Happy birthday to Sir Harrison Birtwistle, our most important living composer, who is 80 today. Sir Harry is prominently featured in this year’s Proms, which start at the end of the week. He was also featured on this site when we launched a couple of weeks ago. You can hear him talking about his boyhood interest in moths and watch a performance of the Moth Requiem from last year’s Proms here.
| Pastoral themes, invariably viewed from a uniquely Birtwistle perspective involving myth and ritual, have recurred commonly in his output over the decades. In a conversation with the South Bank Centre’s Gillian Moore to mark his 70th birthday, he spoke of the huge influence of Olivier Messiaen, and how, through Messiaen, bird song has influenced so much contemporary music. | |
The Proms – at its fringe festival Proms Plus – will also mark the centenary of Gavin Maxwell, born exactly 100 years ago today, when two leading nature writers discuss his legacy.
Our feature series Nature at the Proms starts with a full run-down of new and familiar pieces influenced by environmental concerns, wildlife and landscape, along with interval features and literary discussions.
Our feature series Nature at the Proms starts with a full run-down of new and familiar pieces influenced by environmental concerns, wildlife and landscape, along with interval features and literary discussions.
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