Delighted to see that Judith Weir has been appointed Master of the Queens music. Let's hope that she turns out to be an Edward Elgar and not a Nicholas Staggins! (No, I had never heard of him either).
I've been lucky enough to play a couple of piece by Weir: her song cycle Natural History and the orchestral piece The Welcome Arrival of Rain. The latter in particular made a very strong impression right from the first notes I heard at the read through. She had a fabulous ear for orchestral sonority and a beautifully crafted sense of imagination. I feel that she carries on the tradition of Michael Tippet - especially late pieces such as the 5th quartet and the triple concerto - and via Tippett to the Stravinsky of Agon.
I heard a broadcast of A night at the Chinese Opera when it was first performed and remember enjoying it, though truth to tell I can't remember that much about it. Time to catch up with it again I think
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