Philip Venables

A short introduction video

January 23, 2017

Here is a new short (seven minute) video about my work, which gives a brief introduction to what I’m interested in, along with excerpts of four recent works.  This video (in a slightly longer version) was first presented at the Casa da…

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A Photograph released on Hermes Experiment Album

September 2, 2021

A Photograph — a little piece I wrote last year for the Hermes Experiment with playwright Cordelia Lynn — will be appear on the group’s forthcoming album, SONG. The album is on Delphian Records, and will be released on 22nd…

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Denis & Katya announced at Dutch National Opera / Opera Forward Festival

August 31, 2021

Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam have announced that they will make a new production of Denis & Katya in the Opera Forward Festival 2022. The Festival features a range of new operatic each year in March in a range of…

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Venables plays Bach announced at Festival d’Automne à Paris

August 12, 2021

I will be making a brand new 42-speaker sound installation at the Church of Saint Eustache in Paris as part of this years Festival d’Automne à Paris. The installation, Venables plays Bach, explores my relationship with J.S. Bach’s Little Prelude…

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Excellent Reviews for Denis & Katya in Montpellier

August 6, 2021

Denis & Katya made its french premiere a few weeks ago in a new french-language version at the Opéra National Montpellier. The production featured soprano Chloé Briot and baritone Elliot Madore, and cellists from the Orchestre National Montpellier. Ted Huffman…

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Two mini-documentaries about Denis & Katya in Montpellier

July 20, 2021

Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier have made two little videos taking a peek behind the scenes of the production of Denis & Katya. Episode 1 features interviews with me and Ted about the show (mostly in english) and Episode 2 features…

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4.48 Psychosis announced at Philharmonie de Paris / Festival d’Automne with Ensemble Intercontemporain

July 5, 2021

4.48 Psychosis will be performed in concert by Ensemble Intercontemporain on 16th December 2021 in the Cité de la Musique at the Philharmonie de Paris, as part of the feature on my work in the Festival d’Automne 2021. The performance…

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Denis & Katya announced in Hannover

June 30, 2021

The German premiere of Denis & Katya has been announced for the 21—22 Season of the Niedersächsische Staatsoper Hannover. The theatre has commissioned a german language version of the opera, which has been translated by director and librettist Robert Lehmeier….

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Portrait concerts at Musica Festival and Festival d’Automne announced

June 30, 2021

Musica Festival in Strasbourg has just announced its 2021 programme, and I’m delighted to say there will be a portrait concert of my work in the festival on 1st October. The concert will be performed by Lovemusic, with guest artists…

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New dates and cast for Denis & Katya in Montpellier

June 30, 2021

The performances of Denis & Katya in Montpellier have been postponed due to Covid-19. The opera will now take place on the main stage of the Opéra Comédie on 26th, 28th and 29th July. Tickets are available here. The performances…

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My Favourite Piece is the Goldberg Variations

February 24, 2021

For the last year I have been collaborating with Ted Huffman and the accordionist Andreas Borregaard on a new piece. This has now come to fruition, and was premiered (virtually) at the Borealis Festival in Bergen on 20th March 2021,…

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Denis & Katya wins Ivor Novello Award

December 16, 2020

I am delighted to say that I have won an Ivor Novello Award for Denis & Katya in the Stage Works category of the 2020 Ivors Composers Awards. The awards ceremony was not a public event this year, due to…

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Denis & Katya shortlisted for Ivor Novello Award

November 3, 2020

Denis & Katya has been shortlisted for an Ivor Novello Award in the Stage Works category of the 2020 Ivors Composers Awards. The awards ceremony will not be a public event this year, due to Covid-19, but the winning composers…

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‘A Photograph’ premieres at Oxford Lieder Festival

October 18, 2020

The outstanding contemporary music specialists, The Hermes Experiment, recently gave the world premiere of A Photograph, a new song that I wrote for them over the summer in collaboration with playwright Cordelia Lynn. The song was commissioned by Oxford Lieder…

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Reviews for MTW tour of Denis & Katya

March 15, 2020

Music Theatre Wales tour of Denis & Katya is now complete. The show went to Newport, Mold and Aberystwyth in Wales, followed by two nights at the Purcell Room in the Southbank Centre, London. Unfortunately the scheduled performance in Cardiff…

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Denis & Katya shortlisted for International Opera Award

