can find an interview on Radio 4 NTR Podium (Dutch) here.
RSNO
It has been a huge privilege to take part in the RSNO Hub this year, mentored by Stuart MacRae, for which I wrote ‘Into The Living Mountain’, an 8 minute piece for orchestra.
Time For YouR Walk
Performance at Debut Sounds in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, 1st July 2019
Performed by LPO and Foyle Future Firsts
Conductor - James MacMillan
UPROAR 10x10
‘Night Parade of Monsters’ was recently performed at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff by UPROAR Wales New Music Ensemble.
The piece was commissioned by the group for a concert showcasing 10 world premieres, conducted by Michael Rafferty.
You can find the Guardian review by Rian Evans here.