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New Cabaret Songs to debut at Trasimeno FestivalThe Trasimeno Festival in Italy will be the venue for the first performance of the new work Three Cabaret Songs to words by Ian McEwan. These songs have been commissioned by Angela Hewitt who will perform them with the renowned Canadian Soprano, Barbara Hannigan, on July 3rd 2013. Abstract Mirror at Lake District Summer International FestivalOn Saturday 10 August, Abstract Mirror for string quintet will be performed by the Chilingirian Quartet at 8pm at the Ambleside Parish Church. Also performed will be the Beethoven Quartet in F minor and Brahms Sextet in B flat. Touch Light to appear in Danish concertsTouch Light is to be performed in Rundetaarn, Copenhagen on September 15th and on October 5th in Holstebro by Janne Thomsen (flute) and Michala Petri (recorder). Meditations and Elegy at Britten in Oxford FestivalMichael Berkeley's Meditations with the Southbank Sinfonia and Nicholas Cleobury (conductor) will be performed at St. John's Waterloo on Thursday 19 September at 6pm, and at Northwall, Oxford on September 20 at 7.30pm. The third movement from the Concerto for Oboe, Elegy, will be performed by the Oxford Chamber Orchestra on 30 November at the University Church Oxford at 8pm. New Archbishop Anthem is well-receivedMichael's new Anthem for the Enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Listen, listen, O My Child, has received widespread praise with The Independent calling it 'a musical highlight... a soaring anthem'. Fred Hiltz, the Archbishop of Canada, commented, "It began as a gentle whisper. 'Listen, Listen, O my Child, Listen carefully to your teacher's guidance. Incline the ear of your heart, Receive willingly and carry out effectively your loving Father's advice.' That gentle whisper swelled into a chorus that reverberated in every alcove in that vast cathedral. And then as powerfully as it had spoken to everyone in that great congregation, it quietened to a whisper again." You can get a good flavour of the piece from a posting on Youtube. Michael joins House of LordsMarch 2013 Michael was introduced to the House of Lords on March the 26th as Lord Berkeley of Knighton, CBE. He will sit on the cross benches as a non-party political peer. Michael is a passionate advocate for the arts, contemporary music and music education. Commenting on the news, he said he is "very honoured" to be appointed. "I am particularly pleased that the Appointments Commission was keen to increase representation in the field of music and the arts," he continued. The appointment, which has to be approved by the Queen, is made by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of the House of Lords Appointments Commission. The entrepreneur and 'digital champion' Martha Lane Fox, who at 40 has become the youngest female peer, joined the House at the same time as Michael. Michael's much lauded maiden speech can be read in Hansard (see subheading '14 May 2013: Column 284') or watched on Parliament Live TV (spool through to timecode 15:53:51). Britten talk at Charleston FestivalMichael appeared at the Charleston Festival on 26 May with Ronald Blythe, Sir Nicholas Kenyon and Alex Jennings to talk about Britten. Michael will also be at the Cheltenham Science and Music Festivals, the Lake District Summer Music Festival, the Trasimeno Festival in Italy (where Barbara Hannigan and Angela Hewitt will premiere the new Three Cabaret Songs to specially written words by Ian McEwan), The Oxford Britten Festival and the Presteigne Festival.  Nicholas Daniel, The Carducci Quartet, engineer and Michael Berkeley following a recording of the Oboe Quintet New Oboe Quintet performanceNicholas Daniel and The Carducci String Quartet played Michael's Oboe Quintet 'Into the Ravine' preceded by a pre-concert talk on Saturday 25th May at Highnam Church. Michael and Catherine Wyn-Rogers discuss English musicOn Good Friday 29 March, Michael and Catherine Wyn-Rogers met as part of the Easter at King's College Cambridge Festival. They discussed the concert that followed later in an evening of extraordinary 20th century English gems: Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, Lennox Berkeley's Four Poems of St Teresa of Avila and Howells' Stabat Mater. The concert was performed by Catherine along with John Daszak (tenor), the Philharmonia Chorus, BBC Concert Orchestra and Stephen Cleobury (conductor). Britten's moving Sinfonia looks ahead to his monumental War Requiem. Berkeley's work centres on the love between Man and God in amatory style. Howells' masterpiece, inspired by the Pietà of Michelangelo is his last and arguably finest choral work, contrasting desolation of the spirit with supreme choral glory. For more information, download a flyer here. Nash Ensemble give second performance of Three Rilke Sonnets with Claire BoothThree Rilke Sonnets was performed as part of the Nash Inventions — David Matthews 70th Birthday Concert on March 19 at the Wigmore Hall. The evening began at 6.00pm with the pre-concert event Composers in Focus. The concert programme followed at 7.30pm and included:
Performed by Claire Booth (soprano), Lawrence Power (viola), Philippa Davies (flute) and Richard Hosford (clarinet) Fierce Tears II at Luton Music ClubJames Turnbull gave a performance of Fierce Tears II at Luton Music Club on March 18th. Roger Wright talked to Petroc Trelawny about British Music, with music provided by The Berkeley Ensemble. James has also just recorded Three Moods for unaccompanied oboe on the Champs Hill Records Label (CHRCD051). These were originally written for Janet Craxton who gave the first performance in Knighton in 1978. Michael works with young composers on new string quartetsMichael and members of the Berkeley Ensemble were joined by young composers as they worked on new works for string quartet. The event followed the Ensemble's concert at The Forge, Camden on 10 February at 11am. Composers were invited to submit works for string quartet of up to eight minutes, preferably accompanied by a recording of either a live performance or electronic realisation. For more details, please download a flyer here. Your hearing!Calling all musicians and music lovers, not to mention everyone else who wants to retain their hearing. Michael has made a programme for Radio 4, broadcast on Tuesday December 4 at 16:00 showing how the misdagnosis of a virus from a common cold can lead to permanent hearing loss. How the 9 million people in this country (yes – that's 9-10% of the population) who wrestle with hearing problems but do not get amplification could be risking other cognitive impairment and even dementia, according to the latest research. How (yes, you have guessed) the level at which we listen to music (particularly on ear buds and particularly distorted pop sounds) is, according to the leading researcher in the field) "a time bomb of hearing loss". Michael made this programme purely because if he can help stop just one person from undergoing the hearing loss he suffered (through GP ignorance of the subject) it will have been worthwhile. It is ultimately a redemptive, if frightening, programme because composers can write from their head but also because the brain has the plasticity to re-wire, re-process the hearing of music and filter out distortion and especially if its owner is a musician. Moray Welsh performs Iberian Notebook in HayMoray Welsh performed Iberian Notebook along with two of Bach's cello suites at Richard Booth's Bookshop in Hay on Wye on Sunday 25 November. The concert was preceded by a screening of the inspiring Rostropovich film by John Bridcut which features Moray. Second Still Life at Chipping SodburyOn 9 October, James Turnbull performed Second Still Life with Claire Jones at the Chipping Sodbury Music Society. Please see here for more details. Oboe Quintet at Nicholas Daniel birthday concertContinuing his birthday celebrations, Nicholas Daniel was joined by the Carducci String Quartet to perform Michael's new Oboe Quintet. The line-up of artists and repertoire also included harpsichordist Maggie Cole, who joined Nicholas for Bach, and the Haffner Wind Ensemble who performed Ravel's enchanting Mother Goose Suite. Nicholas wrote, "In addition to the fabulous pieces already programmed, a number of composers are writing me musical birthday cards to play. It will also be a family occasion as I'll be welcoming my two sons Alastair and Patrick on stage to perform some West End stage songs." Nicholas Daniel & Friends was on Thursday, 4 October 2012 at King's Place.  