Thomas Adès's new Violin Concerto is to be heard for the first time in Berlin and London in September 2005. Long-time Adès devotee Anthony Marwood is the soloist, whilst the composer himself makes his conducting debut with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. The work premieres as part of the Berlin Festspiele on 4 September, before travelling to London’s Royal Albert Hall for performance at the BBC Proms, on 6 September.
The 17-minute work is a commission from the Berlin Festspiele and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
The US premiere of the Violin Concerto forms the high point of a residency Adès will enjoy with the Los Angeles PO in February 2006. Other focal points include the world premiere of Scenes from The Tempest (concert extracts from the opera), plus several chamber performances.