Total Immersion: Oliver Knussen at 60

A day of music, talks and films celebrating the music of Oliver Knussen.

Oliver Knussen is one of the most inspirational figures in British music. Equally gifted as composer, conductor and teacher he has produced an extraordinary body of work whose vitality and quality seems to shine brighter with each passing year. As composer Julian Anderson has written, ‘Knussen is that rarity… a composer whose music is both complex and aurally coherent’; he combines the spontaneous and the constructed, the playful and profound.

Oliver Knussen himself is joined by some of the most celebrated performers of his music for this exploration of his jewel-like masterpieces. From the delightful Three little Fantasies for wind quintet, to the intricate, multilayered Océan de terre, the programmes span 40 years of his art, and trace the chain of works inspired by Ophelia’s tragic descent into madness and death, Ophelia’s Last Dance and the Symphony No. 3. Barrie Gavin’s affectionate film prefaces two evening concerts in which soprano Claire Booth sings the dreamlike Whitman Settings.

1.15pm, Music Hall, Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Oliver Knussen
Masks
Three Little Fantasies
Trumpets 
Songs without Voices 
Sonya's Lullaby
Océan de terre

Richard Baker conductor 
Olivia Robinson soprano 
Maud Millar soprano
Martha Lloyd flute
Richard Uttley piano
Guildhall New Music Ensemble

This concert by students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama features music from the 1960s and 1970s including the touching piano solo Sonya’s Lullaby, written for the composers daughter, and vocal works including his intricate multi-layered setting of poems by Apollonaire,  Océan de Terre, and Trumpets, written for soprano and three clarinets. 

Please note that Olivia Robinson has replaced the originally advertised Jenavieve Moore. 

Tickets £12 (unreserved seating)

3pm Film & Discussion, Barbican Cinema 2
Sounds from the Big White House: Oliver Knussen at 50
UK, 2001, Dir: Barrie Gavin, narrated by Julian Anderson.

A film made to celebrate Oliver Knussen’s 50^th birthday. The composer talks about the perils of early fame, about meeting Stravinsky and demonstrates his amazing collection of mechanical toys. Music performed by the London Sinfonietta and BBC SO includes excerpts from Where the Wild Things Are and the Horn Concerto.

Followed by a discussion on Oliver Knussen and his influence on British music led by composer Julian Anderson, with guest speakers Gillian Moore, Barrie Gavin and Tom Service. 

Tickets £6

6pm, Music Hall, Guildhall School of Music & Drama

Oliver Knussen
Autumnal for Violin and Piano
Variations 
Secret Psalm
Prayer Bell Sketch 
Ophelia's Last Dance

Alexandra Wood violin
Ryan Wigglesworth piano
Huw Watkins piano

Music spanning Knussen’s composing career from the 1970s to the 1990s including Ophelia’s Last Dance, part of the chain of works following Ophelia’s tragic descent into madness and death, Prayer Bell Sketch for solo piano, written in memory of Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu and Autumnal for violin and piano. 

Tickets £12 (unreserved seating)

8pm, Barbican Hall
Oliver Knussen
Flourish with Fireworks 
Choral 
Whitman Settings
Horn Concerto
Two Organa
Requiem - Songs for Sue
Symphony No. 3 

Oliver Knussen conductor
Claire Booth soprano
Martin Owen horn
BBC Symphony Orchestra 

The Total Immersion weekend comes to a close with a concert featuring major works from across Knussen’s career including the Third Symphony, the dreamlike Whitman Settings, which sets the poetry of Walt Whitman and the moving Reqiuem: Songs for Sue, both of which were written for tonight’s soloist, Claire Booth to perform.

Please note that Leila Josefowicz, who was to perform Oliver Knussen’s Violin Concerto, is unable to travel to the UK for this concert due to conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy and is therefore no longer able to perform in this concert. It has been necessary to change the programme as above.  

Tickets £24 £20 £16 £12 £8

Oliver Knussen Day Pass
Save money and guarantee entry to all events on Sunday 4 November with a Total Immersion Day Pass. Day Passes are available by telephone or in person only.
Day Pass £48 £45 £42 £38 £35

Saturday 3 November 2.00pm and 7.00pm, Barbican Hall
The Barbican presents Oliver Knussen's two fantasy operas Where the Wild Things Are and Higglety Pigglety Pop!

Friday 2 November, Garden Room, Barbican
Oliver Knussen at 60
A symposium presented by the Institute for Musical Research. Speakers include Julian Anderson, George Benjamin, Arnold Whittall and Paul Griffiths.