Philip Venables

List of Works

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OPERA / MUSIC THEATRE

> We Are The Lucky Ones (forthcoming)

Year: 2025
Duration: c.90 minutes, no interval.
Text: Nina Segal and Ted Huffman, based on interviews with c.70 people around Europe born in the 1940s.
Cast: S.S.M-S.A.T.T.Bar.Bass + Orchestra.
Commissioners: Dutch National Opera with the Ruhrtriennale.
World Premiere: 14th March 2025, Dutch National Opera, Amsterdam.

> The Faggots and their Friends Between Revolutions

Year: 2023
Duration: c.90 minutes, no interval, in two parts.
Text: Ted Huffman, based on the book of the same name by Larry Mitchell and Ned Asta, courtesy of Nightboat Books. Text in English.
Cast: A flexible ensemble cast of multi-skilled performers. The first production used 15 performers, including S.MS.A.T.T.Bar, and instruments: Violin, Viola da Gamba, Saxophone (Sop.Alto.Bari), Flute (+Picc+Alto), Piano, Harpsichord, Accordion, Theorbo / Archlute, Lever Harp, Hammond Organ, various percussion, learner violins for the cast, penny whistles, harmonica, etc.
Commissioners: Factory International for Manchester International Festival, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Bregenzer Festspiele, NYU Skirrball, Ruhrtriennale, Southbank Centre, in association with the Holland Festival.
World Premiere: 29th June 2023, HOME Theatre, Manchester UK.
Published by Ricordi

Denis & Katya

Winner of the 2019 Fedora Generali Prize for Opera and the Ivor Novello Award for Stage Works
Year: 2019
Duration: 65 minutes, no interval, in two parts.
Text: Ted Huffman / Co-creator: Ksenia Ravvina
Text is in English.  French and German versions are available from Ricordi.
Cast: Mezzo-Soprano, Baritone (with in-ear monitors)
Ensemble: Four cellos (playing from iPads, unconducted, with in-ear monitors) + amplification, surround sound dispersion, recorded sound & video.
Commissioners: Opera Philadelphia, Music Theatre Wales, Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier.
World Premiere: 18th September 2019, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Philadelphia, USA.
Premiere (French version): 26th July 2021, Opéra Comédie, Montpellier, France.
Archive video available on request.
Published by Ricordi
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4.48 Psychosis

Winner of the 2016 UK Theatre Award for Opera, the 2017 Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Large-scale Composition and the 2017 British Composer Award for Stage Works.
Shortlisted for an Olivier Award and Sky Arts South Bank Award.
Year: 2016
Duration: 90 minutes, no interval, in 24 short scenes.
Text: Sarah Kane
Text is in English.  A German version (4.48 Psychose) is available from Ricordi. Translation by Dürs Grünbein,
Cast: 3 sopranos, 3 mezzo-sopranos
Ensemble: 12 players: a.fl+picc, 3sax(all sop+bar), pno+synth+organ pedalboard, accordion, 2perc (solo roles, some memorisation), vln+vla, 2vla, bass.
Amplification, surround sound dispersion, recorded sound & video required.
Commissioners: Royal Opera House ,  Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Commissioners (4.48 Psychose; German version): Semperoper Dresden
World Premiere: 24th May 2016, Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, London, The Royal Opera, Richard Baker.
Premiere (4.48 Psychose; German version): 26th April 2019 in Dresden.
Archive video available on request.
Published by Ricordi
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The Big History of Little England

The entire history of England in 12 minutes: a short opera for young children / primary school groups to perform
Year: 2017
Duration: 12 minutes
Text: Ted Huffman
Cast: 1 group of children (ages 8 to 12), minimum around 20. Some opportunities for stand-out solos, etc. Includes pre-recorded text.
Ensemble: piano, trumpet, and one string player who also operates sound cues to stereo playback.
Commissioner: Mahogany Opera Group
More information
Self-published: contact for information or purchase.

