I always look forward to this festival of contemporary classical music, held in January. I do not attend all concerts, but just a selection. For this year, I just attended the final concert of the festival, featuring three works from three composers I haven't encountered before. And I must say, it was a fantastic performance!
Based on my extensive preference for contemporary classical music (particularly living composers) and my history of enjoying complex, textural, and avant-garde works, this program is exceptionally well-suited to my tastes. All three composers are living, and the works represent the cutting edge of modern orchestral writing. The concert featured Hannah Kendall's Disillusioned Dreamer, Mirela Ivičević's Überlala. Song of Million Paths For Violin and Orchestra, and Brett Dean's Nocturnes and Night Rides.
The first piece was Hannah Kendall's Disillusioned Dreamer, which was about 12 minutes long. Inspired by Ralph Ellison’s novel Invisible Man, this work for large orchestra is a study in texture and evocative atmosphere. Kendall utilizes a unique "Creolized" sound world, often incorporating music boxes into the percussion section to create a fragile, shimmering layer over dense orchestral colors. The piece oscillates between moments of profound stillness and sudden, jagged outbursts, reflecting the psychological tension of the source material.
It was followed by Mirela Ivičević's Überlala. Song of Million Paths For Violin and Orchestra. Ivičević is known for what she calls "sonic activism." This violin concerto is far from a traditional virtuoso showpiece; it is an eclectic, high-energy, and often abrasive collision of sound worlds. The orchestration is dense and subversive, often utilizing the violin as a "signal" or "disruptor" within a chaotic environment. It draws on subcultures, punk aesthetics, and Balkan influences, translated through a rigorous modernist lens.
Finally, there was Nocturnes and Night Rides by Brett Dean. This was the piece that I enjoyed the most. Brett Dean, an experienced violist himself, writes with a deep understanding of orchestral mechanics. Nocturnes and Night Rides is a multi-movement work that explores the "night" not as a peaceful time, but as a space of anxiety and kinetic energy. The "Night Rides" portion is particularly rhythmic and driving, utilizing hocketing brass and driving percussion to create a sense of relentless motion. I am guessing he is an insomniac!
Overall, I enjoyed this performance, and it was definitely a fantastic evening!
