BCMG give world premiere in English of Peter Eötvös’s Secret Kiss
at Wigmore Hall and CBSO Centre this November
- BCMG bring the music of the late composer Peter Eötvös to CBSO Centre and Wigmore Hall this November
- Concerts feature the world premiere of the English language version of one of Peter Eötvös’s final ensemble works, Secret Kiss
- The chamber opera centres on a moving and sensitive story – out of a single glance, a tender yet binding connection between the two protagonists emerges.
Birmingham Contemporary Music Group bring the music of the great Hungarian composer Peter Eötvös to CBSO Centre and Wigmore Hall this November.
The two concerts feature the world premiere of the English language version of one of Peter Eötvös’s final ensemble works, Secret Kiss. We are transported back to the 19th century, where a young Frenchman travels to Japan. The chamber opera centres on a moving and sensitive story – out of a single glance, a tender yet binding connection between two individuals emerges.
Peter Eötvös (1944-2024) is considered a highly influential figure in international contemporary music. Hailing from Hungary, he started composing music when he was just 5 years old, and learned composition in the School of Exceptional Young Talents at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. He continued his studies in Cologne, Germany, where he studied composition under the tutelage of B.A. Zimmermann and had the opportunity to work with Karlheinz Stockhausen.
His international career took him to many countries of the world, from Japan to Germany, France, the Netherlands and to New York; he was musical director of the Ensemble Intercontemporain for over a decade. His fourteen operas, instrumental solo concertos, larger- and smaller scale symphonic compositions and chamber music pieces are regularly staged in the world’s greatest concert halls, festivals and opera houses. Peter Eötvös died earlier this year, at the age of 80.
Secret Kiss is one of his last compositions, and receives its English-language premiere with BCMG. A 17-minute melodrama, the work takes its inspiration by the 1997 novel Silk, by Italian author Alessandro Baricco.
In 19th century Japan, a young Frenchman travels to Japan to learn about the secrets of silk production. While visiting a rich man, he observes a young girl with her eyes closed. She suddenly opens her eyes, looks at the Frenchman and points silently to a tea cup in front of her. Out of this single glance, the two protagonists become entangled in a moving and wonderful story. Conducted by Geoffrey Paterson, the work is performed by BCMG with soprano Alice Rossi, and features Meg Kubota as the Reciter.
Stephan Meier, Artistic Director of BCMG, comments: “We are honoured to perform the English language premiere of this final work by Peter Eötvös, with all its tenderness and tension. It is a fitting legacy to a great composer. Secret Kiss is performed alongside a complimentary programme with intimate and unexpected dialogue at its heart. Through the concert you may be gently touched by Rebecca Saunders’s sounds at the brink of silence, caught by Julian Anderson’s sudden urge of self-awareness or disconcertedly observe Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s setting of two monologues in parallel in his final ensemble work.”
Secret Kiss London takes place at Wigmore Hall on 26 November, followed by Secret Kiss Brum on 27 November at CBSO Centre, Birmingham.
BCMG continue their performances at Wigmore Hall the following weekend, with a full afternoon concert on 30 November celebrating the work of British composer Daniel Kidane.
The Daniel Kidane Focus Day includes Cradle Song, a setting of the poem by William Blake for tenor and ensemble, commissioned through BCMG’s Sound Investment Scheme and premiered in 2023, plus Winged for electric guitar and string quartet, and Pulsing based on a poem by Zodwa Nyoni.
Secret Kiss was co-commissioned by Gageego Ensemble Gothenburg, Casa da Música – Porto, Plural Ensemble Madrid, Okamura & Company, Inc., Musikfabrik Cologne, MÜPA Budapest, Wigmore Hall and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group as part of BCMG’s Sound Investment Scheme.
Listings information
SECRET KISS LONDON
Tue 26 November 2024, 7:30pm
Wigmore Hall, London
Tickets: £18 – £40
Book directly at www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
SECRET KISS BRUM
Wed 27 November 2024, 7:30pm
CBSO Centre, Birmingham
Pre-concert talk at 6:30pm
Tickets: General £15, Student £7.50, under 12s FREE with paying adult
Book at www.bcmg.org.uk
A concert of music focused on intimate communication: the sound of a stolen glance, music at the brink of silence, spoken, whispered and sung words. This performance features the world premiere of the English language version of one of Peter Eötvös’s final ensemble works, Secret Kiss. We are transported back to the 19th century, where a young Frenchman travels to Japan. The chamber opera centres on a moving and sensitive story – out of a single glance, a tender yet binding connection between the two protagonists emerges.
Conductor: Geoffrey Paterson
Soprano: Alice Rossi
Reciter: Meg Kubota
Rebecca Saunders (b.1967): Stirrings (2011)
Julian Anderson (b.1967): Mitternachtslied (2023)
Peter Eötvös (1944 – 2024): Secret Kiss (2019) World Premiere of English version –
BCMG Sound Investment Commission
INTERVAL
Lisa Illean (b.1983): Cantor (2017)
Harrison Birtwistle (1934 – 2022): The Woman and the Hare (1999)
Harrison Birtwistle: …when falling asleep (2022)
DANIEL KIDANE DAY AT WIGMORE HALL
Sat 30 November 2024, 3pm
Wigmore Hall, London
Tickets: £18, Concessions £16
Book directly at www.wigmore-hall.org.uk
Join BCMG for our afternoon concert at Wigmore Hall’s Daniel Kidane Focus Day. Hear Daniel’s music, described by the Financial Times as ‘quietly impressive’ and by The Times as ‘tautly constructed’ and ’vibrantly imagined’, in one of the world’s great concert halls.
Conductor: Gabriella Teychenné
Tenor: Elgan Llŷr Thomas
Guitar: Pétur Jónasson
Daniel Kidane (b.1986): Winged (2019)
Daniel Kidane: Pulsing (2016)
Rebecca Saunders (b.1967): a visible trace (2006)
Daniel Kidane: Cradle Song (2023)
Daniel Kidane: Primitive Blaze (2022)
For tickets and details of all concerts, workshops and events, visit www.bcmg.org.uk