Berkeley Ensemble Fierce Tears in Berkeley Ensemble 'Stealing, Borrowing and Remembering' concertOn 19 September, the Berkeley Ensemble launched a series of five concerts at the Forge, Camden with an evening of music that included Fierce Tears II. Also on the programme was Poulenc (Sonata for clarinet and bassoon), Lennox Berkeley (Quintet for piano and winds), Woolrich (Favola in Musica) and Mozart (Quintet for piano and winds). The Stealing, Borrowing and Remembering series of concerts explores how two twentieth-century masters, Igor Stravinsky and Lennox Berkeley, responded to the music of the past, re-working it in their own compositions before ultimately becoming historical figures themselves for the generation that followed. Download a flyer here. The Berkeley Ensemble is named after Michael and Lennox Berkeley. It champions British music and unfairly neglected works alongside the standard chamber music repertory. New Oboe Quintet at Leicester International Music FestivalThe new Oboe Quintet, premiered in August at the Presteigne Festival, was next performed at the Leicester International Music Festival by the Carducci String Quartet. The concert took place on September 13 at the New Walk Museum. The programme also included Haydn's String Quartet No. 63 in Bb. There was also a screening of Collision. Michael Berkeley works at Presteigne FestivalSeveral of Michael's works have been performed at the Presteigne Festival in Wales. Firstly, Michael's new Oboe Quintet for Nicholas Daniel and the Carducci String Quartet was premiered on Sunday 26th August at 7.30pm in St. Andrew's Church (read review here). The following day (Monday 27th August), Gillian Keith, with Simon Lepper at the piano, sang Nettles, also in St. Andrew's Church. Later that day at 7pm Nicholas Daniel performed Snake for Cor Anglais. Later in the evening in a concert at St. Michael's Church, Discoed, Gemma Rosefield played Ode - In Memoriam. Learn more from the Presteigne Festival brochure. Hollow Fires at the Celebrating English Song FestivalMichael's Hollow Fires was performed on 19 August as part of the Tardebigge Celebrating English Song Festival, with a pre-concert talk. Performed by Roderick Williams (baritone) and Susie Allan (piano). Please see here for full details of the programme. Michael has contributed to Variations for Judith, a book of pieces for amateur pianists. His piece Lullaby, together with the other ten variations, was performed by Melvyn Tan at the Spitalfields Festival on 18 June. There will be further performances at the St. Alban's and Cheltenham Festivals. Lullaby and the other variations are available now on the CD Variations for Judith.  Michael Berkeley is appointed a CBE at Buckingham Palace Michael Berkeley appointed a CBEMichael Berkeley was appointed a CBE for services to music in the Queen's Birthday Honours published on June 16th 2012. Housman Lecture and Ian Bostridge at the Hay FestivalOn Tuesday 5 June, the Hay Festival presented a masterclass glimpse into the life and mind of the great Lieder singer Ian Bostridge. He discussed with Michael the music and composers he has worked with and his early enthusiasm and study of 17th-century witchcraft. Venue: Llwyfan Cymru - Wales Stage, Hereford, HR3 5AD. On Wednesday 6 June 2012, Michael gave The Housman Lecture where he discussed A E Housman’s original subject The Name and Nature of Poetry. Michael has given his lecture the subtitle The Music of Loss and will relate Housman's life and work to music, particularly that of Lennox Berkeley and Benjamin Britten. Sydney Symphony brass section plays Music From ChaucerMembers of the Sydney Symphony brass section (conductor Benjamin Northey) performed three movements of the Music from Chaucer when they went on a regional tour in New South Wales between May 30 and June 1 2012. Iberian Notebook in Wales concert seriesIberian Notebook (for solo cello) formed part of a series of four concerts in Wales presented by the Mid Wales Chamber Orchestra. The concerts were:
Also on the programme was Borodin's Sextet in D minor, Lennox Berkeley's Theme and Variations for Solo Violin and Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence. These concerts are part of a mentoring programme which bring young professionals together with the MWCO soloists. Minneapolis Oboe Concerto performance is North American premiereMichael Berkeley's Concerto for Oboe was performed on April 27, 28 and 29 2012 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA by Basil Reeve. This was Mr Reeve's final performance as Principal Oboe of the Minnesota Orchestra and had long wanted to play the Oboe Concerto. Mark Wigglesworth conducted. Please see here for more details.
