15 December marked the start of Julian Anderson’s residency with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with a concert programming his orchestral work The Stations of the Sun, conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste.
Anderson also gave a pre-concert talk, which you can listen to here discussing his role as Composer-in-Residence, and his work The Stations of the Sun.
Press comments
'Back in 1998 you might have regarded Julian Anderson’s The Stations of the Sun as an excellent example of absolute music – an elaborate orchestral fantasy where the brilliance of the notes themselves count for more than the reasons for them being there. But a decade of contemporary music’s continuing obsession with texture and effect has thrown the emotional subtext of this terrific piece into higher relief. You feel something when you hear it; the elaborate orchestral gestures (and you can hear why it wowed the 1998 Prom audience) unlock our imaginations; a beautiful violin melody proliferating into free variations is something you want to go back to. Anderson is the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s new Composer in Residence and this performance under Jukka-Pekka Saraste will have undoubtedly raised his spirits.'
The Independent (Edward Seckerson), 16 December 2010
'…we had a strenuously brilliant, heliotropic showpiece by Julian Anderson… It's refreshing to hear a recent piece which begins in focus rather than with the usual wash of percussion, and to go with the flow of bold, exposed melodic lines for the violins.'
Press comments
'Back in 1998 you might have regarded Julian Anderson’s The Stations of the Sun as an excellent example of absolute music – an elaborate orchestral fantasy where the brilliance of the notes themselves count for more than the reasons for them being there. But a decade of contemporary music’s continuing obsession with texture and effect has thrown the emotional subtext of this terrific piece into higher relief. You feel something when you hear it; the elaborate orchestral gestures (and you can hear why it wowed the 1998 Prom audience) unlock our imaginations; a beautiful violin melody proliferating into free variations is something you want to go back to. Anderson is the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s new Composer in Residence and this performance under Jukka-Pekka Saraste will have undoubtedly raised his spirits.'
The Independent (Edward Seckerson), 16 December 2010
'…we had a strenuously brilliant, heliotropic showpiece by Julian Anderson… It's refreshing to hear a recent piece which begins in focus rather than with the usual wash of percussion, and to go with the flow of bold, exposed melodic lines for the violins.'
The Arts Desk (David Nice), 16 December 2010
'Anderson writes for orchestra using vivid brush strokes, and this, his calling card so far in an already distinguished line of works, resonated to the wonderful sounds of the percussion department, with bells, gongs and drums all employed. Saraste enjoyed the music as he might that of his fellow Finn, Magnus Lindberg, and with new work The Crazed Moon due to be premiered in March 2011, Anderson's star continues to be on the rise.'
musicOMH.com (Ben Hogwood), 17 December 2010
'Anderson writes for orchestra using vivid brush strokes, and this, his calling card so far in an already distinguished line of works, resonated to the wonderful sounds of the percussion department, with bells, gongs and drums all employed. Saraste enjoyed the music as he might that of his fellow Finn, Magnus Lindberg, and with new work The Crazed Moon due to be premiered in March 2011, Anderson's star continues to be on the rise.'
musicOMH.com (Ben Hogwood), 17 December 2010