February 22, 2020

Denis & Katya has been shortlisted for the World Premiere award at the 2020 International Opera Awards. Others shortlisted include Anthropocene by Stuart MacRae and Louise Welsh and p r i s m by Ellen Reid and Roxie Perkins. The…

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Denis & Katya UK tour announced

October 10, 2019

Music Theatre Wales has released its tour dates for Denis & Katya in 2020. The tour will be in four theatres in Wales, and two shows will be performed at the Southbank Centre in London. Unfortunately the England tour has…

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“Spellbinding” — reviews for Denis & Katya

September 30, 2019

We sent Denis & Katya out into the world on 18th September at the premiere at Suzanne Roberts Theater in Philadelphia with Opera Philadephia. Scored for just two singers, four cellos and pre-recorded sound and video, the 65-minute pseudo-verbatim opera…

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Denis & Katya wins Fedora Prize for Opera

July 1, 2019

Denis & Katya, my second opera, has been awarded the prestigious Fedora Generali Prize for Opera this year. The prize was awarded at the Teatro la Fenice in Venice at a special awards ceremony on 28th June. The prize is…

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More dates for 4.48 Psychose in Dresden

June 24, 2019

 Semperoper in Dresden have announced more dates next season for their production of 4.48 Psychose.  The opera had its german premiere run in Semper Zwei in April/May this year, with sold-out performances.  The dates next season will be 7th,…

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Denis & Katya announced

June 19, 2019

My new latest music theatre piece, Denis & Katya, has been announced for its premiere production with the lead commissioner Opera Philadelphia.  The work has been conceived and written with my long-time collaborator, Ted Huffman.  It is pseudo-documentary music theatre, taking a…

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Featured composer at PLUG Festival

April 18, 2019

From 6th—10th May, I will be the featured composer at the PLUG Festival, a contemporary music festival at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. The PLUG Festival predominantly features the work of student composers from the conservatoire in an…

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Rave reviews for 4.48 Psychosis in NYC

January 28, 2019

4.48 Psychosis made its american premiere in New York City a few weeks ago at the Prototype Festival. The exceptional cast, orchestra and crew gave six performances of the Royal Opera production (directed by Ted Huffman) over eight days in…

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Residency at Watermill Center, NY

September 12, 2018

I have been awarded a month-long residency at the Watermill Center in the Hamptons, NY, in January 2019.  I will take up the residency with Ted Huffman, and together we will spend the month working on our new opera, Denis &…

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American debut of 4.48 Psychosis in NYC

September 12, 2018

The Royal Opera production of 4.48 Psychosis will make its american debut in New York City on 5th January 2019, headlining the Prototype Festival.  Prototype is North America’s largest promoter of new opera and music theatre, and their January showcase festival…

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Riot Ensemble plays Illusions and Numbers 91–95

September 3, 2018

The Riot Ensemble is performing two pieces of mine, Illusions and Numbers 91–95, at Kings Place on Monday 17th September as part of the new ‘Luminate’ series.  It’s a semi-portrait concerto, with other composers Sarah Nemtsov, Lee Hyla and Helga Arias Parra also featured….

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Successful premiere for ‘Venables plays Bartók’ at the BBC Proms

September 3, 2018

Venables plays Bartók, my new violin concerto written for Pekka Kuusisto, received a warm response at its premiere at the BBC Proms on Friday 17th August, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sakari Oramo.  A huge thanks to Pekka, Sakari, the…

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‘Venables plays Bartók’ for BBC Proms

May 4, 2018

The BBC Proms announced their 2018 Festival a few weeks ago, including a new violin concerto that I’m writing for Pekka Kuusisto and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.  The piece will be performed in the Proms on 17th August 2018, conducted…

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Semperoper announces 4.48 Psychose

March 8, 2018

4.48 Psychose will gets its premiere at Dresden’s Semperoper Zwei next year.  This will be a new version of 4.48 Psychosis in German, based on the official translation of Sarah Kane’s play by Durs Grünbein.  The premiere will take place…

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Below The Belt

February 6, 2018

My debut album, Below the Belt, is now available for pre-ordering via NMC here. The disc will be launched on 16th March 2018.  The works on the disc are: The Revenge of Miguel Cotto, Klaviertrio im Geiste, Numbers 76–80, Numbers…

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British Composer Award for 4.48 Psychosis

December 8, 2017

On Wednesday night, I won the British Composer Award for Best Stage Work, for 4.48 Psychosis.  The awards, organised by BASCA and supported by the PRS for Music Foundation and BBC Radio 3, were held at the British Museum.  Other…

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