City of Sounds: Music to Go with BCMG and Via Nova
City of Sounds Festival
£12 (£10) (£5, BCU students)
Conductor Daniel Galbreath
Ulrich Heinen cello
Malcolm Wilson piano
Via Nova chamber choir
BCMG
Howard Skempton Six Figures
Howard Skempton Piano pieces:
Starlight
Bolt from the Blue
Liebeslied
Charlotte Bray Perseus
Betsy Jolas Music to Go
Howard Skempton The Flight of Song
Morton Feldman Rothko Chapel
Howard Skempton The Flight of Song (vocal work)
Morton Feldman Rothko Chapel (+ Via Nova)
Photo © Robert Day
Originally formed by players from within the CBSO, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) is now established as one of Europe’s leading ensembles with a reputation for brilliant performances, ambitious commissions and innovative collaborations. Before the opening of the CSBO Centre in 1998, the Adrain Boult Hall was a home to BCMG with the majority of their concerts being presented there. Inviting BCMG back to present a final concert in the hall for City of Sounds therefore represents a very special festival event for us.
With their core work revolving around the commissioning and performance of new music, BCMG work closely with the Conservatoire's Composition Department, this partnership representing a natural extension of that purpose. As well as running workshops for Conservatoire composition students, BCMG players regularly undertake read-throughs of student works, giving young composers invaluable feedback and the benefit of experience within a professional context. The Conservatoire’s contemporary music group, the Thallein Ensemble, receives ensemble coaching from BCMG’s visiting conductors and composers, as well as BCMG players, and many of the Conservatories' Composition tutors work closely with the ensemble in professional contexts.
The programme presented in this festival concert has been carefully selected to celebrate these links and connections: BCMG's founder Ulrich Heinen commissioned Six Figures from Howard Skempton, both of whom are also tutors at the Conservatoire. Composer Charlotte Bray is a Conservatoire graduate and Honorary Fellow. BCMG pianist Malcolm Wilson, who will also play the Celeste in Feldman's Rothko Chapel is the Conservatoire's former Head of Piano. The Jola's piece and title piece for the concert, was originally written as a memorial, and said to be one of Howard Skempton's favourites.
Joining BCMG for the final two pieces, Via Nova are a chamber choir specialising in contemporary music repertoire. Their work with BCMG also demonstrates another wonderful collaboration - Via Nova are managed and directed by two Conservatoire graduates and formed of Conservatoire student and graduate vocalists.
City of Sounds Festival
In a city recognised for its architectural transformations, the City of Sounds festival is an invitation to remember, to celebrate and to look to the future of Birmingham’s rich music scene.
In conjunction with:
Events include:
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City of Sounds: Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway
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City of Sounds: Galways Masterclass & Workshop
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City of Sounds: Conservatoire Brass at the Pops
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City of Sounds: Birmingham Citadel Salvation Army Band Gala Concert
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City of Sounds: Services for Education - Music Service Folk Concert
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City of Sounds: Services for Education - Music Service: Last Night at the Adrian...
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Blue Coat School End of Year Concert
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City of Sounds: CBSO performs Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven
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Jazzlines present Julian Argüelles’s Tetra featuring Percy Pursglove
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City of Sounds: Mozart, Ravel and a selection of BBC Ten Pieces
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City of Sounds: BGSO Hall of Fame
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Summer Chamber Music Celebrations 2016: Jazz - The Train and the River
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City of Sounds: The Atéa Wind Quintet
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City of Sounds: Shostakovich Quartets II
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City of Sounds: Showcase Concert
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City of Sounds: BLAST! A Sea of Percussive Wonder
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City of Sounds: South of the Line
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City of Sounds: Raising the Roof! Sutton Coldfield Choirs
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City of Sounds: Stereo is King - featuring the Percussive Sounds Ensemble (Direc...
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City of Sounds: 'Farewell to the Past, Hail to the Future' Vocal Gala Evening
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City of Sounds: Reflections in Brass and Boult
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City of Sounds: From Bach to Berio
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City of Sounds: Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz Orchestra with Special Guests
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City of Sounds: Elegy for a Concert Hall
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City of Sounds: Christopher Morley (Birmingham Post) talks to conductor Barry Wo...
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City of Sounds: Requiem for a Concert Hall
City of Sounds Festival
