season brochure | 2015-16
jacqueline shave
Leader, Britten Sinfonia
introduction A very warm welcome to Britten Sinfonia’s 2015-16 season, which
work by Kenneth Hesketh specially commissioned for this talented
embraces a fusion of the baroque, classical, jazz, opera and
ensemble. Our broadcast partner, BBC Radio 3 continues to
modernist masters, with a stellar line up of musical collaborators
broadcast these concerts, which alongside evening concerts total at
including Colin Currie, Iestyn Davies, Benjamin Grosvenor, Steven
least 9 concert broadcasts in 2015-16.
Osborne, Kristian Järvi, Cristina Zavalloni and jazz legend, Eddie Gomez.
“It is the spirit of adventure that has won britten sinfonia a reputation as one of the uK’s most forward-thinking musical ensembles”
We continue to take our distinct and bold programmes across the globe and in May 2016 we are pleased to be making our debut in
The orchestra’s (RPS Award-winning) partnership as Associate
China with performances in three key cities: Shanghai, Beijing and
Ensemble with the Barbican Centre continues to flourish with a
Tianjin.
number of exciting projects. In collaboration with the Barbican Theatre we present the first full staging of Hans Zender’s iconoclastic re-imaging of Schubert’s Winterreise, with the team that produced the acclaimed production of Britten’s Curlew River: tenor Ian Bostridge, and the brilliantly inventive opera director and video artist, Netia Jones. We are also thrilled to be involved in the revival of the Royal Opera House’s acclaimed staging of Gerald Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest, and in a new initiative, TAKE TWO, where the orchestra will present a double-bill of artist portraits featuring and focusing upon two of contemporary music’s towering figures: composers Louis Andriessen and Oliver Knussen. Set up to showcase our musicians’ chamber music credentials, and fuse new and earlier works in hour long concerts, it’s hard to believe that our awarding-winning At Lunch series is now 10 year’s old. Over these years' we’ve commissioned and performed 43 premieres, and this year we present new works by Edward Nesbit, Anna Clyne, Daníel Bjarnason and Bryce Dessner, co-commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and Wigmore Hall. Britten Sinfonia Academy also perform an At Lunch concert in Norwich and Cambridge featuring a new
The Britten Sinfonia Voices feature in our Christmas festivities in an all-star line-up for Handel’s Messiah featuring Carolyn Sampson, Iestyn Davies, Allan Clayton and Robert Davies, with Easter marked by a performance of James MacMillan’s visceral, dramatic meditation, Seven Last Words from the Cross. Legendary bassist Eddie Gomez and award-winning pianist, Steven Osborne join us for the EFG London Jazz Festival and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor plays and directs Mozart, in our Leader Jacqueline Shave’s 10th anniversary concert. And with an array of music by Byrd, Bach, Berg, Bill Evans, Mozart, Reich, Stravinsky, Tippett, Zappa and more, you’ll get an idea of the rich mix of great music to explore. On behalf of Britten Sinfonia we look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a thrilling and illuminating season of concerts.
DAVID BUTCHER chief executive & artistic Director, britten sinfonia
2016 dates continued
2015 dates JereMY DenK DirectS
At lunch three
Thu 24 Sep
Southampton, Turner Sims Concert Hall
8pm
www.turnersims.co.uk
Fri 25 Sep
Norwich, St Andrew’s Hall
7.30pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Sun 27 Sep
Cambridge, West Road Concert Hall
7.30pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
8pm
www.romanrivermusic.org.uk
roMAn river feStivAl Thu 1 Oct
Stoke by Nayland, St Mary’s Church
hitchcocK’S PSYcho Sat 10 Oct
Saffron Walden, Saffron Hall
7pm
www.saffronhall.com
tAKe two: oliver KnuSSen in focuS Sun 25 Oct
London, Milton Court
7.30pm
www.barbican.org.uk
Wed 28 Oct
London, Barbican
7.30pm
www.barbican.org.uk
SounD unBounD - the BArBicAn clASSicAl weeKenDer Sat 31 Oct & Sun 1 Nov
London, Barbican & Milton Court
various
www.barbican.org.uk
inDePenDent oPerA: BieDerMAnn AnD the ArSoniStS Sat 14, Tue 17 & Thu 19 Nov
London, Lilian Baylis Sstudio, Sadler’s Wells
7pm
www.independentopera.com
efG lonDon JAZZ feStivAl with eDDie GoMeZ Wed 18 Nov
London, Milton Court
7.30pm
www.barbican.org.uk
Sat 21 Nov
Saffron Walden, Saffron Hall
7.30pm
www.saffronhall.com
At lunch one Fri 27 Nov
Norwich, St Andrew’s Hall
1pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Tue 1 Dec
Cambridge, West Road Concert Hall
1pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Wed 2 Dec
London, Wigmore Hall
1pm
www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
hAnDel’S MeSSiAh Mon 14 Dec