Touch Light on Valentine's DayOn February 14th in a concert to celebrate St. Valentine's Day and SEVEN STAGES OF LOVE, The King's Consort with Soprano Ruby Hughes and Countertenor Robin Blaze performed music from the Renaissance right through to the 1930s. The concert included Rogers and Hart, Gershwin, Cole Porter and went up to the present day with the TKC commission, Touch Light, one of Michael's most popular pieces directed by Robert King. Venue: Wilton's Music Hall, London. Second Still Life part of Bracknell recitalOboeist Rachel Porter performed Second Still Life for oboe and harp in a recital programme at Southill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell on Sunday 5 February at 3pm. Please see here for more details. Variations on Greek Folk Songs was played by James Boyd at the Memorial Service for Patrick Leigh Fermor at St. James, Piccadilly on 15 December 2011.  Student composition prize winner Wenjing Wang accepting her award at the British Composition Awards (photo: Mark Allan) British Composer AwardsMichael presented the awards and made the keynote speech at the British Composer Awards on 30th November 2011, subsequently broadcast on BBC Radio 3.Advent Anthem at Bishop's EnthronementMichael's Advent Anthem, premiered in 2010 at Liverpool Cathedral, was again performed at the enthronement of the new Bishop of Durham, The Very Reverend Justin Welby, on Saturday 26th November 2011 in Durham Cathedral. String Trio at the Royal Academy of Music20 November 2011 MASTER AND PUPIL. Petroc Trelawny chaired a round-table discussion between Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, Michael Berkeley and his brother Julian Berkeley, exploring the influence of Sir Lennox Berkeley's teacher Nadia Boulanger on his work, and his own influence on the generation of composers he taught at the Academy. Richard Rodney Bennett was one of Berkeley's pupils, but found his teaching too traditional as he became increasingly interested in the European avant-garde. Michael Berkeley was a student of both Berkeley and Bennett. Julian Berkeley studied at the Royal College of Music. CONCERT. After the talk students of the Academy gave a concert of music by Lennox Berkeley (Flute Sonatina op. 13 and Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano op. 44), Michael Berkeley (String Trio) and Richard Rodney Bennett (Summer Music). Michael's String Trio was performed by Kanako Yanagida (violin), Wenhong Luo (viola) and Peiyao Guo (cello). Hollow Fires performed at Aberdeen Sound FestivalJeremy Huw Williams performed the new song cycle Hollow Fires at the Sound Festival in Aberdeen on 3 November 2011. Jeremy also sang the role of the Doctor in the original Music Theatre Wales production of For You. He premiered Hollow Fires at the Beaumaris Festival on the 26th May 2011. Lennox & Freda discussed at The Times Cheltenham Literature FestivalMichael was joined by Tony Scotland, author of Lennox & Freda, to reflect on Lennox and Freda's remarkable marriage and the music it inspired at The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival. Chaired by Carmen Callil, writer and critic and founder of Virago, the event took place at Imperial Square, Cheltenham on Sunday, October 16, 2011. Speaking at the event, Callil commented, “This book is a most unusual achievement, because it brings alive a successful and loving marriage, undertaken at considerable odds ... and understands the peculiarities of the human heart ... A wonderful evocation of the 1940s. The story should be filmed. ” Worry Beads at Maurizio Biasini International Classical Guitar CompetitionMichael's guitar piece Worry Beads has been chosen as one of the set pieces at the first Maurizio Biasini International Classical Guitar Competition. The competition was held from October 10-16 2011 in Bologna, Italy. Michael was invited to attend and to participate in a workshop on his music at the Conservatorio of Bologna on the morning of October 13. For more details of the competition, you can download a flyer here, or visit the competition website. Gail Pearson and Andrew Matthews-Owen performed the Three Songs to Children and Echo: Homage a Francis Poulenc in the evening concert at the Llandeilo Festival. They were joined by Michael for an exploration of music which has shaped his career both as composer and broadcaster. Michael Berkeley and Friends took place in St. Teilo's Church at on 12 July 2011. As part of the Cheltenham International Festival of Music, Gemma Rosefield gave the first public performance of for solo 'cello on Friday 1st July 2011 in St. Giles Church, Bredon. |
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The rhapsodic end of the movement was breathtaking, with the oboe creating a real sense of mystery.