"His is a voice that cannot be classified - one that is always his own."
Upcoming Commission Highlights
• an orchestral work for Camerata Salzburg, co-commissioned by the Carinthische Sommer Festival for 2008
• Violin Concerto for the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
• Keyboard Concerto for the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
• Opera for the Royal Academy of Music London and the Juilliard School New York
• Chamber music: a range of commissions, including a Piano Quartet, a Violin Sonata, a Horn Trio, a String Trio and a Piano Sonata. Premieres to be given at festivals including the City of London Festival, Cheltenham Festival and St Magnus Festival
• Choral works: some major commissions including for St Paul's Cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Liverpool Cathedral, King's College Cambridge and Westminster Abbey
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Conductors
A selection of the many conductors who have performed Maxwell Davies's music in the last 10 years
Marin Alsop, Petr Altrichter, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Douglas Boyd, Martyn Brabbins, Charles Dutoit, Rumon Gamba, Alan Gilbert, Richard Hickox, James Judd, Oliver Knussen, Jan Latham-Koenig, Grant Llewellyn, James MacMillan, Gianadrea Noseda, Sakari Oramo, Tadaaki Otaka, Donald Runnicles, Esa Pekka Salonen, Vassily Sinaisky, Leonard Slatkin, Joseph Swensen, Yan Pascal Tortelier, Gilbert Varga, Ilan Volkov, David Zinman.
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Orchestras conducted by Maxwell Davies in recent years
Philharmonia Orchestra
Orchestra del Accademia di Santa Cecilia
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Wiener Symphoniker
Russian National Orchestra
Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchestra Berlin
MDR Sinfonie Orchester Leipzig
SWF Sinfonieorchester Freiburg
Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
BBC Philharmonic
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
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Recent and future conducting programmes
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
August 2009
Mendelssohn Overture The Hebrides Op.26 Fingal's Cave
Maxwell Davies Violin Concerto
Mendelssohn Symphony No.3 in A minor Scottish Op.56
Maxwell Davies An Orkney Wedding with Sunrise
Camerata Salzburg
July 2008
Haydn Symphony No. 22 The Philosopher
Maxwell Davies New Work for chamber orchestra
Maxwell Davies The Fall of the Leafe
Mozart Symphony No.38 in D major, KV 504 Prague
Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo
April 2008
Maxwell Davies Mavis in Las Vegas
Mozart Symphony No.38 in D major, KV 504 Prague
Haydn Symphony No.22 in E flat major The Philosopher
Maxwell Davies Strathclyde Concerto No.10 - Concerto for Orchestra
Bremer Philharmoniker
May 2007
Maxwell Davies Das Rauschende der Farbe (world premiere)
Haydn Symphony No.92
Maxwell Davies An Orkney Wedding with Sunrise
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Master of the Queen's Music
A post held since 2004, the role as musical figurehead and advisor has included the creation of the Queen's Medal for Music, awarded to Sir Charles Mackerras in 2005 and Bryn Terfel in 2006; a Music Celebration at Buckingham Palace to recognise the excellence of British music; and composing works for royal occasions including a Christmas Carol each year dedicated to Her Majesty The Queen.
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St Magnus Festival
The St Magnus Festival is Orkney's annual arts festival, founded in 1977 by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. It has grown into one of Britain's most highly regarded and adventurous arts events, recently celebrating its 30th anniversary. Musical events are at the heart of the artistic programme, with visiting orchestras, celebrity recitals and an emphasis on new music. The Festival also encompasses drama, dance, literature and the visual arts, and embraces community interest with a stream of music written by Maxwell Davies for local children.
"Startling performances in inspirational venues provide seductive listening at the St Magnus Festival."
The Herald
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Education
Maxwell Davies has had a strong involvement with music education throughout his life, and has written many works for children and young musicians. He continues to be keenly involved in a wide range of community, educational and outreach projects as well as his Professorship at the Royal Academy of Music.
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