2017-18 seasonA fantastic season

of new music from the heart of Manchester

A northern powerhouse The Times

HALLÉ ST PETER’S · PSAPPHA AT ST MICHAEL’S THE STOLLER HALL · THE WHITWORTH · MEDIACITYUK

www.psappha.com

Working with living, breathing composers has been at the centre of what we do for the last 26 years. From the heart of Manchester we have commissioned and performed many hundreds of works and have seen composers develop and flourish. We have toured and performed throughout the world and have brought back many gems, introducing some of the world’s best composers to our Manchester audience. This season is no exception. From our Ancoats base and across the city we will perform music that will thrill, challenge and intrigue you. Thirteen works receive their first public performance and we bring two works from the US to the UK for the first time. In particular we celebrate the music of female composers and, through a series of collaborations, we connect music with film, art and photography.We look forward to welcoming you to our season.Tim Williams

Artistic Director

The John S Cohen Foundation

Welcome to Psappha’s 2017-18 season

Psappha is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and a PRS for Music Foundation Talent Development Partner

The Garrick Charitable Trust

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Penelope A meditation on memory, identity, and what it means to come home

Molly Joyce Rave (UK première) Anna Clyne Steelworks Sarah Kirkland Snider Penelope (UK première)*

Richard Balcombe – conductor* Jessica Walker – vocalist* Psappha Ensemble

Three striking works from brilliant US-based composers.A woman’s husband appears at her door after an absence of twenty years. A veteran of an unnamed war, he doesn’t know who he is and she doesn’t know who he’s become. While they wait together for his return to himself, she reads him The Odyssey, and in the journey of that book she finds a way into his memory and the terror and trauma of war. Suspended somewhere between art song, indie rock, and chamber folk, the music of Penelope moves from moments of elegiac reflection to dusky post-rock textures in a meditation on memory, identity, and what it means to come home.Rave gives the impression of impossible virtuosity, transforming the piano into a multi-dimensional piano/organ hybrid. Giving a fascinating glimpse into a disappearing world, the music of Steelworks interacts with film and with recorded interviews of employees at the last steelworks factory in Brooklyn.

Tickets range from £6.50 - £17.50 (including concessions). Please see back page for details.

Thursday 26 October 2017 at 7.30pm Hallé St Peter’s

New Music North West Festival A special concert with Psappha and the BBC Philharmonic, showcasing talented North West composers

David Horne Resonating Instruments Tom Coult Two Games and a Nocturne

Psappha Ensemble

Laura Bowler 3811 Nautical Miles Larry Goves New Work Mario Duarte Metztli Grace-Evangeline Mason Kintsukouroi

BBC Philharmonic Mark Heron - conductor

Resonating Instruments is rhapsodic and volatile, entwining the ensemble around a solo cimbalom. “An absorbing work” - The Times.Two Games and a Nocturne alternates skittish piano solos with bluesy jamboree in a work that, in Coult’s own words, “does what it says on the tin” with its two playful games followed by a gently swaying night-time reverie.In this joint concert with the BBC Philharmonic we give well-deserved second performances of two of Psappha 25th anniversary commissions.

Tickets for this performance are free but must be booked in advance. Please see back page for details.

Part of the New Music North West Festival

Tuesday 14 November 2017 at 7.30pm The Studios, MediaCityUK

Wonderland Music inspired by fantasy, surrealism and Led Zeppelin

Mark-Anthony Turnage Grazioso! Richard Whalley Wonderland Mark-Anthony Turnage Slide Stride Brian Elias Geranos Philip Cashian Leonora Pictures (World première)*

Nicholas Kok – conductor Psappha Ensemble

Leonora Pictures takes inspiration from the fantastical characters and landscapes of Lancashire-born surrealist artist Leonora Carrington. This piece was written to showcase Psappha’s virtuosic musicians.Geranos imagines Theseus’ dance after his escape from the Minotaur with music that mirrors the mazes of the Labyrinth while Wonderland celebrates the miracle of nature. The programme also features works by Mark-Anthony Turnage inspired by Led Zeppelin’s guitarist and the extrovert jazz of Fats Waller.

*Philip Cashian’s new work is supported by the PRS for Music Foundation Composers’ Fund.

Tickets range from £5.50 - £16 (including concessions). Please see back page for details.

Part of the New Music North West Festival

Psappha: Demystifying New Music

6pm – film portrait of composer Brian Elias – free to ticket holders.

Learn more before you see it played. Come early, get a drink and settle into your seats for a special screening of Barrie Gavin’s documentary film portrait of a remarkable artist and his inspiration.

Friday 17 November 2017 at 7.30pm Psappha at St Michael’s

Caught in Treetops Showcasing a new generation of talent

Charlotte Bray Caught in Treetops* Anna Clyne Paint Box Robert Reid Allan The Palace of Light Lucy Armstrong Space Adventure Michael Cryne In Cloud Light Will Frampton The Greening Variations Bethan Morgan-Williams In Kenopsia James Williamson Fault-Klang

*Benedict Holland – violin Psappha Ensemble

The life-changing effects of the atomic bomb are explored in Anna Clyne’s immersive soundscape which combines recorded voice, breathing and other sound loops with a sonorous cello line.Bound together by a sense of mystery and a relentless energy Charlotte Bray’s work for solo violin and ensemble responds to two contrasting lunar poems. The concert also showcases the next generation of talent with our pick of the best works from Psappha’s emerging composer schemes.

