Mark-Anthony Turnage is to write a new orchestral work, inspired by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, that will be premiered at the BBC Proms 2013.
Frieze has been commissioned by Radio 3, the New York Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Society – the body that originally commissioned Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
The work is an orchestral piece and will receive its world premiere at the hands of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYO) conducted by Vasily Petrenko. It will be performed alongside Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, for which the NYO will be joined by the National Youth Choir of Great Britain.
‘I’ve been obsessed with Beethoven from the age of eight,’ said Turnage. ‘What a joy, therefore, to be asked by the RPS to write a piece inspired by Beethoven’s great symphony. Beethoven is a towering figure, but I find him more inspiring than intimidating.’
The Royal Philharmonic Society is 200 this year and will be celebrating with a raft of events throughout 2013. Today (24 January) marks the exact birthday of the society and Tugan Sokhiev will conduct a special concert in London’s Royal Festival Hall to mark the occasion. The concert, which includes works by Mendelssohm, Brahms and Dvorak, will be broadcast live on Radio 3 from 7.30pm.
Last year, Turnage also marked a birthday at the Proms, when his Canon Fever, commissioned by BBC Music Magazine for our 20th anniversary, opened the entire season.