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World Premiere of Richard Ayres's No. 51 (resting songs) at CrossCurrents Festival

Feb. 08, 2018

World Premiere of Richard Ayres's <em>No. 51 (resting songs)</em> at CrossCurrents Festival

On February 23, the CrossCurrents Festival at the University of Birmingham presents the world premiere of Richard Ayres’s No. 51 (resting songs) for mezzo-soprano and ensemble, with texts by the composer himself. Ayres's new piece is performed by the newly established contemporary music group, Loki. Conceived and directed by Daniele Rosina, Loki draws on the talents of some the UK’s finest chamber musicians and new music specialists. The program also includes new works by Michael Zev Gordon and Ryan Latimer alongside Schoenberg’s 1912 song cycle, Pierrot Lunaire. Richard Ayres comments about the work:


"Resting songs is a short song cycle based on texts about dying, leaving, or losing someone. A pocket-sized Requiem perhaps. The brief texts are inspired by Giacomo Leopardi, Robert Walser and a drunken conversation overheard one night.”

Listen to a recording of Richard Ayres's No. 42 (In the Alps) here:


(No 42. In the Alps by Richard Ayres/Nederlands Blazers Ensemble/Richard Ayres, conductor/Barbara Hannigan, soprano)


Richard Ayres

No. 51 (resting songs) (2017)

for mezzo-soprano and ensemble
12’

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