Cambridge, West Road Concert Hall
7.30pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Tue 15 Dec
London, Barbican
7.30pm
www.barbican.org.uk
Wed 16 Dec
Norwich, St Andrew’s Hall
7.30pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Fri 19 Feb
Norwich, St Andrew’s Hall
1pm
Tue 23 Feb
Cambridge, West Road Concert Hall
1pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Wed 24 Feb
London, Wigmore Hall
1pm
www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
www.brittensinfonia.com
Seven lASt worDS froM the croSS Sun 20 Mar
Birmingham, Town Hall
3pm
www.thsh.co.uk
Fri 25 Mar
London, Barbican
6pm
www.barbican.org.uk
Tue 29, Wed 30 Mar London, Barbican Theatre Fri 1 & Sat 2 Apr
7.45pm
www.barbican.org.uk
Sun 3 Apr
3pm
www.barbican.org.uk
the iMPortAnce of BeinG eArneSt
London, Barbican Theatre
At lunch four Fri 8 Apr
Norwich, St Andrew’s Hall
1pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Tue 12 Apr
Cambridge, West Road Concert Hall
1pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Wed 13 Apr
London, Wigmore Hall
1pm
www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
BenJAMin GroSvenor DirectS Sat 23 Apr
Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire Music Centre
7.30pm
www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk
Wed 27 Apr
Cambridge, West Road Concert Hall
7.30pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Fri 29 Apr
Norwich, St Andrew’s Hall
7.30pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Sun 1 May
London, Milton Court
7.30pm
www.barbican.org.uk
tour to chinA Fri 6 – Sun 8 May
Shanghai, Shanghai Concert Hall
7.30pm
www.shanghaiconcerthall.org
Wed 11 May
Tianjin, Tianjin Grand Theatre
7.30pm
www.eticket.tigtheatre.org
Thu 12 May
Beijing, National Centre for the Performing Arts 7.30pm
www.chncpa.org/ens
the DArK Mirror: ZenDer’S winterreiSe Thu 12 – Sat 14 May London, Barbican Theatre
7.45pm
www.barbican.org.uk
3pm
www.saffronhall.com
Alice coote & MAhAn eSfAhAni Sun 15 May
Saffron Walden, Saffron Hall
iAn BoStriDGe DirectS
2016 dates At lunch two Fri 15 Jan
Norwich, St Andrew’s Hall
1pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Tue 19 Jan
Cambridge, West Road Concert Hall
1pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Wed 20 Jan
London, Wigmore Hall
1pm
www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
Sun 19 Jun
Norwich, Theatre Royal
7.30pm
www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
Fri 24 Jun
Cambridge, West Road Concert Hall
7.30pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
At lunch five – Britten SinfoniA AcADeMY Thu 30 Jun
Norwich, St Andrew’s Hall
1pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
Fri 1 Jul
Cambridge, West Road Concert Hall
1pm
www.brittensinfonia.com
tAKe two: louiS AnDrieSSen in focuS Tue 9 Feb
London, Barbican
7.30pm
www.barbican.org.uk
Sat 13 Feb
London, Milton Court
3pm
www.barbican.org.uk
For more information visit www.brittensinfonia.com
2015-16
season diary
residencies & associations
barbican / cambridge / norwich / peterborough / southampton / wigmore hall / wiltshire With residencies across the south and east of England, and as Associate Ensemble at the Barbican, Britten Sinfonia’s world class performances and pioneering Creative Learning work are vital features on the country’s cultural calendar, and a springboard for projects that tour the UK and internationally. In London, Britten Sinfonia enters its fourth season as Associate Ensemble at the Barbican. The orchestra once again embraces a bold fusion of the baroque, classical, jazz and contemporary, with a stellar line up of collaborators in some of it's most ambitious projects to date. Britten Sinfonia’s acclaimed At Lunch series, now in its tenth year, can be heard at the international home of chamber music, Wigmore Hall. Long-established residencies in Cambridge (as Cambridge University’s Orchestra-in-Association) and Norwich have helped to put down strong roots in the east of England, where the orchestra has built a loyal and growing audience. Two new partnerships launch during 2015-16, as Associate Artist at Southampton’s Turner Sims Concert Hall as Associate Orchestra at Wiltshire Music Centre. Enriching the orchestra’s vibrant programme, Creative Learning projects and partnerships invite audiences to discover, explore and celebrate, tapping into the creative talents of our players and guest artists. Championing partnership and collaboration with Music Hubs, charities and fellow arts organisations, Britten Sinfonia facilitates access to the orchestra and our work in concert halls, schools and communities. Based in the east of England, the 2015-16 season will see programmes of events inspired by our concerts in London, Cambridge, Norwich and a significant learning residency in Peterborough.
