Cassandra Miller’s Viola Concerto receives its world premiere on 18 July at the Royal Albert Hall, as part of the BBC Proms. The concerto will be performed by violist Lawrence Power, with conductor Omer Meir Wellber and the BBC Philharmonic.
The piece was co-commissioned by BBC Radio 3, Brussels Philharmonic, National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and Scottish Chamber Orchestra, supported by the Viola Commissioning Circle. The piece is part of Lawrence Power’s project to commission ten new viola concertos in as many years – one of the most recent being Anders Hillborg’s Viola Concerto.
“I’m really excited to give birth to this piece in such an incredible arena”, Lawrence Power said on the BBC Radio 4’s Front Row on 26 April. “Cassandra is a very collaborative composer and she very much wants the musicians in at the start of the process…she is unique voice of contemporary music today”, he noted. Miller’s Viola Concerto reflects the Proms 2022 focus on ‘Cinderella’ instruments that are not often in spotlight.
It is Miller’s second piece for Lawrence Power, and second commission from the Viola Commissioning Circle. During the 2020 lockdown Miller composed the 6-minute Daylonging, Slacktide for solo viola (with singing), which was shaped by “Lawrence’s remarkable voice-like viola playing.” A film of the piece was made in Snape Maltings.
Miller’s last concerto, Duet for cello and orchestra (2015), was named one of the best pieces of the 21st century by the Guardian. Her latest work Bismillah Meets the Creator in Springtime was premiered at Tectonics Festival in Glasgow on 1 May, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show. Listen here.