Tickets range from £5.50 - £16 (including concessions). Please see back page for details.

Thursday 15 February 2018 at 7.30pm Psappha at St Michael’s

Psappha: Demystifying New Music

Pre-concert talk – 6.40pm – free to ticket holders

Learn more before you see it played. Come early, get a drink and settle into your seats for a special talk that will introduce you to the composers and the inspiration behind the music we perform tonight.

Boulez - Le Marteau sans maître A twentieth century classic

Takemitsu Towards the Sea Tom Harrold New Work (World première)* Berio Naturale Boulez Le Marteau sans maître

Jamie Phillips – conductor Psappha Ensemble

Meaning The Hammer without a master, Boulez’ iconic work is a classic of the twentieth century whose sonority and sense of time and direction were profoundly influenced by music from Asia and Africa. Rising star Tom Harrold’s new work has been commissioned by Psappha to complement the Boulez.Berio’s Naturale pairs live musicians with recordings of Sicilian street vendors highlighting the contrast between flowing folk melodies and the raw, unpolished voice of the street singer. Takemitsu’s Towards the Sea recalls the ebb and flow of the ocean and was commissioned by the Greenpeace Foundation for their Save the Whale campaign.

*The Tom Harrold commission is supported by the Fidelio Charitable Trust.

Tickets range from £5.50 - £16 (including concessions). Please see back page for details.

Thursday 22 March 2018 at 7.30pm Psappha at St Michael’s

Psappha: Demystifying New Music

6pm - Barrie Gavin’s 2005 film: Pierre Boulez: Living in the Present – free to ticket holders.

Learn more before you see it played. Come early, get a drink and settle into your seats for a special screening of this intimate portrait of a remarkable artist and his inspiration.

A Wonderful Day Psappha joins forces with the best jazz guitarist this side of the Atlantic

Anna Clyne A Wonderful Day Fausto Romitelli Amok Koma Mike Walker New Work (World première)* Steven Mackey Deal

Stephen Barlow – conductor Mike Walker – electric guitar Iain Dixon – reeds Psappha Ensemble

We explore the connections between jazz, rock and classical. The centerpiece is a new work by the renowned jazz guitarist and composer Mike Walker. Psappha is joined by Mike and reeds player Iain Dixon in a piece that combines classical music with the improvisation and rhythmic drive of jazz. Mike also joins us as the soloist in Steven Mackey’s Deal, which intertwines rock and classical.Romitelli’s palindromic work draws inspiration from German punk rock while Clyne’s A Wonderful Day features a recording of a Chicago street musician whose natural, slow voice conveys a sense of both joy and struggle.

*Mike Walker’s new work is supported by Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts programme.

Tickets range from £15 - £20 (including concessions). Please see back page for details.

Friday 20 April 2018 at 7.30pm The Stoller Hall

Here and Now Take a tour of The Whitworth art gallery through music and art

Judd Greenstein Plan of the City Michael Gandolfi History of the World in Seven Acts David Fennessy 5 Hofer Photographs

Psappha Ensemble

A unique event where visual art and music sit side by side, sparking your imagination and enticing you to look again, with new eyes. Showcasing four new pieces inspired by The Whitworth collection, Psappha invites you on a musical adventure through the gallery, stopping off along the way to experience each new work performed live by world-class musicians. Film, photos and animation also inspire the rest of our programme. Played alongside Joshua Frankel’s award-winning film, Plan of the City imagines the architecture of New York blasting off into outer space and resettling on Mars!5 Hofer Photographs takes inspiration from Evelyn Hofer’s eclectic photos of 1960s Dublin which will be projected as part of the performance, and History of the World in Seven Acts prompts the viewer/listener to experience the natural ebb and flow between colourful geometric animation and music.

This performance, supported by Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts programme, is promoted by Rachel Swanick as part of the Here and Now wellbeing project.

Tickets range from £5.50 - £16 (including concessions). Please see back page for details.

Thursday 17 May 2018 at 6.30pm The Whitworth

Support Psappha As a charity Psappha relies on funding from individuals, businesses, and Trusts - please support us.

In the past 26 years we have supported many hundreds of composers and inspired audiences across the world with new music made in the heart of Manchester by world-class musicians.

Now resident at St Michael’s in Ancoats Psappha is a charity (no.1064129) and relies on public and private support to flourish. There has never been a better time to donate as Arts Council England, through its Catalyst Evolve scheme, will match your donation pound for pound. Please consider becoming a Patron to help cement the future of our ambitious and dynamic organisation.

To find out about our Patrons offer please visit our website: www.psappha.com and click on Support Psappha.

