Mark Bowden

One of a new wave of composers to have emerged in the twenty-first century, South Wales-born Mark Bowden came to prominence as a member of the London-based Camberwell Composers’ Collective, initially putting on concerts in local jazz clubs. Since then he has emerged very much as a composer with his finger on the pulse of contemporary culture, working in a variety of different media including film, dance and, more recently, opera – The Song of Rhiannon, premiered by W11 Opera. He has made a deep impression on the orchestral life of Britain and has recently become Resident Composer with BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Yn 32 oed yn unig, mae galw mawr am Mark Bowden gyda cherddorfeydd ym Mhrydain yn brwydro i gael perfformio’i waith. Yn blentyn ei oes sydd â diddordebau a phrofiad eang, mae Mark wir ar yr un donfedd â diwylliant cyfoes. Mae wedi cyfansoddi ar gyfer ffilmiau, dawns ac, yn fwy diweddar, opera – ac mae’r un mor gartrefol wrth wneud cerddoriaeth â’r prif gerddorfeydd ag y mae gyda phlant ysgolion cynradd.

2011: BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Gerard McChrystal

Oliver Coates

Jean-Michaël Lavoie

Thursday 8 September 2011 · Iau 8 Medi 2011, 7.00pm

BBC Hoddinott Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, CF10 5AL

Jean-Michaël Lavoie (conductor)

Oliver Coates (cello)

Gerard McChrystal (soprano saxophone)

Sound Intermedia (sound diffusion)

Qigang Chen	Wu Xing (The Five Elements) suite for orchestra L’eau (Water), Le Bois (Wood), Le Feu (Fire), La Terre (Earth) and Le Métal (Metal)	12′
John Metcalf	Three Mobiles for Soprano Saxophone and String Orchestra	12′
Mark Bowden	Lyra for cello and orchestra BBC Commission – world premiere	15′
Interval
Steve Reich	City Life	24′

This year’s orchestral concert by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales premieres Mark Bowden’s cello concerto and introduces the work of Chinese composer, Qigang Chen whose eclectic music will feature strongly in future Vale of Glamorgan Festivals. Chen’s music is an exhilarating fusion of East and western musical elements as heard in this piece Wu Xing. Continuing the “elemental” theme, wind-driven mobiles inspired John Metcalf’s joyful piece for soprano saxophone. In stark thematic contrast Steve Reich’s minimalist City Life completes the evening with a down-to-earth, vibrant portrait of the frenetic streets of New York.

Un uchafbwynt yn unig yw’r perfformiad o City Life gan Reich, ac yntau’n 75 oed eleni, mewn rhaglen gyfareddol a gyflwynir gan gerddorfa genedlaethol Cymru.

The concert will be recorded for later transmission on BBC Radio 3.

TICKETS / TOCYNNAU £12, Concessions £10 (senior citizens, unemployed, disabled people & companion) £5, Children under 16 and students

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Phone booking: call 029 2039 1391 (Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm).

The festival booking office is based at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. A £1.75 transaction fee applies to all online bookings with an optional postage charge of 70p. Concessions (listed in brackets) apply to students, under 16s and disabled customers. Wheelchair companions are entitled to complimentary tickets. Book for 4 concerts or more in a single advance booking and you will be entitled to a free festival programme book.