ORCHESTRAL

Venables plays Bartók

Violin Concerto
Year: 2018
Duration: 31’
Text: Philip Venables / Rudolph Botta (in english)
Ensemble: solo violin, tape (stereo) and orchestra
(2.2.2.2 / 4.2.2.1 / piano.timp.3perc.soundcue operator / min:12.10.8.6.4).
Commissioners: BBC Symphony Orchestra / BBC Radio 3
World Premiere: 17th August 2018, BBC Proms, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pekka Kuusisto (violin), Sakari Oramo.
Published by Ricordi
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ENSEMBLE

> Game Show Music

A tool kit of incidental music for a TV or Game Show
Year: 2020
Duration: various / flexible
Ensemble: picc/flute, alto/baritone sax, trumpet, trombone, piano, percussion(1 or 2), 2 violins, viola, bass
Commissioner: Bayerische Staatsoper
Premiere: used for ‘Playing Animal Farm’. Nationaltheater Weimar, 29th April 2023, Regie: Anna Weber.
Published by Ricordi
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Illusions

Year: 2017
Duration: 14’
Text / Video Performance: David Hoyle
Ensemble: video projection and stereo sound and nine players:  picc.bsax / tpt.tbn / pf.perc (BD.whistle.tgl) / vn.va.cb
Commissioners: London Sinfonietta / New Music Biennial
World Premiere: 2nd June 2017, New Music Biennial / Hull City of Culture, London Sinfonietta, Richard Baker
Published by Ricordi
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Fight music

Year: 2009
Duration: 5’
Ensemble: Eight players: fl.cl / tpt.tbn / pf.perc(1) / vc.cb
(Version available for six players on request: fl.cl / pf.perc(1) / vn.vc )
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Published by UYMP

Klaviertrio im Geiste

Year: 2011
Duration: 12’
for piano trio (violin, cello, piano)
Published by Ricordi
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K

A prelude to Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet K581
Year: 2010
Duration: 6’
Ensemble: clarinet and string quartet
Published by UYMP
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VOCAL / SPOKEN WORD

The Revenge of Miguel Cotto

Year: 2012
Duration: 15’
Text: Steven J. Fowler
Ensemble: London Sinfonietta
Instrumentation: two male vocalists and nine players: 3tbn / acc.2perc(punchbags) / 3vln
World Premiere: 16th May 2012, London Sinfonietta, Richard Baker, Leigh Melrose, Alex Baker.
Published by Ricordi
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numbers 81–85; numbers 96–100

Year: 2021
Duration: 20’ (12′ + 8′)
Text: Simon Howard
Ensemble: Mezzo-soprano (F3–A5), alto flute, clarinet, string trio.
Commissioner: Festival d’Automne à Paris, Festival Musica Strasbourg, Collectif Lovemusic
World Premiere: 1st October 2021, Festival Musica, Cité de la Musique et de la Danse, Strasbourg, France.
Published by Ricordi
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numbers 76–80 : tristan und isolde

Year: 2011
Duration: 13’
Text: Simon Howard
Ensemble: Four voices (SATB) and string quartet
Published by Ricordi
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numbers 91–95

Year: 2011
Duration: 9’
Text: Simon Howard
Ensemble: speaker and two tape recorders, harp, flute and woodblock
(speaker need not be a trained vocalist.  This could be performed by an instrumentalist.)
(harp part can be substituted for piano)
Published by Ricordi
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Alice

Year: 2018
Duration: 5’
Text: Ted Huffman
Ensemble: male voice and piano
Self-published: contact for information or purchase.

A Photograph

Year: 2020
Duration: 7’
Text: Cordelia Lynn
Ensemble: female voice, clarinet, harp, double bass.
Self-published: contact for information or purchase.

SOLO/DUO

Naomo Pinnetuo

Year: 2022
Duration: 2′
for solo violin
Self-published: contact for information or purchase.

Answer Machine Tape, 1987

after David Wojnarowicz
Year: 2022
Duration: 45’
for solo piano with MIDI detection, Projector and Tape.
Published by Ricordi
Score available soon

My Favourite Piece is the Goldberg Variations

Year: 2021
Duration: 23’
for solo accordion (also speaking/singing)
Published by Ricordi
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Metamorphoses after Britten

Year: 2010
Duration: 8’
for solo oboe (versions available for saxophone and bassoon)
Published by UYMP
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Piano Studies

Year: 2006-2011
Duration: 17’
for solo piano
Published by Ricordi
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Flipp

Year: 2011
Duration 3’
Ensemble: two saxophones of the same type
Published by Ricordi
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INSTALLATION / SOUND ART

Venables plays Bach

Year: 2021
Duration: 76-minute loop.
for forty-two small speakers in a church or very resonant acoustic. Made for l’Église de Saint Eustache in Paris, with and for the Festival d’Automne à Paris, 7–16 October 2021.
Self-published: contact for more information

Canal Street

Year: 2017
Duration: 10’
for seven-channel outdoor sound installation. Made for Canal Street in Manchester, for Manchester International Festival 2017. A collaboration with David Hoyle and Manchester Camerata.
Self-published: contact for more information