Sir Harrison Birtwistle
*15.07.1934

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Sir Harrison Birtwistle
Love Cries | from the opera "The Second Mrs. Kong" | for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and orchestra

Work Details
Year of composition: 1994/1999
Subtitle: from the opera "The Second Mrs. Kong"
Scored for: for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and orchestra
Composer: Sir Harrison Birtwistle
Arranger: Michael Berkeley
Text Author: Russell Hoban
Soloinstruments/Soloists: soprano; mezzo-soprano; tenor
Instrumentation: 2 2 2 2 - 4 2 0 2 - perc(3), cimb, acc, sax(2), str(32 0 12 12 8)
Instrumentation details: 1. fl (+ Afl, picc), 2. fl (+ picc), 1. ob, 2. ob (+ c.a), 1. cl(Bb) (+ cl(Eb), cl(A)), 2. cl(Bb) (+ cl(Eb), bass cl(Bb)), alto sax (+ bar.sax, soprano sax), tenor sax, 1. bs, 2. bs (+ cbsn), 4 hr(F), 1. tpt(C) (+ kltpt), 2. tpt(C) (+ kltpt), 2 tuba, perc(3), cimb, acc, str (32 0 12 12 8)
Commissioned by: Commissioned by BBC from Michael Berkeley
Duration (min): 40
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Licensing: Licensing Request
World Première
Location: Royal Festival Hall London / Great Britain
Date: 29.04.1999
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Martyn Brabbins
Main Soloists: Valdine Anderson, S, Susan Bickley, MezzoS, Peter Bronder, T
Work Introduction

Love Cries is derived from Birtwistle's 1994 opera, The Second Mrs Kong, first performed in Glyndebourne, in just the same way that the orchestral Gawain's Journey related to its predecessor. Three love duets form the pivots of the two-act structure of Mrs Kong, and they are the core of this [...]

Reviews

"Rarely can a shattering multi-layered orchestral tutti (exotically coloured with cimbalom, saxophones and accordion) have been so relentlessly sustained and to such passionate and expressive effect."

Sunday Times, May 9th 1999

 

"Love Cries is new and yet not quite new. It is music [...]

2 Ensembles that have played this work: