Philip Venables

Denis & Katya announced

19 June 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

18 April 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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Press images of 4.48 Psychosis in New York City by Paula Court

2 February 2019

Some production images from the Prototype Festival / Royal Opera production of 4.48 Psychosis, January 2019. Directed by Ted Huffman, Design by Hannah Clark, Video by Pierre Martin, Light by D.M. Wood, Sound by Sound Intermedia and Fight Direction by…

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Rave reviews for 4.48 Psychosis in NYC

28 January 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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Profile by Tim Rutherford-Johnson

18 September 2018

This profile by Tim Rutherford-Johnson (pictured above, photo by Anton Lukoszevieze) is adapted from a profile that first appeared in a programme-book for the BBC Proms 2018, for the premiere of Venables plays Bartók. Please contact Tim directly via his…

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Residency at Watermill Center, NY

12 September 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

12 September 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

3 September 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

3 September 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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Press images of 4.48 Psychosis / Royal Opera by Stephen Cummiskey

7 July 2018

Some production images from the revival of the Royal Opera production of 4.48 Psychosis, May 2018. Directed by Ted Huffman, Design by Hannah Clark, Video by Pierre Martin, Light by D.M. Wood, Sound by Sound Intermedia. The performers featured in…

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Outstanding reviews for the revival of 4.48 Psychosis

1 June 2018

The recent performances of the Royal Opera production of 4.48 Psychosis have come to an end. We didn’t expect much press for a revival, of course, but the reviews there have been have been outstanding. The performances took place at…

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‘Venables plays Bartók’ for BBC Proms

4 May 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

8 March 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

6 February 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 91-95,Metamorphoses after Britten,Illusions….

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Ricordi press photos by Harald Hoffmann

2 January 2018

Here are press photos of Philip Venables, copyright Harald Hoffmann. They were taken in April 2017 for Ricordi Musikverlag to coincide with my signing a contract with them. They can be used for promotional use with the appropriate credit. Click…

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British Composer Award for 4.48 Psychosis

8 December 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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London dates announced for revival of 4.48 Psychosis

25 October 2017

Dates for revival performances of 4.48 Psychosis have been announced by the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith and the Royal Opera.  The production, which premiered in 2016 at the Lyric Theatre, co-produced by the Royal Opera and the Guildhall School of Music…

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Laura sings Olkahoma! at Manchester Opera Project

20 July 2017

My ongoing collaboration with performer and composer Laura Bowler and director Patrick Eakin Young is being shown as a ‘work in progress’ at Manchester Opera Project on 27th July at Halle St Peter’s in Manchester. This project has been developed…

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Installation on Canal Street in Manchester International Festival

20 July 2017

My collaboration with David Hoyle for Manchester International Festival played every hour of every day on Canal Street through the whole of MIF 2017 – a total of 204 plays!  It was recorded with the brass of Manchester Camerata and…

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Illusions at Hull City of Culture and Royal Festival Hall

20 July 2017

Illusions, my collaboration with performance artist David Hoyle, was premiered in its new extended version at Hull 2017 City of Culture on 2nd July as part of the PRS Foundation New Music Biennial.  The following week it was performed at…

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