George Benjamin assumes the position of the San Francisco Symphony's Phyllis C. Wattis Composer-in-Residence in January with seven evenings featuring performances of his works conducted by David Robertson and Benjamin himself. The programs include Benjamin's seminal orchestral works Duet, Ringed by the Flat Horizon, Jubilation and Dance Figures. Nicolas Hodges performs Benjamin's Duet for piano and orchestra which had its US premiere by The Cleveland Orchestra in September of 2008. Benjamin comments on the piece:

I have attempted to cross the divide between the soloist and the orchestra by finding compatible areas between them, specifically by dividing the piano into a few distinct registers with timbral equivalents in the orchestra. At the same time the piano remains an alien figure in the orchestral landscape and often treads an independent path through instrumental textures that can seem intentionally oblivious of it.

Hugh Canning of The Sunday Times remarked on the premiere in Cleveland:

Benjamin's Duet ... is as beguiling as it is brief (about 15 minutes) and underlines the differences between piano and orchestra. Lyrical, uncluttered solos of no great virtuosity are juxtaposed against dazzlingly intricate orchestral passages. Pierre-Laurent Aimard - the soloist for whom the piece was written - and the orchestra relished Benjamin's cleansing textures.

Learn more on the San Francisco Symphony's concerts at www.sfsymphony.org.

Visit www.fabermusic.com for more on George Benjamin's music.

George Benjamin
Duet (2008)
for piano and orchestra
2.(2.pic).2.3(3.bcl).2(2.cbsn)-2.2.3.1-timp-3perc-hp.cel-str
14'

Ringed by the Flat Horizon (1979-80)
for orchestra
3(2.3.pic).2.ca.3(2.Ebcl, 3.bcl).2.cbsn-4.ptpt.2.3.1-5perc(timp)-cel.pno.hp-str
20'

Jubilation (1985)
for orchestra and children's group and children's chorus
chorus (approx 60 - 100 children's voices): pic.2(2.pic).2.ca.2.bcl.2.cbsn-4.ptpt.2.3.0-4perc(timp)-pno.synth.hp-str
extra groups: 20 recorders(10 sopraninos,10 descant).7 steel drums.4hn.4tbn.3tpt.ptpt-perc

Dance Figures (2004)
for orchestra
2(2.pic).pic(fl3).2.Ebcl.2cl(1.Ebcl, 2.Bb, A & bcl).2.cbsn-4.2.3.1-timp-4perc-hp-cel-str
15'