Gigs, gigs, gigs: Cheltenham 2016, ddmmyy, BCMG, Perks Ensemble + John Wall

by 5:4

There are some interesting concerts coming up in the short- to mid-term. Looking ahead to this year’s Cheltenham Music Festival, which runs from 1–17 July, there are as usual many events focusing on contemporary music. Trombone whizz-kid Christian Lindberg will be premièring his new concerto for percussion and trombone alongside Evelyn Glennie, Ex Cathedra present James MacMillan‘s large-scale Seven Angels in Tewkesbury Abbey, Langham Research Centre team up with the Goldfield Ensemble for a concert featuring Varèse, Arlene Sierra, Kathy Hinde and Tristan Murail, and there’s an evening showcase of Sally Beamish‘s music given by Red Note Ensemble. In addition, throughout the festival is a series called ‘Keyboard Inventions’ including recitals of contemporary music with and without electronics from pianists Zubin Kanga, Dave MaricSarah Nicolls and Clare Hammond. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a chance to experience the ultimate work written in response to breaking up with a girlfriend, Erik Satie‘s Vexations, lasting from midday on the final Friday until the following morning. Positively loads to enjoy; full details can be found here.

Late April sees the start of the latest round of ddmmyy concerts, beginning with an eclectic evening in the diverse company of, among others, James Saunders, Tim Parkinson, Jennifer Walshe and Jürg Frey. It’s followed in May with a pair of installations by Matthew Sergeant and Tom Rose, and in June with a particularly mouth-watering recital given by Michael Finnissy and Birmingham clarinettist Jack McNeill, featuring the world première of Finnissy’s Einfältiger Liederkreis. The concerts are taking place at The Yard Theatre and Café Oto; missing any of them feels like it would be something of a crime.

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group will be taking a turn for the genuinely unexpected on 1 May with a portrait concert for Benedict Mason, including the world première of Mason’s new work Horns Strings and Harmony. And in June they’ll be presenting a première-packed evening with brand spanking new music from Luke Bedford, Richard Baker, Zoë Martlew and John Woolrich alongside pieces by Judith Weir and Howard Skempton.

Finally, i must flag up again the Kammer Klang gig at Café Oto on 5 April, featuring Perks Ensemble in an oh-so-rare performance of Michael Finnissy’s “above earth’s shadow…” followed by a recital given by electronics maestro John Wall, who’ll be presenting one of his masterpieces, Cphon, in its entirety followed by a 20-minute improvisation.

So many good things to look forward to.


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Chris L

Sorry Simon, the Sandbar gig appears to have already happened – in January! Which is a shame, as I’d have really liked to have gone…

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