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His music could be spiky and visceral but it was also deeply rooted in English landscapes
The 1973 opera was always hugely ambitious, at the London Coliseum it is almost unrecognisable
The ensemble’s season kicked off with a strong, including a new fanfare by Harrison Birtwistle
A concert at St John’s, Smith Square, which exemplified the ensemble’s unique character
The conductor’s homecoming concert revealed the best in the British new music scene
Works by the British composers proved somewhat taxing
Daniel Barenboim’s love for Elgar shone through in performances of two of his symphonies
Harriet Walter’s lively Narrator is paired with two august composers in the other speaking roles
A challenging, rewarding programme included the world premiere of a new Harrison Birtwistle work
Augusta Read Thomas’s new work sounded unadventurous in comparison with older, rarely heard pieces
The festival opened with a potent double bill of Greek myth-inspired chamber operas by Harrison Birtwistle
The premiere of Peter Maxwell Davies’s sombre, memorable work was the highlight of the programme
Today’s composers and Renaissance musicians shake hands across the centuries
New works from the British and German composers brought unexpected highs and lows
Difficult vocal lines and ritualistic patterns make this opera best experienced with eyes as well as ears
A selection of significant events in the musical celebration
This must be one of Birtwistle’s most playful and digestible pieces
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