Australian composer Carl Vine will makes a rare visit to the UK this month to hear the UK premiere of his Piano Concerto No.2. The performance takes place on 17 October at the Royal Festival Hall with pianist Piers Lane, conductor Vassily Sinaisky and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The piece is a co-commission with the LPO and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, who gave the world premiere with Piers Lane at the Sydney Opera House in August. At the Sydney performance the press were quick to praise this vibrant work.
As well as attending the LPO’s performance, Vine will be giving a series of workshops and masterclasses at the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
PRESS
‘Carl Vine’s concerto has a great deal to appeal to the listener, ranging from music for the full orchestra which is often very jagged, almost violent, to rather tender, sweet melodies. These quieter moments with their translucent colour and harmonic language were not dissimilar to those employed by Debussy… The work was enthusiastically received by the audience some of whom gave a standing ovation...’
Bach Track (Oliver Brett), 26 August 2012
‘The first movement is announced by crashing chords from the piano and, from there, the score hardly lets up on the pianist… The slow movement brings out some gorgeous, lingering harmonies, especially during unusual combinations of instruments such as the pairing of piano and tuba at the opening. The third and final movement again has the pianist, the conductor and the orchestra caught up in hopping frenzy... Piers Lane ripped down the keyboard and played his final chord standing up, he was so excited…’
J-Wire (Fraser Beath McEwing), 23 August 2012