projects& collaborations
tAKe two: louiS AnDrieSSen Dutch composer Louis Andriessen, has emerged as a central figure in the international new music scene creating vigorous, wonderfully inventive music exploring complex issues.
louis andriessen in focus one
Britten Sinfonia dares to be different. with neither principal conductor nor music director, the orchestra collaborates with some of the world’s finest musicians and composers on highly individual concerts founded on enquiring musicianship, unmissable artistry and a desire to take risks and journey a little further. The orchestra’s 2015-16 season bears the hallmark of this distinctive approach; a rich musical palette spanning 400 years, encompassing classical, opera, jazz and the finest contemporary music.
take two
9 Feb 2016 | Barbican Hall, London
cristina zavalloni mezzo soprano monica germino violin eamonn dougan Britten Sinfonia Voices director britten sinfonia voices clark rundell conductor martland Tiger Dancing steve reich The Desert Music
Britten Sinfonia’s TAKE TWO artist portraits provide a rare chance to hear both expansive and more intimate works in the halls most suited to the music – the Barbican Hall and Milton Court Concert Hall. In 2015-16, TAKE TWO paints compelling portraits of two of contemporary music’s towering figures: composers Louis Andriessen*, and Oliver Knussen. *Part of 'M' is for Man, Music and Mystery, the Barbican’s series exploring the music of Louis Andriessen.
Recorded for live broadcast by BBC Radio 3
louis andriessen in focus two 13 Feb 2016 | Milton Court, London (part of BBC’s Total Immersion)
colin currie
tAKe two: oliver KnuSSen oliver knussen in focus one oliver
knussen in focus two
25 Oct 2015 | Milton Court, London
28 Oct 2015 | Barbican Hall, London
claire booth soprano alexandra wood violin huw watkins piano oliver knussen conductor
oliver knussen
mozart Serenade No. 12 in C minor K388 oliver knussen Requiem - Songs for Sue berg Chamber Concerto for piano and violin Op. 8
conductor
frederieke saeijs
violin
mozart Masonic Funeral Music K477 oliver knussen Violin Concerto stravinsky Ode tippett Concerto for Orchestra
Recorded for broadcast on Mon 26 Oct 2015 by BBC Radio 3
“No figure in British contemporary music is more respected than Oliver Knussen… every piece makes its point perfectly and shows Knussen’s mastery of his musical language and influences.” the guardian
louis andriessen La Passione Op. 8
percussion
allison bell soprano andrew gourlay conductor
bach arr. stravinsky Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in C sharp minor, BWV849
stravinsky Danses concertantes
barbican freestage
louis andriessen Tapdance steve reich Duet louis andriessen Dances
An open rehearsal and performance with Britten Sinfonia Academy of Andriessen’s Workers Union from 11am.
projects& collaborations
hAnDel’S MESSIAH 14 –16 Dec 2015 | Cambridge / London / Norwich
britten sinfonia voices In just five years, Britten Sinfonia Voices has built an international
reputation, acclaimed for illuminating performances of a striking range of music, from the baroque to the 21st century. Under the expert direction of Eamonn Dougan, the group’s 2015-16 performances include Handel’s Messiah, with a stellar cast of soloists, and works by Bach, Steve Reich and James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross.
carolyn sampson soprano iestyn davies countertenor allan clayton tenor robert davies bass britten sinfonia voices eamonn dougan conductor
louiS AnDrieSSen in focuS one
9 Feb 2016 | London
cristina zavalloni mezzo soprano monica germino violin eamonn dougan Britten Sinfonia Voices director britten sinfonia voices clark rundell conductor martland Tiger Dancing steve reich The Desert Music louis andriessen La Passione Op. 8 Recorded for live broadcast by BBC Radio 3
SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS 20 & 25 Mar 2016 | Birmingham / London
eamonn dougan conductor britten sinfonia voices byrd Miserere mei shostakovich arr barshai Chamber Symphony bach Cantata ‘O Jesu Christ, Mein’s Lebens Licht’ james macmillan Seven Last Words from the Cross
projects& collaborations theatre | opera | multimedia Britten Sinfonia regularly works across genres and media and this is highlighted in our collaborations during 2015-16. We reunite with Ian Bostridge for a new production of Han Zender’s iconoclastic reimaging of Schubert’s Winterreise, staged by the brilliantly inventive opera director and video artist, Netia Jones. The orchestra give the London premiere of Simon Vosecek’s Biedermann and the Arsonists and bring a revival of Gerald Barry’s critically acclaimed opera, The Importance of Being Earnest, to the Barbican Theatre.
