London Sinfonietta & Marius Neset

Welcome

Welcome to this concert produced by the London Sinfonietta.

We have a long tradition of working with musicians who come from the world of jazz or are inspired by it. The experimentations in both contemporary jazz and contemporary classical music bring the sound worlds of both genres ever closer. Our work with Marius Neset over the past 10 years has led to joyful performances of virtuosic and exciting music which, for us, is a natural extension of our passion for new music. So we are grateful to Marius for working with us again to produce a new work which we have commissioned. We are also happy to report that the work will have three more performances at the end of January in Oslo, Harstad and Tromso, and we hope many more to follow.

It’s also good to be showcasing a new work by Ashkan Layegh whose work is the final piece in this latest round of our Writing the Future project. Four composers were asked to create new works which expanded their practice and stretched the London Sinfonietta too. Many of the composers from past rounds of Writing the Future have gone on to make new work for us and other ensembles, and we hope they have all benefitted from a close working relationship with us.

We are hugely grateful to EFG London Jazz Festival for including us in their programme this year which brings us such exposure to new audiences. And to the Southbank Centre for our ongoing Residency and the Arts Council for their ongoing support. Our work is supported by a range of trusts, foundations and individuals and we thank them for that. If you want to join us – and support the next set of commissions that we are announcing tonight through our Sound Ignited Campaign – please do be in touch.

Andrew Burke
Chief Executive & Artistic Director
andrew.burke@londonsinfonietta.org.uk

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Tonight's Programme

Ashkan Layegh Ephemerality and Recurrence (30')
- Interval -
Marius Neset Changes (50')

Programme Notes

Discover the world premieres of Marius Neset’s Changes and Ashkan Layegh’s Ephemerality and Recurrence. From dynamic jazz and orchestral textures to shifting multimedia quartets, these works explore improvisation, structure, and the fleeting, layered nature of sound and image.

Where Sound Dissolves: A Conversation with Ashkan Layegh

To mark the world premiere of his Writing the Future 5 commission, composer Ashkan Layegh shares insights into Ephemerality and Recurrence: its three quartets, shifting musical and visual layers, and how cycles, transformation, and physicality shape the audience’s experience.

Read the interview

London Sinfonietta & Marius Neset: Programme

London Sinfonietta & Marius Neset_Programme.pdf

Tonight's Players

Marius Neset saxophones
Anton Eger drums
Sam Norris alto saxophone
Gonçalo Maia Caetano electric bass
Harry Ling drums
Ashkan Layegh piano
London Sinfonietta

Jonathan Morton* violin
Freya Goldmark violin 2 (Ephemerality and Recurrence)
Fiona Winning viola (Ephemerality and Recurrence)
Tim Gill* cello
Mark van de Wiel* clarinet (Changes)
Richard Blake trumpet (Changes)
Clíodna Shanahan piano (Changes)

Harvey Cullis director of photography
Amirhossein Asadi illustrator

* London Sinfonietta Principal Players

Marius Neset

Marius Neset is an acclaimed Norwegian saxophonist and composer whose inventive energy and rhythmic imagination have made him a leading voice in European jazz. Renowned for his virtuosity and genre-crossing collaborations, he has composed major works for ensembles including the London Sinfonietta, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, and BBC Proms. A prolific recording artist with the ACT label, Neset continues to bridge jazz and contemporary classical music through his dynamic performances and ambitious compositional projects.

Ashkan Layegh

Ashkan Layegh is an Iranian composer, improviser and multi-instrumentalist whose work explores self-reflexive structures and cross-disciplinary ideas. Trained in traditional Persian setar and with a background in architecture, his music reflects a synthesis of cultural and artistic influences. His works have been performed by ensembles including the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Riot Ensemble and his own Phemo Quartet, with upcoming projects for the London Sinfonietta. He is currently completing a Doctorate in composition at the Royal Academy of Music.

London Sinfonietta

The London Sinfonietta is one of the world's leading contemporary music ensembles. Formed in 1968, our commitment to making new music has seen us commission over 470 works and premiere many hundreds more.

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