Watch and Listen High quality films of Psappha’s performances are available to view (for free!) through our website and YouTube channel. We have over 140 films of live performances given by Psappha featuring music by composers at all stages of their careers. You can also find introductions to works and mini-documentaries to enjoy. Last year over 44,000 people watched our YouTube channel making us one of Europe’s leading providers of new music online.

Hallé St Peter’s 40 Blossom Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 6BFHallé St Peter’s is a performance, rehearsal and recording venue in Ancoats, Manchester.The building is a Grade 2 listed deconsecrated church which was built in 1859. By the time the Hallé acquired St Peter’s, the building had stood empty for decades. It has now been redeveloped and restored to its former glory and is a light, airy and beautiful space. Hallé St Peter’s is behind the old Daily Express Building and is a 10 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria train stations. On-street parking is free in Ancoats after 6pm.

Psappha at St Michael’s 36 – 38 George Leigh Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 5DGSt Michael’s is Psappha’s home for rehearsals, recordings and intimate performances. We’ve been resident at St Michael’s for 3 years and have enjoyed watching the redevelopment and revival of the area. St Michael’s is a deconsecrated church which was founded in 1858 and was the heart of the Little Italy community. Like Hallé St Peter’s, St Michael’s is behind the old Daily Express Building and is a 10 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria train stations. On-street parking is free in Ancoats after 6pm.

The Stoller Hall Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3 1DAThe Stoller Hall is part of Chetham’s School of Music and opened its doors in April 2017. The Hall’s stunning architecture resulted in a national RIBA Award, when it was named one of the 49 best new buildings in the country. Acoustics by Arup have set a standard described by Robert Beale for the Arts Desk as “deliver(ing) the music as if every hearer is in the conductor’s shoes.”The Stoller Hall is located directly opposite Manchester Victoria station, within easy reach of all main train, bus, tram and road links. Audience access is via Hunt’s Bank, with the front doors facing Manchester Arena.

The Whitworth The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ERThe Whitworth is a walk, bike ride or bus journey from Manchester city centre, and close to Manchester Museum and The University of Manchester campus. On foot it’s a 20-30 minute walk from Manchester city centre. For cyclists Sheffield stands and lockers are available. On-street parking (maximum stay 2 hours) on Denmark Road. Nearest car park Cecil Street (M15 6GD).

The Studios MediaCityUK, Salford Quays, Salford, M50 2EQThe Studios is the BBC Philharmonic’s purpose-built venue where the orchestra performs, rehearses and records. It is a 2 minute walk from MediaCityUK Metrolink tram stop, which connects to the city centre and the rail network. It is a 2 minute drive from the motorway network (M602) and a 10 minute drive from Manchester city centre. Parking is available in The Garage, a multi-storey carpark (access from Broadway).

Venue Information

Information and Booking Links to tickets sales for all performances can be found on our events page www.psappha.com Psappha offers full price and concessionary tickets. Concessionary tickets are available to students, under 18s and disabled people.If you need help please email hello@psappha.com or phone 0161 434 0854

Hallé St Peter’s, Psappha at St Michael’s and The Whitworth Tickets for these performances are for sale online through www.Skiddle.com (search on Psappha) or through Psappha’s website www.psappha.comWe reward people who book early - the earlier you book, the lower the ticket price. Early bird tickets are on sale until 3 weeks before the performance Early bird tickets for St Peter’s performance (booking fees apply): £12.50 (£6.50 concessions)Early bird tickets for St Michael’s and Whitworth performances (booking fees apply): £10.50 (£5.50 concessions)Advanced purchase tickets are on sale until 2 hours before the performance Advanced tickets for St Peter’s performance (booking fees apply): £14.50 (£8 concessions)Advanced tickets for St Michael’s and Whitworth performances (booking fees apply): £13 (£7.50 concessions)Tickets are also available on the door (subject to availability). We accept cash and card payments On the door tickets for St Peter’s performance: £17.50 (£10 concessions) On the door tickets for St Michael’s and Whitworth performances £16 (£9 concessions)

The Stoller Hall, Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3 1DA Tickets are available from the Stoller Hall box office. There is a link for online sales on Psappha’s website www.psappha.com. You can book in person - The Stoller Hall box office is open from 1-2.30pm, Monday to Friday, or 1 hour prior to each concert. By phone call 0333 130 0967 from 2-4pm Monday to Friday. Tickets bought online or by phone are subject to a booking fee. If you buy your ticket in person booking fees do not apply.We reward people who book early - the first 100 tickets for this performance will be at the early bird rate.Early bird tickets (booking fees might apply - see above) £17.50 (£15 concessions)Standard tickets (booking fees might apply - see above) £20 (£17.50 concessions)

MediaCityUK Performance Tickets for this performance are free but must be booked in advance through www.Skiddle.com (search on Psappha) or through Psappha’s website www.psappha.com. Tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis and are not available on the door.

Artists, programmes and venues are correct at time of going to press but they may be subject to change.

Psappha is a Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England number 3242428. Registered Charity number 1064129

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