Zoë’s new piece “O-lude” for cello and audio track was premiered in this concert given by cellist Anssi Karttunen in the third of three concerts celebrating composer and conductor Oliver Knussen at this year’s Aldeburgh Festival.
“Fittingly, however, all was eclipsed by a ghostly collage put together by his companion, Zoë Martlew, that incorporated a tape of his voice — still haunting the festival where he inspired so many memorable performances.” TIMES
“The most moving of these tributes was the one furthest from Knussen’s own style: Zoë Martlew’s mostly electronic O-lude, based on scraps of Knussen’s own voice recorded in rehearsal, overlaid with what sounded like a scratchy old recording of luminous chords from his 2nd Symphony. For a moment his shade seemed to be with us.” TELEGRAPH
The three concerts over the course of a day celebrated the great composer and conductor Oliver Knussen, a figure at the heart of the Aldeburgh Festival for many decades, in the month that would have seen his 70th birthday. In addition to Knussen’s music, the programmes feature music by composers who were particularly close to him, including special musical tributes for solo cello by his close composer friends and colleagues.
Magnus Lindberg:Promenade (first performance) (2)
Jo Kondo:A Song for the Owl (first UK performance) (4)
Oliver Knussen:Autumnal (7)
Zoë Martlew: O-lude (first performance) (7)
Brad Lubman:For Anssi for OK (first UK performance) (5)
Oliver Knussen:Four Late Poems and an Epigram of Rainer Maria Rilke (10)
George Benjamin:Olicantus (4)
Mark-Anthony Turnage:Song for Big Owl (first UK performance) (4)
Augusta Read Thomas:New piece for solo cello (first performance) (4)
Hans Abrahamsen:New piece for solo cello (first performance) (4)
Julian Anderson:Tombeau (4)
Igor Stravinsky:Elegy for viola (5)
Harrison Birtwistle:New piece for solo cello (first performance (4)
Oliver Knussen:Secret Psalm (5)
Claire Booth soprano
Tamsin Waley-Cohen violin
Anssi Karttunen cello
Huw Watkins piano
Christopher Glynn piano