James MacMillan
Composer/Conductor
“A towering performance by the BBC Philharmonic under the composer James MacMillan. He is proving a conductor of daunting ability.” The Sunday Times
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| James MacMillan biography |
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| James MacMillan conducting programmes |
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| James MacMillan discography |
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| James MacMillan factsheet |
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JAMES MACMILLAN:
2009/10 Artist Portrait with the London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra presents an Artist Portrait of James MacMillan throughout the 2009/10 season. To coincide with the composer’s 50th birthday, the LSO explores a range of his output, including the St John Passion, which the Orchestra and Sir Colin Davis premiered in April 2008. The Portrait season was opened with a concert conducted by MacMillan, and includes the world premiere of a new violin concerto for Vadim Repin, commissioned by the LSO. MacMillan is involved across the broadest range of activities, including conducting new music workshops and a long-term role as Guest Composition Director with the Panufnik Young Composers Scheme.
Click here to watch a short film interview with James MacMillan about his Artist Portrait series (courtesy of the LSO).
PROGRAMMES
» 2 July 2009, LSO St Luke’s
Mendelssohn Overture The Hebrides Op.26 'Fingal's Cave'
MacMillan A meditation on Iona
MacMillan From Ayrshire (violin concerto)
Tchaikovsky Souvenir d'un lieu cher
MacMillan Tryst
James MacMillan: conductor
Nicola Benedetti: solo violin
Part of the City of London Festival
» 30 October 2009, Barbican Centre
MacMillan Into the Ferment
Kristjan Järvi: conductor
LSO On Track Youth Orchestra and the LSO
A community outreach project involving young musicians from East London performing alongside LSO musicians.
» 1 November 2009, Barbican Centre
Grieg Lyric Suite
MacMillan Epiclesis (trumpet concerto)
Sibelius Lemminkäinen Suite
Kristjan Järvi: conductor
Ole Edvard Antonsen: solo trumpet
» 6-7 February 2010, LSO St Luke’s
Panufnik Young Composers scheme 'Reality Weekend'
From February 2010 to January 2011 James MacMillan will provide artistic advice and support to six young composers on the LSO’s Panufnik Young Composers scheme.
James MacMillan: Guest Composition Director
» 28 February 2010, Barbican Centre
MacMillan St John Passion
Sir Colin Davis: conductor
London Symphony Chorus
Christopher Maltman: baritone
» 12 May 2010, Barbican Centre
Debussy Prélude á l'après-midi d'un Faune
Stravinsky Symphony in C
MacMillan Violin Concerto (world premiere)
Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms
Valery Gergiev: conductor
London Symphony Chorus
Vadim Repin: solo violin
» 24 June 2010, LSO St Luke’s
UBS Soundscapes Pioneers Workshop
MacMillan conducts the LSO in an open workshop of three 5-minute LSO commissions by Edward Jessen, Emily Howard and Sasha Siem, working with the composers in preparation for premieres at the Barbican in the 10/11 season.
James MacMillan: conductor
ST JOHN PASSION
When Sir Colin Davis was asked to choose a composer to write a new work to celebrate his 80th birthday, he selected James MacMillan, one of the most-performed contemporary composers of his generation.
Davis has been particularly associated with MacMillan’s music in recent years, with international performances and a recent release on the LSO Live label, all leading naturally to the creation of a major new work. The resulting St John Passion, one of MacMillan’s largest-scale and most personal scores, took place at the Barbican on Sunday 27 April 2008, with Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with baritone Christopher Maltman.
The St John Passion was commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, with generous support from The Wilford Foundation, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Edward Van Beinum Foundation), the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Rundfunkchor Berlin (member of roc Berlin).
The work was performed in Amsterdam and Berlin during 2009, and receives its US premiere in January 2010 with the Boston Symphony. MacMillan will conduct future performances of the work with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
"The spectre of Bach hovers over any attempt to refresh the Passion story, but MacMillan... is equal to the challenge..." The Observer
"The compelling performance, conducted by Davis with the LSO, London Symphony Chorus and handpicked Narrator Chorus, transcended the score's significant technical demands to underline the depth of feeling and tremendous emotional impact that MacMillan has achieved in this powerful score." The Daily Telegraph
Hear two extract from the LSO Live recording of James MacMillan's St John Passion, recorded live in concert by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Colin Davis and with the baritone Christopher Maltman.
Part 1 'The arrest of Jesus':
Part 2 'The Crucifixion':
LINKS
» London Symphony Orchestra
» Barbican Centre
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