The first performance this year was on 12th January at the Purcell Room on the South Bank. Clare Hammond played a piano piece originally written for Julian Jacobson called ‘Study’. It was a dramatic performance much enjoyed by the audience.
Then in March, the excellent Commotio Chamber Choir performed ‘O Fons Amoris’ in a concert at St Barnabas Church, Oxford. The surroundings for this haunting piece were wonderful and it fitted in well in a beautifully veried programme.
In mid April, the Minotaur Music Theatre did three excellent performances of 'A Man of Feeling' in a double bill with Rossini’s L’occasione fa il ladro.
On 9th May, many friends and colleagues gathered at the Playhouse in Norwich for a concert of Stephen's music 'Stephen Oliver at 60'. Peter Wilson gathered Cantabile, Jonathan Dove, the London Mozart Players, Nicholas Cleobury, The Norfolk and Norwich Festival Chorus, a group from the Birmingham Opera Company and Simon Callow together for a memorable celebration of Stephen's music including two ensembles from Timon of Athens, three songs from the RSC's Tempest, four songs from Blondel and Bilbo's last song from Lord of the Rings. The Birmingham Opera Company performed the opera 'A Man of Feeling' for two voices and piano and the second half was led by Simon Callow who narrated 'The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby' with many extracts from Stephen's wonderful music.
In the Eastern Daily Press, Christopher Smith referred to the evening as an "Affectionate and entertaining tribute" and in the Evening Standard, Barry Millington thought it was all "excellent festival fare".
On 12th May, the Cork School of Music put on a production of the opera "The Garden". This dramatic piece for soprano, tenor, harpsichord and string quartet was warmly appreciated by the audience of students, staff and friends. Soprano, Gemma Sugrue took on her role as part of her master's degree and she was ably supported by lecturer and tenor, Robert Craig.
Other performances coming up include:
Euridice: British Youth Opera presents two semi-staged performances of Stephen Oliver’s adaptation of Peri’s opera of 1600. Peacock Theatre, London; 8th and 11th September.
Nicholas Nickleby: Reigate Grammar School from 7th to 11th December, 2010
There are performances being planned by other groups in other places not least at Ardingly College (Stephen’s old school). News of all performances as they are finalised will be published here.
Do contact Sam Wilcock at Novellos for advice about Oliver works for performance(samuel.wilcock@musicsales.co.uk). Available published works can also be browsed on the Novello catalogue: www.chesternovello.com/default.aspx?TabId=2431&State_2905=2&composerId_2905=1160 |
His Life
