Celebrations marking John Woolrich’s 60th birthday year continue on 6th April with a day of Woolrich events at St John’s Smith Square.
‘Join us as we celebrate one of the UK’s most individual musical voices, John Woolrich, in this his 60th Birthday year. Highly atmospheric and charged with emotion and humanity, John’s music is also reflective and compassionate. This day of concerts brings together many of his closest collaborators and features two world premieres alongside some of his best-loved pieces — including ‘Ulysses Awakes’, his wistful reworking of Monteverdi. A highly original and thoughtful programmer as well as a composer, John has hand-picked a number of masterpieces from earlier in music history to complement his own work in what promises to be a fascinating exploration of his rich and poetic creative imagination.’
1pm | Members of London Sinfonietta and the Mason Ensemble
Woolrich: A Farewell
Woolrich: In the Mirrors of Asleep
Woolrich: Watermark
Woolrich: A Dramolet
Woolrich: Envoi
2pm | Pianobooks | William Howard, Catherine Edwards & Tom Poster
An ingeniously-programmed recital which interleaves John’s own Pianobooks with music by some of the composers dearest to him. Includes the first performance of Pianobook XIV alongside music by Schumann, Bach and Chopin and a rare chance to hear Janáček’s Fragments from the Album from Kamila.
4.30pm | John Woolrich in conversation with Philip Cashian
7.30pm | Orchestra of St John’s
John Lubbock, conductor | Daniel Pioro, violin | Jane Atkins, viola
Wolf/Woolrich: Italian Songs
Woolrich: Ulysses Awakes
Woolrich: Capriccio
Woolrich: Through Paths and Turnings (first performance, SJSS commission)
Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major, K. 364