Proms at … Cadogan Hall 8: Tribute to Oliver Knussen

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

13:00 Monday 9 September 2019
Cadogan Hall

Oliver Knussen : … upon one note – Fantasia after Purcell
Sir Harrison Birtwistle: Fantasia upon all the notes
Freya Waley-Cohen: new work - BBC commission: world première
Oliver Knussen: Study for ‘Metamorphosis’
Hans Abrahamsen: Herbstlied
Alastair Putt: Halazuni
Oliver Knussen: Songs without Voices

Knussen Chamber Orchestra
Ryan Wigglesworth piano/conductor

The final concert in this year’s Proms at … Cadogan Hall series, tracing over 800 years of music history, brings us from the late 20th century right up to the present day.

A giant of British contemporary music, composer Oliver Knussen is celebrated a year on from his death in a special performance by the newly formed Knussen Chamber Orchestra. Made up of orchestral principals and rising young musicians from across the UK, the ensemble is conducted by Knussen’s protégé Ryan Wigglesworth.

Knussen’s own Purcell-inspired … upon one note, lyrical Songs without Voices and Study for ‘Metamorphosis’ for solo bassoon are framed by works from Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Alastair Putt and a newly commissioned work by Freya Waley-Cohen.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Interesting.

[bluestateprommer]

Fine, fine concert of contemporary works by the Knussen CO and Ryan Wigglesworth. The latter mentioned that he was working through a "filthy cold", when he briefly chatted with Petroc (hopefully Petroc stays healthy for this coming Saturday night at the RAH). Be warned that this was a generous concert for a Cadogan Hall PCM, running 15+ minutes over time, so that on iPlayer, you'll probably have to go to the following Afternoon Concert relay (the Prom 56 repeat) for the rest of it.

[Richard Barrett]

A giant of British contemporary music

That's for sure!

[Constantbee]

A very fine chamber Prom indeed. Most enjoyable and a fitting end to an exceptional CH season this year imho. Definitely worth a repeat hearing, and I hope we can look forward to hearing a lot more from the Knussen Chamber Orchestra in the future Lovely bassoon solo in the Knussen 'Study for 'Metamorphosis''. As far as I can see this concert has been completely overlooked by reviewers, though, which I find extraordinary for a performance of this quality.

[5against4]

As far as I can see this concert has been completely overlooked by reviewers, though, which I find extraordinary for a performance of this quality.

Well, i reviewed a little bit of it: http://5against4.com/2019/09/09/prom...orld-premiere/.
And Freya Waley-Cohen also answered some of my questions about her work: http://5against4.com/2019/09/09/prom...a-waley-cohen/.

[Sir Velo]

That's for sure!

[Constantbee]

Well, i reviewed a little bit of it: http://5against4.com/2019/09/09/prom...orld-premiere/.
And Freya Waley-Cohen also answered some of my questions about her work: http://5against4.com/2019/09/09/prom...a-waley-cohen/.

Thanks for this 5v4. A lot of us are curious about new music but don't know where to start.

[5against4]

Thanks for this 5v4. A lot of us are curious about new music but don't know where to start.

Which makes you my kind of people. :) One of the main aims of my site is to provide some in-depth navigation through relatively uncharted new musical waters.

[Constantbee]

Which makes you my kind of people. :) One of the main aims of my site is to provide some in-depth navigation through relatively uncharted new musical waters.

I really like The Proms Premières Poll results on your website, 5v4 The samples are small, but the page displays a handy summary of all the premières in one place and gives you a rough idea of how they were received. Must have taken a lot of work Some of the results might surprise, eg you might have expected Macmillan and Turnage to have been better liked by a Proms audience than they were, but who's to say how representative a sample of listeners might be in this case. It's good. I'll be adding a vote next time. You need to boost the sample size a bit.