Mackey in Manchester: three day festival
(May 2008)
The music of Steven Mackey is celebrated in Manchester between 16 and 18 June, with 13 of his works performed across three days. The Spring-Loaded event combines concerts by Psappha, the BBC Philharmonic and students at the Royal Northern College of Music. Highlights include the UK premieres of Measures of Turbulence for eight guitars and of the electric cello concerto Banana/Dump Truck with its dedicatee Fred Sherry as soloist. Also in the final orchestral concert, conducted by Clark Rundell, are Lost and Found, Turn the Key and Eating Greens, offering a showcase of Mackey’s exuberant and zany style.
For full concert details visit the Spring-Loaded website.
Mackey is currently completing a violin concerto, Beautiful Passing, commissioned by the BBC and Saint Louis Symphony for Leila Josefowicz, which promises to travel through both antagonistic and tranquil territories. Juraj Valcuha conducts the world premiere in Manchester with the BBC Philharmonic on 24 October and David Robertson the US premiere performances in Saint Louis on 14 and 15 November.
Mackey describes how “the governing metaphor of the concerto has to do with the violin gaining control of its own destiny, competing with, commanding and ultimately letting go of the orchestra. This metaphor arises from my experience, during the composition of the piece, watching my mother gain control of her destiny to the point of predicting the day she would let go, predicting the day of her death. Her last words to me were: “Please tell everyone I had a beautiful passing”.
> Further information on Work: Banana/Dump Truck
Photo: © Alice Arnold
> News Search
Mailing List
Sign up for news updates and offers via email
SIGN UPFeatured Publication
Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra
This classic orchestral showpiece is one of the best-sellers in the Masterworks series of full scores.
READ MORESPECIAL OFFERS
