Works performed
Trembling Earth
for cello and orchestra
Commissioned by Anastasia Kobekina (with support from BBT), National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Konzerthaus Berlin
Anastasia Kobekina cello
National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
André de Ridder conductor
7 November 2025 National Concert Hall, Dublin
(World Premiere)
Photograph by Charlotte de Mezamat
Study IV
for piano
Commissioned by Filippo Gorini (with support from BBT through the Franco Buitoni Award 2023)
Filippo Gorini piano
2 November 2025 Hong Kong City Hall (World Premiere)
Photograph from Universal Edition
Vents et Lyres
for recorder and orchestra
Commissioned by Lucie Horsch (with support from BBT), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Lucie Horsch recorder
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
15 October 2025 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
(World Premiere)
Photograph by Maarit Kytöharju
Sonata d’Altura
for piano
Commissioned by Filippo Gorini (with support from BBT through the Franco Buitoni Award 2023)
Filippo Gorini piano
19 September 2025 Endler Hall, Stellenbosch University (World Premiere)
Photograph by Altrospazio Photography (ChiWe.com)
On a horse, on a hill, faraway, through fog and bonfire
for string quartet
Commissioned by Consone Quartet (with support from BBT) and Spitalfields Festival (with support from the New Music Commission Fund)
Consone Quartet
4 July 2025 St Mary-le-Bow Church, London
(World Premiere)
Photograph by Marcus J Leith
when you think you are looking
for soprano and string quartet
Commissioned by West Cork Music and Lucy Fitz Gibbon (with support from BBT)
Lucy Fitz Gibbon soprano
Marmen Quartet
1 July 2025 St Brendan’s Church, Bantry
(World Premiere)
Piano Sonata
Commissioned by Filippo Gorini (with support from BBT through the Franco Buitoni Award 2023)
Filippo Gorini piano
26 February 2025 Konzerthaus, Vienna (World Premiere)
Photograph by Olivier Allard
Hold Your Heart in Your Teeth
for viola and orchestra
Commissioned by Timothy Ridout (with support from BBT), Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonie Zuidnederland
Timothy Ridout viola
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Robin Ticciati conductor
15 December 2024 Philharmonie, Berlin
(World Premiere)
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Manze conductor
25 September 2025 Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
(UK Premiere)
Winterthur Kollegium
Alexander Bloch conductor
5 November 2025 Musikkollegium Winterthur
(Swiss Premiere)
Philharmonie Zuidnederland
Duncan Ward conductor
26 February 2026 Theater aan het Vrijthof, Maastricht
(Dutch Premiere)
Watch BBT’s profile film about Timothy Ridout’s commission of Mark Simpson, One Week in December, here
Photograph by Chelsea Browne
Dream Memorandum (It Reminded Me of the Truth)
for mezzo-soprano, guitar and fixed audio
Commissioned by Ema Nikolovska (with support from BBT)
Ema Nikolovka mezzo soprano
Sean Shibe guitar
14 June 2024 Wigmore Hall, London (World Premiere)
Photograph by Peter Furniss
Fetiapoipoi (The Morning Star)
for recorder and baroque ensemble
Commissioned by Lucie Horsch (with support from BBT) and Orchestra of the 18th Century
Lucie Horsch recorder
Orchestra of the 18th Century
23 May 2024 Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht (World Premiere)
Listen to a live performance from the Amsterdam Muziekgebouw, courtesy of Reza Namavar, here
Photograph by Rein Wieringa
A song for you
for recorder and harpsichord
Commissioned by Lucie Horsch
(with support from BBT and Dutch Fund)
Lucie Horsch recorder
Olga Pashchenko harpsichord
13 April 2024 Bijloke, Ghent (World Premiere)
Watch a film of one of the first run of performances here
Photograph by Michiel van Neiuwkerk
Three Tributes
for string quartet and tape
Commissioned by Dudok Quartet Amsterdam (with support from BBT), Amsterdam String Quartet Biennale and West Cork Music
Dudok Quartet Amsterdam
3 February 2024 Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam
(World Premiere)
3 July 2024 St Brendan’s Church, Bantry (Irish Premiere)
17 October 2024 Milton Court, London (UK Premiere)
Read a blog by Bushra El-Turk, Giving Voice: How Three Levantine singers inspired me, here
Photograph by Ben McDonnell
The Bridges of Königsberg
for string sextet
Commissioned by Penny Wright and Andrew Neubauer, BBC Radio 3 and Consone Quartet (with support from BBT)
Consone Quartet
Renée Hemsing viola
Guy Fishman cello
12 August 2023 Syde Manor, Gloucestershire
(World Premiere)
Photograph by Zaleski Enterprises
Awake
for string quartet
Commissioned by Castalian String Quartet (with support from BBT) and The Cosman Keller Art and Music Trust
Castalian Quartet string quartet
18 August 2023 Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh (World Premiere)
Watch BBT’s profile film about Castalian Quartet’s commission of Awake, Six Steps to a New Work, here
Photograph by Philip Gatward
Verified
Commissioned by BBT
Multi-Story Orchestra
Hyeyoon Park violin
Francesca Chiejina soprano
Ruby Hughes soprano
Simone Rubino percussion
Multi-Story Orchestra Young Creatives
9 June 2023 Bold Tendencies, Peckham, London
(World Premiere)
Photograph by Simon Weir
Hikari
for violin
Commissioned by Alexi Kenney (with support from BBT)
Alexi Kenney violin
16 February 2023 Princeton University, New Jersey
(World Premiere)
Watch Alexi’s BBT 20 performance of Hikari
from Wigmore Hall, London 10 June 2023, here
Photograph by Dianna Thomson
The Violinist
for violin and electronics
Commissioned by Alexi Kenney (with support from BBT)
Alexi Kenney violin
16 February 2023 Princeton University, New Jersey
(World Premiere)
Watch Alexi’s BBT 20 performance of The Violinist
from Wigmore Hall, London 10 June 2023, here
Photography by Catalina Kulczar
The Lake
for mezzo-soprano and piano
Commissioned Julian Van Mellaerts, Ema Nikolovska
(with support from BBT), Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust
and Marchus Trust
Ema Nikolovska mezzo-soprano
Kunal Lahiry piano
3 July 2022 Opera Holland Park, London (World Premiere)
Photograph by Azzura Primavera
Sutra
for basset clarinet, orchestra and electronics
Commissioned by Annelien Van Wauwe
(with support from BBT) and BBC Radio 3
Annelien Van Wauwe basset clarinet
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins conductor
31 March 2022 City Halls, Glasgow (World Premiere)
Pentatone Classics | PTC 5186 973 | www.pentatonemusic.com
Watch films of the premiere performance (excerpt) and a promotional film for the CD Flow here
Photograph by Jonas Roosens
When I Too Long Have Looked Upon Your Face
for violin, cello, piano and orchestra
Commissioned by Trio Sōra (with support from BBT),
Pro Quartet CEMC and Radio France
Trio Sōra
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Mikko Franck conductor
18 February 2022 Auditorium de Radio France, Paris
(World Premiere)
Read a blog by Kelly-Marie Murphy, From There to Here: The Long and Winding Road, here
Photograph by Alan Dean Photography
Piano Trio
Commissioned by Trio Isimsiz (with support from BBT), Centro Nacional de Difusión Musical Madrid and Aldeburgh Festival
Trio Isimsiz
24 January 2022 Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid (World Premiere)
25 June 2022 Britten Studio, Snape (UK Premiere)
Photograph by Judith Lötscher
Love Song
for piano, strings and percussion
Commissioned by BBT
(through the Franco Buitoni Award 2021)
Beatrice Rana piano
Perugia Chamber Orchestra
Enrico Bronzi conductor
9 October 2021 Morlacchi Theatre, Perugia
(World Premiere)
Photograph by Max Pucciariello
Our Future in Your Hands
to a libretto by Laura Attridge
Commissioned by Buxton International Festival,
Royal Over-Seas League and Kate Whitley
(with support from BBT)
Multi-Story Orchestra and
local children from Peckham schools
Christopher Stark conductor
Sarah-Jane Lewis soprano
Kate Howden mezzo-soprano
Darren Jeffrey bass-baritone
14 September 2021 Bold Tendencies, London
(World Premiere)
Il Ritmo della Terra
for voice, vibraphone, percussion, strings and harpsichord
to a libretto by Mariangela Gualtieri
Commissioned by Simone Rubino (with support from BBT)
Simone Rubino percussion and voice
Lamberto Curtoni cello
23 July 2021 Parco Ex-Eridania di Parma (World Premiere)
Photograph by Francesco M Gallarini
Covid van B.
