AVANT-CELLO

Anton Webern 3 Kleine Stücke (1914)
Olivier Messiaen Louange à l’Éternité de Jésus (1941)
Hans Werner Henze Serenade (1949)
Arvo Pärt Fratres (1977)
Jonathan Harvey Ricercare una melodia (1984)
Iannis Xenakis Kottos (1977)
Thomas Adès Les eaux (mvt 1 from Lieux retrouvés) (2009)
Anna Clyne Paint Box (2006)
Sir Harrison Birtwistle Wie Eine Fuga (mvt 4 from Bogenstrich) (2006-9) 

With its sonorous bass tones and piercing high register, the cello has fascinated composers for generations. As part of the Cello Unwrapped series at Kings Place, our Principal Cellist Tim Gill presents a survey of the styles and sounds of contemporary cello repertoire through the 20th and 21st centuries. From the mesmeric spiritualism of Messiaen and Pärt, through the concise pointillism of Webern, to the athletic virtuosity of Xenakis’ Kottos – “rough, harsh and full of noise” – this programme probes the cello’s many different characters, and the voices it has found in the contemporary music landscape.

Tim Gill cello
Fali Pavri piano
Sound Intermedia sound projection 

Part of Kings Place’s Cello Unwrapped 2017 series