Contemporary Focus 2014: Colin Matthews

As the idiosyncratic, laconic Hungarian composer approaches his 100th birthday, we talk to Pierre-Laurent Aimard about his decades-long relationship with György Kurtág, on his unique playfulness and gift-giving. 

Thomas Leininger’s Baroque-inspired children’s opera at Geneva’s La Cité Bleue is a unique stylistic departure, which asks the essential question: what happened to the dinosaurs left off Noah’s Ark?

Returning to conduct Rome’s Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia this November, John Adams reflects on the situation of music in the US – and why he has so often been labelled a ‘political’ composer.

Contemporary music theatre seems to be in a state of rude health, and we preview several new stage works soon to hit the boards this coming season at venues and opera houses around the world.

The enigmatic Japanese composer, recently awarded the 55th Suntory Music Award, talks about his uniquely intuitive compositional style.

Arvo Pärt’s contributions to contemporary choral repertoire are exceptional, and conductor Paul Hillier and the Hilliard Ensemble have been crucial collaborators for more than three decades.