by Ben Hogwood Photo of Glass by WNYC New York Public Radio, used from Wikipedia
On this day in 2005, the world premiere of the Symphony no.8 by Philip Glass took place. Generally the symphony has not been a form to fire the imagination of minimalist composers – Steve Reich, for instance, has not written one – but Glass has found a way of integrating symphonic thought and form with subtly repetitive figures.
The Eighth is a more exploratory, chromatic work in three movements, a substantial piece lasting nearly 40 minutes. Here it is with the performers from the premiere, the Bruckner Orchestra Linz conducted by Dennis Russell Davies:
To mark the 1st of November, here is the highly atmospheric tone poem that Sir Arnold Bax completed in 1917. November Woods is one of his most effective works, though in spite of its evocative title Bax said it “may be taken as an impression of the dank and stormy music of nature in the late autumn, but the whole piece and its origins are connected with certain rather troubled experiences I was going through myself at the time….”
You can enjoy it below in a performance with the Ulster Orchestra conducted by Bax specialist, the late Vernon Handley:
Published post no.2,705 – Saturday 1 November 2025
Ólafur Arnalds’OPIA label announcesits third collaborative compilation. Following an open call that drew nearly 60 submissions, the label invited composers from around the world to team up and create new works together, often working across continents, time zones, and genres.
The theme of collaboration guided the project, encouraging artists to combine their ideas, styles, and perspectives to create unique musical dialogues.
The resulting 10-track collection is a deeply atmospheric journey through neo-classical, ambient, electronic, and experimental soundscapes. Each piece reflects a meeting of minds, where ideas evolved through shared sessions, remote file-trading, and creative dialogue. The compilation captures the beauty of collaboration, the moments where different voices merge into something unexpected, intimate, and resonant.
Featuring artists from countries such as Chile, Norway, France, UK, Australia, US, Poland, and India, the release highlights the truly global nature of the OPIA community. Even the cover art was sourced from within the community, with JJ Studios contributing the evocative artwork that ties the project together.
The full compilation will be released 13th November, inviting listeners to slow down and immerse themselves in a cross-continental conversation between composers.
The immersive and cinematic Only Know by ENGRANE and Lara Frank blends dark ambient textures with atmospheric electronic pop, evoking the rhythmic pull and mystery of the ocean. Male and female vocals entwine across synths, deep bass, and intricate percussion, creating a haunting yet emotionally resonant dialogue. With rich production and a sense of vastness, the track invites listeners into a deep, introspective soundscape shaped by nature’s ebb and flow.
Born from a transatlantic collaboration, ENGRANE (Berlin) and Lara Frank (Nashville) connected through the OPIA music community, drawn together by a shared affinity for emotive, atmospheric sound design. Working remotely across continents, they exchanged ideas and layers over multiple sessions, allowing the track to evolve organically. Lara’s evocative soundscapes and ENGRANE’s detailed production merged seamlessly, resulting in a piece that captures both the intimacy of creative connection and a broader call to reconnect with the natural world.
About OPIA: Born out of Ólafur Arnalds’ desire to create an environment that encourages experiments and collaboration, OPIA is focused on strengthening the scene where modern-classical music meets electronic and beyond.
A three-pronged entity, OPIA is a travelling festival series, a record label and a community hub fostering a variety of conversations and initiatives. https://www.opiacommunity.com/
Published post no.2,704 – Thursday 31 October 2025
Dorothea Röschmann, soprano & Joseph Middleton, piano Saturday 1 November 2025, 7.30pm Bliss Song Series, Pembroke Auditorium, Cambridge
Don’t miss this exceptional recital by Grammy Award-winning soprano Dorothea Röschmann and world-renowned pianist Joseph Middleton, featuring an evocative programme of Schubert, Brahms, Schoenberg and Weill.
Celebrated for her “superbly expressive and richly coloured” voice (The Guardian), Röschmann is one of the most compelling recitalists of her generation. Her artistry brings rare emotional depth to repertoire ranging from the Romantic to the cabaret-influenced songs of 20th-century Berlin. She is joined by Joseph Middleton, praised by The New York Times as “the perfect accompanist” and Artistic Director of the Bliss Song Series—the East of England’s leading platform for song.
Experience two of the world’s finest recital artists in an evening of profound storytelling, wit, and beauty.
Here they are in concert at the Leeds Lieder Festival in 2022:
Their program on Saturday is as follows:
SCHUBERT
Romanze aus Rosamunde
Des Mädchens Klage
Auf dem Wasser zu singen
Der Tod und das Mädchen
Die junge Nonne
Nachtstück
Nacht und Träume
Der Zwerg
BRAHMS
Vier ernste Gesänge
– Interval –
SCHOENBERG
Galathea
Gigerlette
Der genugsame Liebhaber
Mahnung
Arie aus dem Spiegel von Arkaien
KURT WEILL
Berlin im Licht
Je ne t’aime pas
Klops Lied
Nana’s Lied
Youkali
🎟 Student tickets: £5 + £2.50 booking fee
Pre-concert talk: 6.45pm Dr Jane Hines, specialist in German Romantic poetry, Gonville & Caius College Dr Jane Hines | Gonville & Caius
Published post no.2,703 – Thursday 30 October 2025
Today marks 70 years since the first performance of a Shostakovich masterpiece. The Violin Concerto no.1 in A minor Op.77/99 received its premiere at the hands of its dedicatee, David Oistrakh, with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yevgeny Mravinsky.
Here it is from one of its most passionate recent exponents, Maxim Vengerov taking the solo part with the Novosibirsk State Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Thomas Sanderling:
Published post no.2,702 – Wednesday 29 October 2025
Arcana.fm 