for piano trio
Commissioned by Trio Sōra (with support from BBT)
Trio Sōra
17 October 2020 La Maison de Radio France, Paris
(World Premiere)
Watch the premiere performance, courtesy of Radio France and France Musique, here
Photograph by Jeremy Bruyere
Poems for Love
to a libretto by Sabrina Mahfouz
Commissioned by Kate Whitley (with support from BBT)
Kate Whitley piano/composer
Members of Multi-Story Orchestra
Sarah-Jane Lewis soprano
9 June 2019 King’s Place, London (World Premiere)
Photograph from Multi-Story Orchestra
Double Concerto for Two Bassoons and Orchestra
Commissioned by Bram van Sambeek (with support from BBT), Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquestre Sinfónica de Galicia and Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra
Bram van Sambeek bassoon
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Niklas Willén conductor
Leszek Wachnik bassoon
18 January 2019 National Concert Hall, Warsaw
(World Premiere)
Orquestre Sinfónica de Galicia
Rumon Gamba conductor
Steve Harriswangler bassoon
9 November 2019 Palacio de la Ópera, La Coruña
(Spanish Premiere)
Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä conductor
Pieter Nuytten bassoon
25 February 2022 Queen Elisabeth Hall, Antwerp
(Belgian Premiere)
Read a blog by Bram van Sambeek, Busy Bassoonists Begin the New Year, here
Photograph (left to right): Leszek Wachnik, Kalevi Aho, Bram van Sambeek at the world premiere
Reliquien
for mezzo-soprano, clarinet and piano
Commissioned by Anna Lucia Richter
(with support from BBT)
Anna Lucia Richter mezzo-soprano
Matthias Schorn clarinet
Gerold Huber piano
8 January 2019 Luxembourg Philharmonie (World Premiere)
Photograph Priska Ketterer
Driven by tears
for piano
Commissioned by Beatrice Rana (with support from BBT)
Beatrice Rana piano
17 March 2017 Sala dei Notari, Perugia (World Premiere)
Photograph by Lelli e Masotti
Darkness moves
for clarinet and electronics
Commissioned by BBT
Mark Simpson clarinet
25 October 2016 on BBT website (digital World Premiere)
Photograph by Graham Johnston
Lorne ys my liking
for countertenor, tenor and piano
Commissioned by Wigmore Hall (with support from André Hoffmann), James Baillieu (with support from BBT) and anonymous donors
James Baillieu piano
Iestyn Davies countertenor
Allan Clayton tenor
4 December 2015 Wigmore Hall, London (World Premiere)
Photograph by Heidi Solander
Recorder Concerto
Commissioned by Erik Bosgraaf (with support from BBT)
Erik Bosgraaf recorder
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Markus Stenz conductor
20 December 2014 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
(World Premiere)
Watch the premiere performance, courtesy of NPO Klassiek, here
Photograph by Andreas Terlaak
Mana
for bassoon and orchestra
Commissioned by Bram van Sambeek (with support from BBT), Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Bram van Sambeek bassoon
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Okku Kamu conductor
6 December 2014 Lahti Concert Hall (World Premiere)
BIS Records | BISCD 2206 | bis.se
Winner of the 2018 BBC Music Magazine Concerto Award
Photograph by Ville Paasimaa
Quintet for two violins, viola, cello and marimba
Commissioned by Pavel Haas Quartet
(with support from BBT)
Pavel Haas Quartet
Colin Currie percussion
15 May 2014 Philharmonie, Cologne (World Premiere)
Flute Concerto
Commissioned by Adam Walker (with support from BBT) and London Symphony Orchestra with support from Fidelio Charitable Trust and Walker-Watkins consortium
Adam Walker flute
London Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Harding conductor
23 February 2014 Barbican Hall, London (World Premiere)
Listen to an excerpt of a performance at the 2014 Vale of Glamorgan Festival, courtesy of BBC Radio 3, here
NMC | D224 | www.nmrec.co.uk
Photograph by Benjamin Ealovega
Origami Songs
for recorder and orchestra
Commissioned by Erik Bosgraaf (with support from BBT) and Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
Erik Bosgraaf recorder
Aurora Orchestra
Mahan Esfahani harpsichord
