Fri 8.5

Piano Concerto no. 3, The Mysteries of Light

JAMES MACMILLAN (b. 1959)

James MacMillan is the pre-eminent Scottish composer of his generation. In 1990, MacMillan's The Confession of Isobel Gowdie launched his international career at the BBC Proms. The work's acclaim spurred more high-profile commissions, including a percussion concerto for his fellow Scot, Evelyn Glennie. Veni, Veni, Emmanuel was premiered in 1992 and has become MacMillan's most performed work with over 400 performances worldwide. He was also asked by Mstislav Rostropovich to compose a violoncello concerto, which was premiered by Rostropovich in 1997. James MacMillan's compositions are infused with the spiritual and the political. Catholicism has inspired many of his pieces, including many sacred works for choir, e.g. Magnificat (1999), and several Masses. His St John Passion, co-commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Berlin Radio Choir, was premiered under the baton of Sir Colin Davis in 2008. Recent MacMillan works include Piano Concerto No.2 first performed with choreography by Christopher Wheeldon at New York City Ballet; A Scotch Bestiary commissioned to inaugurate the new organ at Disney Hall with soloist Wayne Marshall and the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen; and, The Sacrifice premiered and toured in 2007 by Welsh National Opera. 2010 featured the premieres of two new concertos: a violin concerto for Vadim Repin co-commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Concertgebouw Zaterdagmatinee, and Philadelphia Orchestra; and, an oboe concerto toured by Nicholas Daniel and the Britten Sinfonia. 2011 highlights include premieres of MacMillan’s Piano Concerto No.3 for Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the Minnesota Orchestra; Seraph, for trumpeter Alison Balsom; and, a new one-act opera, Clemency, commissioned by the ROH2 (the contemporary arm of the Royal Opera House), Scottish Opera, Boston Lyric Opera and Britten Sinfonia. Works that have been performed at the Cabrillo Festival include: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel; Confession of Isobel Gowdie; Triduum; Symphony No. 2; Tryst; A Deep but Dazzling Darkness; Stomp (with Fate and Elvira); and, The Sacrifice: Three Interludes. James MacMillan is currently working on a commission for the Cabrillo Festival’s 50th anniversary in 2012. His Piano Concerto No. 3 The Mysteries of Light will be given its west coast premiere on opening night August 5 by Marin Alsop conducting the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra with Jean-Yves Thibaudet, soloist.

Photo: Eric Richmond