Adelaide Festival
From the end of February until March 5th I was guest composer at the Adelaide Festival where I had a very dense schedule and did 6 performances in 12 days. This comprised 3 performances of my opera Marilyn Forever, with Aventa from Canada and with a new cast; two full evenings of various combinations of my ensemble, sometimes with Australian guest performers; and a full concert where I conducted the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
It was a massive piece of logistics, which was overseen with consummate skill, good humour and affection by Jude Gun who had the misfortune to be assigned to my projects…
This was the programme:
Marilyn Forever, chamber opera February 27, 28, March 1
Anne Grimm, soprano; Richard Morris, baritone
On stage jazz trio: Julien Wilson, Tenor saxophone; Robert Holliston, piano; Gavin Bryars, double bass
Aventa Ensemble (Canada), , conducted by Bill Linwood
GB Ensemble Programme 1 March 3
Lauda Dolçe I (2008) solo cello, electric guitar, double bass
Lauda 4 “Oi me lasso” (2002) soprano and tenor
Lauda 13 “Stomme Allegro” (2003) soprano, tenor, ensemble
Lauda 19 “Omne Homo” (2003) soprano, tenor, electric guitar, bass
The Flower of Friendship (2009) electric guitar, viola, cello, double bass
From The Morrison Songbook (2012) soprano, tenor, ensemble
– Interval –
Lauda con sordino (2009) solo viola, electric guitar, piano
Lauda 42 “Salutiam devotamente” (2012) soprano, tenor, ensemble
From the Irish Madrigals (2004) soprano, tenor, 2 violas, cello, bass, acoustic guitar
(Eight 1, Eight 2, Eight 3, Nine 3 (cello part instead of bass clarinet), Eight 4, Eight 5,
Eight 7, Nine 8 (low tenor solo), Eight 8)
Lauda 28 “Amor dolce senza pare” (2006) soprano, electric guitar, tenor, viola, cello, bass
Peyee Chen, Soprano; John Potter, Tenor; Morgan Goff viola; Imants Larsens, viola; James Woodrow, electric and acoustic guitars Nick Cooper, cello; Gavin Bryars, double bass, piano
GB Ensemble Programme 2 March 4
Part 1 With The Song Company
3 songs from Second Book of Madrigals (2002) c.9′
(The Song Company)
It Never Rains (2010) – electric guitar, viola, cello, bass 6′
Lauda 38 (2009) – SATB, electric guitar, viola, cello, bass 6′
The Song Company +GB Ensemble))
From Sixth Book of Madrigals (new works) 2014-15 c.16′
(The Song Company)
– first interval –
Part 2 Nothing like the Sun (2007) c.52′
Eight Shakespeare sonnet settings (sonnets 60, 123, 128, 94,102, 146, 55, 64)
Peyee Chen, Soprano; John Potter, Tenor; Morgan Goff viola; James Woodrow, electric and acoustic guitars Nick Cooper, cello; Gavin Bryars, double bass; Speaking voice, Gavin Friday +Australians: Anna Coleman, Clarinet/ bass clarinet; Rebecca Lagos, Percussion (includes cimbalom); Imants Larsens, viola; Roland Peelman, Piano
– second interval –
Part 3 Mercy and Grand (Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan arr. Gavin Bryars)
A Little Drop of Poison
Alice
Whistle Down the Wind
A Little Rain
You’re Innocent When You Dream
Pony
Georgia Lee
Train Song
Barbara Allan
The Briar and the Rose
Lullaby
(+ Johnsburg, Illinois)
Jess Walker, voice; Gavin Bryars, Bass/harmonium; James Woodrow, Electric guitar; Morgan Goff, violin, Nick Cooper, cello + Australian players: Rebecca Lagos, percussion; Roland Peelman, Piano/harmonium; Julien Wilson, Tenor sax/bass clarinet; James Crabb, accordion
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra March 5
Soloists: Anna Fraser, soprano; Alexander Knight, baritone
Conductor: Gavin Bryars
Howard Skempton: Lento (1991) – full orchestra
Bryars: The Porazzi Fragment for 21 solo strings (1999)
Arvo Pärt: If Bach had been a beekeeper – orchestra
Bryars: Ennelina’s aria from G – Anna Fraser, soprano
Bryars: Epilogue from G – Alex Knight, bass
– interval –
Bryars: Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet – full orchestra
GB and Jess Walker
GB and Robert Hollingsworth (onstage pianist in Marilyn Forever)
Singers Peyee Chen and Jess Walker; cellist Nick Cooper and guitarist James Woodrow outside the Elder hall, Adelaide
