Philip Venables

5-star reviews for We Are The Lucky Ones

19 March 2025

Here is a selection of press quotes from the premiere production of We Are The Lucky Ones, March 2025 (some machine translated): Critic’s Pick: ‘We Are the Lucky Ones’ gives voice to a generation. This new opera assembles a compassionate,…

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We Are The Lucky Ones production images

18 March 2025

We Are The Lucky Ones premiered at Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Amsterdam, on 14th March 2025. Here are some production shots, credit: Dutch National opera | Koen Broos. Libretto: Nina Segal, Ted HuffmanConductor: Bassem AkikiDirection: Ted HuffmanAssistant directors: Sonoko…

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Preview articles about We Are The Lucky Ones

12 March 2025

Here are links to three in-depth previews of We Are The Lucky Ones, published in the Dutch press. (excerpts machine translated.) NRCThe stories of dozens of people born in the 1940s make up the new opera ‘We Are The Lucky…

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BIG NEWS: New publishing and representation

20 January 2025

Today I’m delighted to announce new publishing and representation arrangements. After seven fruitful years, I have taken the decision to leave Ricordi, and on 1st March 2025 I will launch my own publishing imprint, Opera Edition Ltd., to coincide with…

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Residency at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation

15 October 2024

I’m delighted to have been awarded a residency at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico, USA. The residency will be for 10 weeks from June–August 2025. I’ll be there to start work on my next large-scale opera project,…

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Faggots and their Friends nominated for Ivors Award

15 October 2024

The Faggots and their Friends Between Revolutions has been shortlisted for the Stage Works category of the 2024 Ivors Classical Awards. The awards ceremony will take place at the British Film Institute on the South Bank in London on 12th…

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Residency at Villa Aurora, Los Angeles

11 October 2024

I am delighted to have received a Stipendium from Villa Aurora in Los Angeles. I take up a residency there from October–December 2025, to work on a large new opera project. Alongside the historic Thomas Mann House in Los Angeles,…

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Answer Machine Tape, 1987 at Transit Festival

16 September 2024

Answer Machine Tape, 1987, for piano and multimedia, will be performed on 18th October at the Transit Festival in Leuven, Belgium. It will be performed by Zubin Kanga, who commissioned the piece, at STUK in a late-night concert. More information…

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Residency at the Bogliasco Foundation

15 September 2024

I’m delighted to have been awarded a residency at the Bogliasco Foundation near Genoa, Italy for one month in March/April 2025. I’ll be there to work on ideas for new pieces, doing some research and sketching out new material. More…

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4.48 Psychosis announced at Staatstheater Mainz

21 April 2024

Staatstheater Mainz has just announced a new production of 4.48 Psychosis in the 2024/25 season. The production will be directed by Rahel Thiel and conducted by Samuel Hogarth. The premiere will be on 26th April 2025 in the small house….

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Faggots and their Friends announced at the Ruhrtriennale

15 April 2024

The Faggots and their Friends Between Revolutions has just been announced in this year’s Ruhrtriennale in Bochum, Germany. Four performances will take place from 17th—20th August 2024 in the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum. It’s an exciting festival programme, covering theatre, music, dance…

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New opera announced: We Are The Lucky Ones

20 March 2024

I’m delighted to announce our next opera, We Are The Lucky Ones. The opera is commissioned by Dutch National Opera, and it will premiere at the Opera Forward Festival in Amsterdam on 14th March 2025. I am writing it with…

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Residency at MacDowell

28 February 2024

I’m incredibly lucky to have been awarded a 4-week residency at MacDowell Artists Colony in New Hampshire, USA, where I am currently through to 14th March. The Irving Fine Studio, where I live and work, is in the picture. It’s…

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Faggots and their Friends announced at Holland Festival

28 February 2024

The Faggots and their Friends Between Revolutions has just been announced in this year’s Holland Festival in Amsterdam. The performances will take place on 13th and 14th June 2024 in the Muziekgebouw. It’s a wonderful festival to be part of,…

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Great reviews for FATFBR at the Southbank Centre

2 February 2024

The Faggots and their Friends Between Revolutions completed its four-night run at the Southbank Centre last week to packed, lively audiences. Here is a selection of the reviews, all very positive. “a stripped-back, intensely emotional production […] an intelligent and…

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Illusions at Into The Open Festival, Berlin.

16 January 2024

The International Ensemble Modern Academy are reprising their wonderful performance of Illusions at the Into The Open Festival in Berlin. They performed the piece for the first time at Time Of Music Festival in Viitasaari, Finland, in July 2022. On…

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Residency at Yaddo

30 October 2023

I’ve been awarded a 5-week residency at the Corporation of Yaddo, in Saratoga Springs, NY, which I’m undertaking through October and November. My studio is in the picture. It’s a beautiful time to be here — the trees in Fall…

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Answer Machine Tape, 1987 shortlisted for Ivors Award

18 October 2023

Answer Machine Tape, 1987 has been shortlisted for the Small Chamber Composition category of the 2023 Ivors Classical Awards. The awards ceremony will take place at the British Film Institute on the South Bank in London on 14th November 2023….

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Denis & Katya announced at Theater Erfurt

22 August 2023

Theater Erfurt has announced its new production of Denis & Katya in the coming 23/24 season, The production of the german-language translation by Robert Lehmeier will be directed by Markus Weckesser, and will take place in the round in the…

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4.48 Psychose announced at the Bayerische Theater-Akademie München

17 August 2023

The Bayerische Theaterakademie in Munich has announced a new production this coming autumn of the opera 4.48 Psychose (the german-language version of 4.48 Psychosis, in the translation of the Sarah Kane by Durs Grünbein). The production, directed by Balázs Kovalik…

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