hitchcocK’S PSYcho
inDePenDent oPerA
marcus barcham-stevens violin/director anthony gabriele conductor
timothy redmond conductor max hoehn director mark le brocq gottlieb biedermann alinka kozari babette biedermann leigh melrose josef schmitz matthew hargreaves wilhelm eisenring rapahela papadakis anna adam sullivan fireman johnny herford fireman bradley travis fireman
10 Oct 2015 | Saffron Walden
strauss Metamorphosen hitchcock/hermann Psycho (film screening)
14, 17 & 19 Nov 2015 | London
šimon vosecek
Biedermann and the Arsonists
the iMPortAnce of BeinG eArneSt 29 & 30 Mar, 1, 2 & 3 Apr 2016 | London
tim murray conductor ramin gray director benedict mason algernon moncrieff paul curievici john worthing claudia boyle cecily cardew stephanie marshall gwendolen fairfax alan ewing lady bracknell hilary summers miss prism simon wilding lane / merriman gerald barry The Importance of Being Earnest Produced by The Royal Opera House
“An undoubted success... manically energetic, the result both subverts and celebrates Wilde’s text, as well as the genre of opera.” the guardian
the DArK Mirror: ZenDer’S winterreiSe 12-14 May 2016 | London
ian bostridge tenor baldur brönnimann netia jones director, designer and video artist hans zender
conductor
Schubert’s Winterreise
(sung in German with English surtitles)
Co-produced by Britten Sinfonia, the Barbican, Cal Performances (UCAL) and the National Taichung Theater (NTT)
projects& collaborations
BenJAMin GroSvenor DirectS 23, 27, 29 Apr & 1 May 2016 | Bradford on Avon / Cambridge / Norwich / London
benjamin grosvenor
directs Britten Sinfonia is known for its distinctive collaborations with outstanding instrumentalists, singers and conductors in concerts of rare insight and energy. Setting out to plough fertile, previously unexplored musical ground,
piano/director
jacqueline shave violin/director
bartók String Quartet No. 2 (2nd movement) elena langer New work (World premiere tour)
mozart Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat Major, K595 strauss Metamorphosen
London performance recorded for broadcast on 9 May by BBC Radio 3
guest artists collaborate with and direct the orchestra in works of their choice. Pianists Jeremy Denk and Benjamin Grosvenor, and tenor Ian Bostridge are amongst the leading musicians who will direct Britten Sinfonia in 2015-16.
Alice coote & MAhAn eSfAhAni 15 May 2016 | Saffron Walden
alice coote
JereMY DenK DirectS 24, 25 & 27 Sep 2015 | Southampton / Norwich / Cambridge
jeremy denk piano/director jacqueline shave violin/director bach arr. stravinsky Prelude and Fugue X stravinsky Dumbarton Oaks stravinsky Ragtime hindemith Ragtime bach Keyboard Concerto in A Major, BWV 1055 bach arr. stravinsky Prelude and Fugue XXIV bach arr. webern Fuga stravinsky Piano-Rag-Music stravinsky Tango bach Keyboard Concerto in E Major, BWV 1053
mezzo-soprano/director
mahan esfahani
purcell Rondeau (from Abdelazer Suite) purcell arr. Nico Muhly Let the Night Perish purcell Dido’s Lament tippett Lament (from Divertimento on Sellinger’s Round) handel Mi lusinga il dolce affetto (from Alcina)
harpsichord/director
jacqueline shave violin/director
handel Verdi prati (from Alcina) handel Dopo notte (from Ariodante) bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 bach Keyboard Concerto in D minor BWV 1052 britten Phaedra Op. 93
iAn BoStriDGe DirectS 19 & 24 June 2016 | Norwich / Cambridge
ian bostridge
tenor/director
martin owen horn jacqueline shave violin/director
bach arr. hogwood Fugue in B minor on a theme of Corelli, BWV 579
corelli Concerto Grosso in F major Op. 6 No.2 purcell arr. britten Evening Hymn Cambridge performance recorded for live broadcast by BBC Radio 3
tippett Fantasia Concertante on a theme by Corelli huw watkins Three Welsh Songs britten Serenade for tenor, horn and strings
projects& collaborations
At lunch two
15, 19 & 20 Jan 2016 | Norwich / Cambridge / London
at lunch
julia doyle soprano maggie cole harpsichord jacqueline shave violin miranda dale clare finnimore viola caroline dearnley cello marios argiros oboe
served up by Britten Sinfonia’s acclaimed principal players. From the major works of the chamber repertoire to premieres by leading and
bach Gott versorget alles Leben (from Cantata BWV187) bach Seufzer, Tränen, Kummer, Not (from Cantata BWV21) ligeti Continuum
Britten Sinfonia’s award-winning At Lunch series turns 10 in spectacular fashion in 2015-16, with a meaty array of the finest chamber music, emerging composers, co-commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and Wigmore Hall, enjoy lunchtime fare with real bite.
