Remembering Oliver Knussen: ten essential works

By Benjamin Poore, 11 July 2018

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“It treads a line between method and mystery”

Tim Rutherford-Johnson, 16th February

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.

Dinosaurs of the Baroque: discovering Les Dinos et l’Arche

Lawrence Dunn, 2nd January

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?

A political composer? John Adams revisits Nixon in China

Thomas May, 30th September

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.

Opera premieres 2025–26: visions and fairy tales

Bachtrack, 1st September

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.

Lightness and connection: the music of Jo Kondo

Tim Rutherford-Johnson, 29th July

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

Spiritual sympathy: Paul Hillier on Arvo Pärt

Tim Rutherford-Johnson, 5th June

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.

Benjamin Poore

Benjamin Poore is a writer and critic. His book on psychoanalysis and literature is forthcoming in 2019. He has previously written about literature and culture for the Independent, the Times Literary Supplement, and Times Higher Education. In his spare time he tries to sing Schubert; he has a very patient teacher.

Remembering Oliver Knussen: ten points of entry to the great composer’s work