Oliver Knussen is one of the most respected figures in British contemporary music and has probably contributed more to the vitality of the British contemporary music scene (as composer, conductor and eminence grise) than any other figure. He has a wide and varied output, from chamber music works, to three symphonies and two operas, Where the Wild Things Are and Higglety Pigglety Pop! - the result of a collaboration with the children’s author Maurice Sendak. In addition there are two recent concertos (for horn and violin) which have been taken up by soloists and orchestras worldwide.
His conducting career began at the age of 16 with the LSO when he conducted his First Symphony. He is now in international demand as an illuminating interpretation of twentieth century music, and he appears regularly with the major orchestras of the world. He was made a CBE in 1994 and is Conductor Laureate of the London Sinfonietta.
Forthcoming performances:
Requiem
13.6.10, Libbey Bowl, Ojai Music Festival, USA: Ensemble Modern/George Benjamin
Elegiac Arabesques
14.6.10, Aldeburgh Church, Aldeburgh Festival, United Kingdom: Hebrides Ensemble
Autumnal/Secret Psalm/Ophelia's Last Dance (UK premiere)
21.6.10, Aldeburgh Festival, Orford Church, Suffolk, United Kingdom: Huw Watkins (pno); Aisha Orazbayeva (vln); Sophie Mather (vln)
Coursing/Cantata
21.6.10, Royal College of Music, London, United Kingdom: College Students/Benjamin Tassie
Horn Concerto
24.6.10, Aldeburgh Festival, Snape Maltings Concert Hall, United Kingdom: Richard Watkins/Britten-Pears Orchestra/Oliver Knussen
Ophelia Dances Book 1
29.7.10, Perth Concert Hall, Australia: West Australia Symphony Orchestra
Two Organa
6.8.10, BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group/George Benjamin
Where the Wild Things Are
15.8.10, Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music, USA: Stefan Asbury
The Way to Castle Yonder
8.10.10, Tokyo Opera City, Japan: Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra/Oliver Knussen
Symphony No 3
14, 15.10.10, The Symphony Hall, Osaka, Japan: Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra/Oliver Knussen
Music for a Puppet Court
20.10.10, Kanazawa, Japan: Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa/Oliver Knussen