At lunch one
27 Nov, 1 & 2 Dec 2015 | Norwich / Cambridge / London
richard watkins
horn
jacqueline shave
huw watkins Horn Trio edward nesbit (winner of opus2015) Lifesize Gods (world premiere tour)
brahms Albumblatt brahms Horn Trio
violin
huw watkins
piano
violin
arvo pärt Fratres (for string quartet) anna clyne This Lunar Beauty (world premiere tour) scarlatti arr. sciarrino Due arie notturne dal campo
At lunch three
19, 23 & 24 Feb 2016 | Norwich / Cambridge / London
emer mcdonough
flute
clare finnimore
viola
debussy Syrinx donatoni Small II daníel bjarnason New work (world premiere tour)
lucy wakeford
harp
donatoni Marches debussy Sonata for flute, viola and harp
At lunch four
8, 12 & 13 Apr 2016 | Norwich / Cambridge / London
thomas gould
violin
clare finnimore
viola
bartok Duos (selection) bryce dessner New work (world premiere tour)
caroline dearnley schumann
cello
huw watkins
Piano Quartet
At lunch five
30 Jun & 1 Jul 2016 | Norwich / Cambridge
britten sinfonia academy & members of britten sinfonia philip glass Music in Similar Motion kenneth hesketh New work (world premiere tour)
beethoven
Symphony No. 8
piano
at lunch at ten
157
CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMES
AND MASTERFUL PERFORMANCES
PerforMAnceS ACROSS 12 VENUES
oF WhIch
43 Were
PREMIERE
PERFORMANCES coMMIssIoneD bY
BRITTEN SINFONIA
25,389
PERFORMED
AuDience MeMBerS
203 PIECES
,000 OVER 1 creAtive leArninG AT LUNCH PARTICIPANTS
40
BBc rADio BROADCASTS
DiScover, eXPlore, celeBrAte We are committed to enriching our audiences’ experiences of our trail-blazing main stage series and, through our Creative Learning programme, we invite new and experienced, old and young to discover, explore and celebrate outstanding performances and adventurous programming. The At Lunch concert series embodies our vision, supported by a range of resources inviting audiences to dare to delve deeper. Creative Learning at Lunch workshops in Cambridge, Norwich and London introduce secondary school students to our music-making and invite them to explore the worlds of the featured composers before enjoying free tickets to the performances. Britten Sinfonia Academy’s programme in At Lunch Five celebrates our commitment to talent development, placing this dynamic new generation centre stage. First Access Concerts before At Lunch Five invite primary school children to encounter these uniquely placed and inspiring young mentors as they present highlights from their main programme.
value of nurturing the next generation of talented young musicians who will continue a tradition of challenging the old and blazing brave new artistic trails. Britten Sinfonia Academy embodies this commitment offering exceptional young players from the east of England the opportunity to develop their musicality and leadership in an ensemble that mirrors its parent orchestra. Over the past three years, 114 young people have been Britten Sinfonia Academy members receiving guidance from 28 Britten Sinfonia musicians. They have explored music spanning 400 years including works by over 40 different composers from Bach to the brand new. In any season, each one of our BSA members will play unconducted, perform chamber music, lead their section, realise a brand new commission, work with some of the most exciting professional talent in the world and perform side by side with their professional counterparts, BSA members have taken the skills they have learned into their schools and county ensembles and on into music colleges and universities to galvanise their fellow musicians and thousands of audience members across the UK.
