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24 June 2009
Top composer at University for festival finale
One of Britain’s most sought after composers and conductors, made an
exclusive appearance in Sheffield last week (19 June 2009), to close the
University of Sheffield and Sheffield Cathedral’s Summer Festival.
James MacMillan CBE, delivered a public talk at Sheffield Cathedral,
which gave a unique insight into the composition process and the
influences on his work. He also took part in a question and answer
session, which was interspersed by performances of his music by the
choir of Sheffield Cathedral.
Sheffield Cathedral Choir are the city's only professional choir, with a
reputation as being one of the finest cathedral choirs in the land. As
well as providing music for worship at the cathedral, they often
undertake concert engagements, regularly broadcast live on BBC Radio 3,
and have made a number of commercial recordings, all to critical acclaim.
For more information on the festival, please visit
www.musicandartsfestival.co.uk or contact Festival Director Stewart
Campbell on: 0114 222 0499, s.campbell@sheffield.ac.uk
James MacMillan is one of today’s most successful living composers and
is also internationally active as a conductor. His musical language is
filled with influences from his Scottish heritage, his Roman Catholic
faith, and a close connection with Celtic folk music. This also blends
with influences from Far Eastern, Scandinavian and Eastern European
music, which gives his performances a unique style.
He has conducted the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra since September 2000,
which has included performances at the Bridgewater Hall and the BBC Proms.
His major works include/ Veni, Veni, Emmanuel/, the percussion concerto
which has received more than 400 performances; a cello concerto for
Mstislav Rostropovich; /Quickening,/ a major choral-orchestral work, and
three symphonies. His recent major works include his new opera the
/Sacrifice/, premiered by Welsh National Opera, and /St John Passion/,
premiered by the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Colin Davis in 2008.
The Summer Festival has seen over 2,000 people enjoy a packed programme
of events exploring a variety of music, art, film, literature.
Stewart Campbell, from the University of Sheffield’s Department of
Music, and Director of the Summer Festival, said: "I am delighted so
many people in Sheffield have supported the first University and
Cathedral Summer Festival. James MacMillan is at the forefront of
British composition, and we are very privileged to welcome him to
Sheffield to draw the event to a close.
“The Festival has seen the University’s Department of Music and
Sheffield Cathedral take our artistic ideas to new levels. The
University is committed to supporting culture and the arts in Sheffield
and it's been fantastic to see so many people visit Sheffield Cathedral
over the course of the last two weeks, many for the first time."
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Sheffield Cathedral Choir are the city's only professional choir, with a
reputation as being one of the finest cathedral choirs in the land. As
well as providing music for worship at the cathedral, they often
undertake concert engagements, regularly broadcast live on BBC Radio 3,
and have made a number of commercial recordings, all to critical acclaim.
For more information on the festival, please visit
www.musicandartsfestival.co.uk or contact Festival Director Stewart
Campbell on: 0114 222 0499, s.campbell@sheffield.ac.uk
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