Though I’ve already mentioned them in previous posts, I’ll start with two festivals, one already underway, another about to begin. The Cheltenham Music Festival continues until 10th of July (see my preview here for more details). There is still availability for concerts that include new music, including the revival of Anthony Turnage’s Greek on 7th July. Some concerts are selling out on the door, so forward planning is a must. The BBC Proms kick-off on 15th July (my complete preview is here). New Music from the festival this month includes Judith Weir’s Stars, Night, Music and Light (15th July), Judith Bingham’s The Everlasting Crown (17th July), Sally Beamish’s Reed Stanzas, Pascal Dusapin’s String Quartet No. 6 and Elliott Carter’s Flute Concerto (28th July). Also a final reminder of the rare chance to hear Havergal Brian’s gargantuan Symphony No. 1 ‘The Gothic’ (17th July).
The Rambert Dance Company, Opera Holland Park, the London Contemporary Orchestra and others have devised an ‘audio-kinetic adventure’ in the iconic Commonwealth Institute building (15th-17th July). Entitled ‘Common Sounds: touching the void’, the site-responsive theatre experience will be the only major artistic event to have been staged in the building since its closure in 2002. The performances culminate in a rare opportunity to hear Harrison Birtwistle’s Orpheus Elegies. More details can be found here.
ENO continues its run of Nico Muhly’s new opera Two Boys until 8th July. More recent reviews (including one in the now pay-walled Sunday Times) than those I linked to last week have been glowing (see here and here). Similarly Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and The Opera Group’s production of Luke Bedford’s first opera Seven Angels continues its tour this month: at the Oxford Playhouse (Friday 8th July), Lidbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House (12th, 14th and 15th July) and at the Latitude Festival in Southwold, Suffolk (16th July). Gabriel Prokofiev will also be at the Latitude Festival on 17th July with the London Contemporary Orchestra and cellist Peter Gregson, though exact details of what they are doing appear to be thin-on-the-ground.
Talking of opera, one of our finest composers in this genre, Judith Weir, will have her new work, Miss Fortune, premièred at the Bregenz Festival this month. The opera is a co-production with Royal Opera House and will receive its UK première in March 2003. There is also a chance to see her chamber opera Blond Eckbert at the festival on 6th August.
The Aix en Provence Festival continues until 25th July. The complete calendar can be found here. Highlights include a ‘tête-à-tête’ with the Hungarian composer Peter Eötvös on 5th July; a new opera, Austerlitz, by French composer Jérôme Combier (19th and 20th July); and The Twittering Machine by British composer Charlie Piper (25th July). There is also plenty of Shostakovich to enjoy, including four chances to hear his opera The Nose (8th, 10th, 12th and 14th July).
The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival runs from 9th July to 28th August. Its theme this year is the music of Turkey and, as such, includes opportunities to hear both twentieth-century and living composers’ music from that country. The programmetakes, however, quite some sifting to find this music. In July these concerts include Khayyam by Fazil Say (17th July); a selection of music by contemporary Turkish composers given by Avantgarge Oriente! (18th July); Köcekece, Sinfonietta für Streichorchester and Dususlar by Ulvi Cemal Erkin (17th, 22nd and 28th July respectively); and Hasretim-Eine Anatolische Reise, a very intriguing sounding ‘music and film collage’ by Marc Sinan (30th July).
August Festivals Heads-Up
For those who like to plan a bit further ahead, the Tête à Tête Opera Festival begins on 4th August in London whilst the Edinburgh Festival starts on 12th August. More information in due course.