19 October 2013 King’s Place, London (World Premiere)
Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
Gordan Nikolic director
31 March 2014 Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam (Dutch Premiere)
Photograph by Gem Harris
Easter Concerto
for trumpet and orchestra
Commissioned by Tine Thing Helseth
(with support from BBT), Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Copenhagen Symphony Orchestra and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Tine Thing Helseth trumpet
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Manze conductor
19 September 2013 Johannes Church, Bergen
(World Premiere)
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Mario Venzago conductor
13 December 2013 Vara Konserthus, Gothenburg
(Swedish Premiere)
Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra
Lan Shui conductor
23 January 2014 Konservatoriets Koncertsal, Copenhagen (Danish Premiere)
Listen to an excerpt from the world premiere performance, courtesy of NRK Norwegian Broadcasting, here
Photograph Lars Skaaning
Melisma
for violin and piano
Commissioned by Byol Kang and Boris Kusnezow
(with support from BBT)
Byol Kang and Boris Kusnezow violin/piano duo
20 June 2013 Kunstscheune, Nakenstorf (World Premiere)
Photograph by Judith Lötscher
Kang-Shin
for recorder, orchestra and live electronics
Commissioned by Erik Bosgraaf (with support from BBT)
Erik Bosgraaf recorder
North Netherlands Orchestra
Kasper de Roo conductor
24 May 2013 De Oosterpoort, Groningen (World Premiere)
Breaking Silence
for percussion duo and orchestra
Commissioned by O Duo (with support from BBT), Fidelio Charitable Trust, Sinfonia Viva and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
O Duo
Sinfonia Viva
Gergely Madaras conductor
19 March 2013 Assembly Rooms, Derby (World Premiere)
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Northey conductor
30 May 2013 Melbourne Town Hall (Australasian Premiere)
Read a blog by Fraser Trainer, Timing is Everything, here
Helical Strake
for trumpet and piano
Commissioned by Tine Thing Helseth
(with support from BBT) and Kathy Stott
Tine Thing Helseth trumpet
Kathryn Stott piano
15 March 2013 Stavanger (World Premiere)
Listen to a live performance from Wigmore Hall,
courtesy of BBC Radio 3, here
Read a blog by Graham Fitkin, Helical Strake, here
Pas de Deux
for violin and cello
Commissioned by Nicolas Altstaedt
(with support from BBT)
Nicolas Altstaedt cello
Pekka Kuusisto violin
20 November 2012 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
(World Premiere)
Photograph by Jeremy Bruyere
along the ravines
for piano and orchestra
Commissioned by Shai Wosner (with support from BBT)
Shai Wosner piano
Seattle Symphony
Gerard Schwarz conductor
15 March 2012 Benaroya Hall, Seattle (World Premiere)
Listen to excerpts from the world premiere performance, courtesy of Seattle Symphony, here
Photograph by Mike Maguire
Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra
Commissioned by Jörgen van Rijen (with support from BBT)
Jörgen van Rijen trombone
Residentie Orkest
Santtu-Matias Rouvali conductor
2 March 2012 Schönbergzaal Koninklijke Conservatorium, The Hague (World Premiere)
BIS Records | BISCD 2936 | bis.se
Listen to an excerpt from the world premiere performance, courtesy of Residentie Orkest, here
Photograph by Maarit Kytoharju
Tangle
for trumpet and percussion
Commissioned by Colin Currie (with support from BBT)
Colin Currie percussion
Håkan Hardenberger trumpet
14 April 2011 ProMusica, Hannover (World Premiere)
Photographer by Markus Sepperer
Oboe Concerto
Commissioned by Alexei Ogrintchouk
(with support from BBT) and BBC Radio 3
Alexei Ogrintchouk oboe
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Jiří Bēlohlávek conductor
17 December 2010 Barbican Hall, London (World Premiere)
Listen to an excerpt from the world premiere performance courtesy of BBC Radio 3, here
Photograph by Alix Laveau
ConcertO Duo
for percussion duo and orchestra
Commissioned by O Duo (with support from BBT)
and BBC Radio 3
O Duo
BBC Symphony Orchestra
David Robertson conductor
