Birmingham Contemporary Music Group : Blossoming

‘Winter departing, the new blossoming, a delightful mystery beyond its mere outer appeal, always seems to tell us something more about life. Our programme puts special focus on Japanese composers, the land of the rising sun, with such a strong tradition of celebrating (cherry) blossom: Toshio Hosokawa going up close to the opening flower, as if catching the sound world of its spreading leaves; Dai Fujikura mixing eternity with sensuality of the moment. Eternal youth seems to be captured by György Ligeti, whose centenary we celebrate in May 2023; his second string quartet isn’t too far from his 2001 A Space Odyssey movie soundtrack contribution’.

The programme, live in the Theatre at Arnolfini from 4pm, will be:

Toshio Hosokawa (* 1955) – Blossoming (2007, 15’), string quartet

Charlotte Bray (* 1982) – Beyond (2013, 4’), cello solo

Dai Fujikura (* 1977) – Perpetual Spring (2017, 10‘), clarinet and string quartet

György Ligeti (1923 – 2006) – String Quartet No. 2 (1968, 20’)

There will also be an extra pop-up performance in our gallery spaces with Garry Fabian Miller’s ADORE as backdrop. From 3pm:

Dai Fujikura (* 1977) – Sakana (2007, 10’), clarinet solo

Hollie Harding – motion (2018, 6’), cello solo