“seeing one of their peers perform to such an advanced level with other students of an equally advanced level was incredibly inspirational to all students” teacher feedback from creative learning at lunch
“The way Britten Sinfonia approaches things is unique and special. BSA has been like nothing I’ve ever done before. We learn so much…” imogen (harp) bsa years 1-4
140 HOURS IN WHICH 33 YOUNG PEOPLE PLAYING SIDE BY SIDE OVER 30 DAYS
WITH 25 BRITTEN SINFONIA MENTORS
6 19 featuring exploring WorKs bY
TWELVE
COMPOSERS FROM
BACH TO GLASS VIa beeThoVen AND STRAVINSKY
preparing
As one of the world’s most celebrated and pioneering ensembles we are unswerving in our belief in the
coMinG uP in 2015-16 FOR
InsPIraTIonaL encounTers WITh
ONE
and
new talent new ideas centre stage
MAIN
STAGE
PerForMances AT THE BARBICAN,
snape maltings, WEST ROAD, sT anDreW’s haLL
3
international stars
NICOLA BENEDETTI (SOLOIST),
louiS AnDrieSSen (coMPoser), kenneth hesketh (brand
new commission)
international touring
focus on china During the 2014-15 season Britten Sinfonia gave 15 performances across Europe and North America and made its first visit to India. In 2015-16 we continue to take our distinctive programming across the globe and will be making our debut in China. Britten Sinfonia will tour to three
6, 11 & 12 May 2016 | Shanghai / Tianjin / Beijing
allison cook
mezzo-soprano
mahan esfahani harpsichord jacqueline shave
purcell Rondeau (from Abdelazer Suite) purcell arr. nico muhly Let the Night Perish purcell Dido’s Lament tippett Lament (from Divertimento on Sellinger’s Round) handel Dopo notte (from Ariodante)
violin/director
handel Vieni o figlio (from Ottone) bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 bach Keyboard Concerto in D minor BWV 1052 britten Phaedra Op. 93
cities: Shanghai, Tianjin and Beijing. Resident in Shanghai, the orchestra will perform three concerts as part of the Shanghai Mini Festival, which in 2016 is focuses on Shakespeare’s influence on music, marking the 400th anniversary of his death.
7 May 2016 | Shanghai
jacqueline shave
violin/director
nicholas mulroy tenor martin owen
horn
bach arr hogwood Fugue in B minor on a theme of Corelli, BWV 579 corelli Concerto grosso in F major Op. 6 purcell arr. britten Evening Hymn tippett Fantasia Concertante on a theme by Corelli huw watkins Three Welsh Songs britten Serenade for tenor, horn and strings 8 May 2016 | Shanghai
jacqueline shave
violin/director
nicholas mulroy tenor
purcell Chacony vaughan williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis walton Two Pieces for Strings (from Henry V) purcell ed. tippett If Music be the Food of Love; Music for a While; Sweeter than Roses purcell Suite from The Fairy Queen britten Les Illuminations
SiMon BAinBriDGe As part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, Britten Sinfonia and
anna clyne
legendary jazz bassist Eddie Gomez give the world premiere of a double bass concerto by one of Britain’s most original composers, Simon Bainbridge.
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES: EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 18 & 21 Nov 2015 | London / Saffron Walden Commissioned by Britten Sinfonia
DAnÍel BJArnASon Daníel Bjarnason is part of a blossoming new music scene in his native Iceland; a versatile musician whose works have been © Javier Oddo
performed by orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic yet is equally at home outside the classical sphere, with artists including Sigur
BrYce DeSSner
elenA lAnGer
Bryce Dessner, guitarist from the cult band, The National,
Born in Moscow and now based in London, Elena Langer has written
leads something of a double life, as a prolific composer of
compositions in diverse genres, including opera and multimedia,
music of keen sensitivity and instrumental colour and texture,
orchestral, chamber and choral works. Britten Sinfonia Leader,
and a new music curator. He is writing an At Lunch piece for
Jacqueline Shave, will direct her new work for string ensemble.
Piano Quartet.
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES: BENJAMIN GROSVENOR DIRECTS
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES: AT LUNCH FOUR 8, 12 & 13 Apr 2016 | Norwich / Cambridge / London
23, 27, 29 Apr & 1 May 2016 | Bradford on Avon / Cambridge / Norwich / London
Co-commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and Wigmore Hall
Commissioned by Britten Sinfonia with support from the William Alwyn Foundation
Kenneth heSKeth
eDwArD neSBit
Described as ‘...a composer who both has something to say and the means to say it’, Kenneth Hesketh has received numerous commissions from international ensembles and organisations. He will be working with the young musicians of Britten Sinfonia Academy exploring original Handel manuscripts housed at Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, from which he will draw inspiration for a new
commissioning
Ros and Efterklang. His At Lunch commission for flute, viola
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES: AT LUNCH FIVE
simon bainbridge / daníel bjarnason anna clyne / bryce dessner kenneth hesketh / elena langer / edward nesbit
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES: AT LUNCH THREE 19, 23 & 24 Feb 2016 | Norwich / Cambridge / London
30 Jun & 1 Jul 2016 | Norwich / Cambridge
Co-commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and Wigmore Hall
Commissioned by Britten Sinfonia
new music is at the heart of Britten Sinfonia’s concerts. each season the orchestra commissions works, both from distinguished composers and emerging young talent, and collaborates with them to devise illuminating programmes that place new works in the context of music from previous centuries.
and harp is his first for Britten Sinfonia.
piece written specially for the Academy.