22 October 2010 Barbican Hall, London (World Premiere)
Listen to an excerpt from the world premiere performance, courtesy of BBC Radio 3, here
Read a blog by Stephen McNeff, ConcertO-Duo: Banff to Barbican (via Essex), here
Photograph by Charlotte Malik
Piano Concerto (The Solway Canal)
Commissioned by Dutch Public Broadcaster NPS
and Ralph van Raat (with support from BBT)
Ralph van Raat piano
Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic
Capella Amsterdam
Otto Tausk conductor
19 February 2010 Vredenburg, Utrecht
(World Premiere)
Listen to an excerpt from the world premiere performance, courtesy of NPS (Nederlandse Programma Stichting), here
Naxos | 8.572570 | www.naxos.com
Photograph by Zaleski Enterprises
Remnants of Songs… An Amphigory
for viola and orchestra
Commissioned by Antoine Tamestit (with support from BBT), Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Festival Wien Modern, Betty Freeman and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Antoine Tamestit viola
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Peter Eötvös conductor
10 October 2009 Helmut-List-Halle, Graz (World Premiere)
Listen to an excerpt from the world premiere performance, courtesy of Österreichischer Rundfunk, here
Photograph by Rui Camilo
a table of noises
for percussion and orchestra
Commissioned by Colin Currie (with support from BBT)
and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Colin Currie percussion
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins conductor
14 May 2008 Symphony Hall, Birmingham (World Premiere)
Winner of British Composer Award 2009 for Orchestral Composition
This work shows an extraordinary sense of beguiling and haunting instrumental sonorities, defining a piece of breathtaking originality, imagination, invention and wit.
Citation, British Composer Awards 2009
Nominated for RPS Award 2009 for Large Scale Composition
Listen to an excerpt from the world premiere recording, courtesy of NMC, here
NMC | D218 | nmcrec.co.uk
Photograph by Sarah Hickson
Double Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra
Commissioned by Simon Crawford-Phillips and Philip Moore (with support from BBT) and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Simon Crawford-Phillips and Philip Moore pianos
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins conductor
15 March 2008 City Halls, Glasgow (World Premiere)
Watch a film about the Simon Crawford-Phillips and Philip Moore’s commission of Detlev Glanert, Concerto Countdown, here
Photograph by Bettina Stöß
Sechzehn Walzer Op 29
for violin and piano
Commissioned by Viviane Hagner (with support from BBT) and Altara Classics
Viviane Hagner violin
Tatiana Goncharova piano
31 January 2008 Kaufmann Concert Hall, New York
(World Premiere)
Photograph by Bettina Stöß
Written on a Train
for mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble
to a libretto by Lavinia Greenlaw
Commissioned by BBT
BBT Tour Ensemble:
Christianne Stotijn mezzo-soprano
Christian Tetzlaff violin
Soovin Kim violin
Christian Poltéra cello
Colin Currie percussion
Shai Wosner piano
30 September 2006 Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh
(World Premiere)
Photograph by Mike Kear
Lucid Intervals
for percussion and trumpet
Commissioned by Colin Currie (with support from BBT)
Colin Currie percussion
Håkan Hardenberger trumpet
31 July 2006 Verbier Festival (World Premiere)
Clarinet Concerto
Commissioned by Martin Fröst (with support from BBT)
Martin Fröst clarinet
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä conductor
22 April 2006 Barbican Hall, London (World Premiere)
BIS Records | BISCD 1463 | bis.se
Photograph by Maarit Kytoharju
Wonderer
for piano
Commissioned by Jonathan Biss (with support from BBT)
Jonathan Biss piano
3 January 2006, Portland, Maine (World Premiere)
Photograph from AMP
Double Guitar Concerto
Commissioned by Katona Twins (with support from BBT) and Young Concert Artists Trust
Katona Twins guitars
London Sinfonietta
Pierre-André Valade conductor
4 July 2004 Cheltenham Town Hall (World Premiere)
Photograph from BBC