Composer: Chia-Ying Lin, Benjamin Ashby
Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra
Conductor: Geoffrey Paterson
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: NMC
Catalogue: NMCDL3041
Release: 2020
Size: 373 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Lin: Intermezzo to the Minotaur
02. Ashby: I’ve Been Planning for an Impromptu
The Philharmonia Composers’ Academy, presented in partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Society and allied to the Orchestra’s prestigious Music of Today contemporary music series, annually offers the opportunity for three talented emerging composers to write an original chamber work for a Philharmonia Ensemble. Their new works are premiered by an ensemble of Philharmonia musicians at a Music of Today concert at the Royal Festival Hall prior to a full Philharmonia Orchestra concert.
In addition to this high-profile performance, the composers are guided through the writing process by Music of Today Artistic Director Unsuk Chin, as well as benefitting from specially curated seminars, masterclasses, instrument exploration sessions and a ‘works in progress’ workshop. From 2017 a recording and release on the NMC Recordings label has been included, enabling the works to have an international platform via online stores and streaming platforms.
Chia-Ying Lin Intermezzo to the Minotaur was inspired by Picasso’s artwork Le Minotaure (1928), the piece influenced by the human ambiguity of the minotaur – the divine and bestial. Benjamin Ashby’s I’ve been planning for an impromptu explores improvisation inspired by the composer’s free-jazz heroes Evan Parker and Barry Guy.