In Portrait: Luke Bedford

Luke Bedford has fast become one of the brightest talents of his generation, in part on the evidence of past work for the London Sinfonietta: we first worked him back in 2006 when he wrote Or Voit Tout En Aventure on our Blue Touch Paper programme. It's very exciting now, therefore, to be performing Renewal, a major ensemble work that explores some of his newer compositional language. But, as with many of his earlier pieces, we expect music that is both instantly appealing and enduringly fascinating. After an interview with Luke himself the piece will be performed for a second time; it can be difficult to take in a new work on one hearing. The programme also includes an ensemble arrangement of Luke’s double-soloist and string ensemble composition Wonderful Two-Headed Nightingale, and music by Gérard Grisey which has inspired him.

Luke Bedford's new work is commisioned by the London Sinfonietta with the generous support of Michael and Patricia McLaren-Turner.

Above image © Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung, Manu Theobald