Edward Nesbit was the winner of Britten Sinfonia’s OPUS2015 competition for unpublished composers. Chosen from over 250 entrants, he has been commissioned to write a horn trio for the opening of the 2015-16 At Lunch series.
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES: AT LUNCH ONE 27 Nov, 1 & 2 Dec 2015 | Norwich / Cambridge / London Co-commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and Wigmore Hall
oPuS worKShoP Audiences are invited to attend the OPUS2016 workshops and participate in a Q&A session with music professionals.
Fri 22 & Sat 23 Jan 2016 | London
AnnA clYne Grammy-nominated composer Anna Clyne’s work explores resonant soundscapes and propelling textures. Soprano Julia Doyle joins Britten Sinfonia for the premiere of Clyne’s At Lunch commission.
PREMIERE PERFORMANCES: AT LUNCH TWO 15, 19 & 20 Jan 2016 | Norwich / Cambridge / London Co-commissioned by Britten Sinfonia and Wigmore Hall
OPUS 2016
OPUS is Britten Sinfonia’s open submission scheme for unpublished composers of any age. The winner will receive a commission to write a new work for the orchestra’s award-winning At Lunch series. Closing date for submissions: Monday 19 October 2015
From as little as £10 you can support our commissioning programme through Musically Gifted, and be part of new music. www.musicallygifted.org.uk
recordings
Britten Sinfonia’s partnership with harmonia
“Britten Sinfonia’s performance presents a remarkable balance
Mundi continues to bear rich fruit in two recent,
between poise and propulsion, with Variation 23 offering a dazzling
highly acclaimed recordings.
display of director Thomas Gould’s virtuosic bowing.”
"This is a bravura display by Daniel, with lightly assured playing from the always-rewarding Britten Sinfonia.”
the observer on oboe concertos release
the independent on goldberg variations release
GolDBerG vAriAtionS Dmitri Sitkovetsky’s beautifully crafted string arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, directed by the orchestra’s Associate Leader, Thomas Gould has garnered rave reviews.
“It is hard to imagine anyone not enjoying this disc, or even listening to it once without wanting to put it straight back on again”. sinfinimusic.com
oBoe concertoS Nominated for a 2015 Gramophone Award, Britten Sinfonia and their prior Principal Oboe Nicholas Daniel’s recording of two major British oboe concertos has been acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic. Vaughan Williams’s Oboe Concerto, the work with which an 18 year old Nicholas Daniel won the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition in 1980, and the world premiere recording of James MacMillan’s Oboe Concerto (dedicated to Daniel and conducted by the composer) both feature, alongside MacMillan conducting his 2012 composition One and Britten’s Suite on English Folk Tunes: A Time There Was.
“the oboe writing is insanely demanding throughout; Daniel is stunning.” the times
Visit brittensinfonia.com for news on forthcoming releases
britten sinfonia 2014-15 IN NUMBERS
Britten Sinfonia continues to be a growing and successful orchestra, with a turnover of £1.85m last year. Britten Sinfonia is proud to be an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organsiation and represents a good investment of public funding generating at least an additional £3.50 for every £1 of public subsidy.
our audiences performances
,000 45 IN 2014-15 NINETY
IN 2014-15
ONE 8,996 PerforMAnceS
creAtive leArninG
PARTICIPANTS
71 CONCERTS
UNITED KINGDOM
our income 20 overSeAS 47% iS eArneD PERFORMANCES
14 PREMIERES
29% 24% 114 SESSIONS
CREATIVE LEARNING
IS FUNDRAISED
iS froM ArtS COUNCIL ENGLAND
“britten sinfonia with adès conducting, tore the roof off with the sheer magnetism and force of his amazing score. Sensational.”
“Netia Jones’s absorbing staging and design skillfully melded the ritual Japanese and Christian underpinnings of the piece with its intense human emotion.”
the times on see the music, hear the dance: thomas adès performed in november 2014 at london’s sadler’s wells
what the press say…
the wall street journal on the us tour of curlew river in november 2014
“Its formidable challenges were superbly met, with London’s Trinity Boys Choir and the schola cantorum of the cardinal Vaughan Memorial school sounding serenely otherworldly, and the britten sinfonia Voices tackling everything from intricate polyphony to truly terrifying cries of “Crucify him!”
the guardian on the london premiere of james macmillan’s st luke passion in april 2015
“Stravinsky’s Pulcinella saw Hannigan and britten sinfonia in a dancing mood, the performance brimming with cheeky energy, the woodwinds fruity, the strings exuberant.”
“More delicate ensemble work would be hard to come by.”
the evening standard on the london performance of barbara hannigan in focus in may 2015
the financial times on the world premiere of nico muhly’s sentences in june 2015
“the orchestra, led and directed by Jaqueline Shave, seemed faultlessly aligned to the flow and character of each score.” the guardian on a performance with sarah connolly in january 2015
Britten SinfoniA first violins
thank you
Britten Sinfonia is hugely grateful to a wide range of organisations and individuals for their generous support of its work. Every donation received – be it core funding from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, project funding for the Academy from a Trust, or £50 from a Friend – contributes towards core costs, concert series and Creative Learning projects and enables the orchestra’s ambitions to be realised. Britten Sinfonia also works alongside numerous partner organisations that make a vital contribution to a number of projects and ensure we can continue to work extensively across the east of England, bringing world-class music to local communities, and grow our international profile in some of the world’s finest concert halls.
principal funder
broadcast partner
Jacqueline Shave | Leader Thomas Gould | Associate Leader Marcus Barcham-Stevens | Co-leader Vacancy* Clara Biss Ruth Ehrlich Martin Gwilym-Jones Beatrix Lovejoy Fiona McCapra Katherine Shave
second violins Miranda Dale Nicola Goldscheider Alexandra Reid Anna Bradley Marcus Broome Judith Kelly Suzanne Loze
violas
bassoons
Clare Finnimore Vacancy* Bridget Carey Rachel Byrt
Sarah Burnett Simon Couzens
cellos Caroline Dearnley Benjamin Chappell Joy Hawley Julia Vohralik
horns Vacancy* Tom Rumsby
trumpet Paul Archibald
tuba
double basses
James Anderson
Stephen Williams Roger Linley
timpani
flutes
harp
Emer McDonough Sarah O’Flynn
oboes Nicholas Daniel Emma Feilding
William Lockhart Lucy Wakeford
piano Huw Watkins
partners and funders
MUSH – Cambridge Music Hub
violas
Aldeburgh Young Musicians
Musically Gifted
Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust
Norfolk & Norwich Festival Bridge
Clare Finnimore Vacancy*
clarinets
BBC London Performing Groups
Norfolk County Council
Cambridge City Council
Norfolk Music Hub
Cambridgeshire County Youth Orchestra
Norwich City Council
trustees
management
Cambridgeshire Music Partnership
Orchestras Live
David Butcher | Chief Executive & Artistic Director
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Patrick Rowland Foundation
Fidelity Trust UK
Penny Trust
Garfield Weston Foundation
Peterborough Music Partnership
Golsoncott Foundation
PRS for Music Foundation
Chairman: Dr Jerome Booth Dame Mary Archer DBE Hamish Forsyth Dr Andy Harter Margaret Mair Bill Thompson
Idlewild Trust
Radcliffe Trust
advisory council
Imogen Poole | Graduate Trainee Orchestra Assistant
John Ellerman Foundation
Royal Opera House Bridge
John Jarrold Trust
RVW Trust
John Thaw Foundation
Seven Pillars of Wisdom Trust
Kirby Laing Foundation
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Marsh Christian Trust
Vivacity
Michael Marks Charitable Trust
William Alwyn Foundation
Monument Trust
and other anonymous partners
Jonathan Barclay Charles Barrington Stephen Bourne Dr Nigel W Brown OBE Germaine Greer Charles Rawlinson MBE Stephen Smith OBE John Stephens OBE John Summers Fiona Talkington Prof Michael Thorne Sir John Tusa John Woolrich John Wreford
Joy Farrall Andrew Webster
harsichord Maggie Cole *Trials in progress
Nikola White | Artistic Planning Director James Calver | Concerts Director Annabel Leakey | Orchestra Manager Hannah Bates | Orchestra Personnel Manager Hazel Terry | Concerts Assistant Adrienne Murphy | Finance Director Elaine Rust | Finance Manager Jen House | Creative Learning Director Mateja Kaluza | Creative Learning Co-ordinator Emily Moss | Creative Learning Assistant Isobel Timms | Britten Sinfonia Academy Manager Nick Brealey | Development Director Elizabeth Hunt | Development Manager Claire Murphy | Corporate Partnerships Manager Claire Bowdler | Marketing Director Karys Orman | Marketing Assistant Sophie Cohen | National Press & PR Agent
season brochure | 2015-16
britten sinfonia 13 Sturton Street cambridge CB1 2SN united Kingdom telephone: +44 (0)1223 300795 email: info@brittensinfonia.com www.brittensinfonia.com Join the conversation /brittensinf @brittensinfonia
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