Jonny Greenwood Popcorn Superhet Receiver
Avner Dorman Spices, Perfumes, Toxins! (UK première)
Igor Stravinsky The Rite of Spring
Ólafur Arnalds Songs from ‘...and they have escaped the weight of darkness’ (world première)
André de Ridder conductor
DYAD Percussion Duo
Ólafur Arnalds composer, piano
As the guitarist for Radiohead, Jonny Greenwood has helped push the boundaries of rock music by integrating electronics and unconventional song structures.
Greenwood is also a classically trained violinist and contemporary composer and Popcorn Superhet Receiver, his brilliant slice of avant-garde romanticism, takes its name from a shortwave radio catalogue − inspired by ‘white noise’. Spices, Perfumes, Toxins!, Avner Dorman’s concerto for two percussionists and orchestra, references three substances that are extremely appealing, yet filled with danger: Spices that delight the palate, yet can cause illness; Perfumes that seduce, yet can also betray; and Toxins that bring ecstasy, yet are deadly. This high-energy score combines Middle-Eastern drums, orchestral percussion and rock drums with symphonic forces to create a unique sound that, like the title, is both enticing and dangerous. The inspiration for Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring came to the composer in a fleeting vision: ‘I saw in my imagination a solemn pagan rite: sage elders, seated in a circle, watched a young girl dance herself to death. They were sacrificing her to propitiate the god of spring’. A score of unprecedented rhythmic and harmonic ferocity, this seminal, highly influential piece caused a riot at its 1913 Paris première and established the composer as the prince of the avant-garde.
The final part of tonight’s event features Icelandic composer and pianist Ólafur Arnalds. Ólafur has already played a sell-out show at the Barbican and opened for Sigur Rós on their most recent European tour. His exploration of the space between classical and pop generates a uniquely graceful musical language. He defies traditional terminologies, melding piano, strings and discreet electronics into delicate orchestral compositions. This will be a world première of songs from his latest album, performed with a full orchestra.