Milton Court showcases artistic partnership between Barbican and Guildhall School in 2019/20

Since its opening in September 2013, Guildhall School’s Milton Court Concert Hall has established itself as a flexible venue with a first-rate acoustic which is ideal for solo recitals, chamber ensembles and chamber orchestra concerts.

In addition to the School’s public programme, Milton Court hosts a year-round series of concerts, programmed in collaboration between the Barbican and Guildhall School, as part of Barbican Presents. The artistic partnership between the two organisations includes the appointment of an annual Artist-in-Residence as well as hosting the Barbican’s International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court. The partnership offers the opportunity for Guildhall musicians to participate in masterclasses and to work side by side with leading international musicians.

This year, the Barbican Presents season in Milton Court offers a series of concerts from one of the world’s most exciting chamber orchestras – the Australian Chamber Orchestra and its Artistic Director Richard Tognetti, as well as a residency with acclaimed trumpeter and Guildhall School alumna Alison Balsom. From Baroque reinvention and jazz reimaginations, to audio visual collaboration with renowned Australian photographer Bill Henson, both Balsom and the ACO will demonstrate the versatility of Milton Court Concert Hall across their respective residencies.

Australian Chamber Orchestra and Richard Tognetti – Barbican International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court, 3 – 5 October

In October 2019, the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Artistic Director Richard Tognetti return for their second residency as the Barbican’s International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court. The programme they bring to London once again demonstrates their imaginative programming, versatility, and unmistakable style and energy.

Across the residency the orchestra performs a string arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Tognetti’s arrangement of Bach’s Canons on a Goldberg Ground, music by Adès, Webern and Britten, as well as works by Vaughan Williams and Schoenberg, performed side-by-side with Guildhall School musicians.

Similar to the previous years, the residency includes a visual spectacle. Luminous is a 2005 cross-genre musical and visual collaboration with Australian photographer Bill Henson, which includes music by Britten, Janáček, Vasks and REM. In this UK premiere, Henson’s haunting, dramatic photography will remain the visual focus as the ACO is joined on stage by Israeli-Australian singer-songwriter Lior on vocals.

In an interview during their last visit, Tognetti commented to The Sydney Morning Herald that the residency is “a dream come true […] the invitation to be a small component of the Barbican means we’ve found a space. We’ve been after such an opportunity for a long time.”

Alison Balsom – Milton Court Artist-in-Residence

In the fourth iteration of the Barbican’s Milton Court Artist Residency, renowned trumpeter Alison Balsom joins other Milton Court Artists-in-Residence Richard Tognetti (2016-17), Jeremy Denk (2017-18), and Roderick Williams (2018-19).

As part of her residency, Balsom will bring three projects to the Barbican’s programme starting with Gabriel in October. A theatrical celebration of Baroque music and 17th-century London, and a testament to the power of the trumpet, Gabriel premiered at Shakespeare’s Globe in 2013. Dreamt up by Alison Balsom, award-winning playwright Samuel Adamson and director Dominic Dromgoole, the colourful play has now been reimagined for the Barbican as part of Balsom's Milton Court artist residency.

Balsom is joined by The English Concert with a chorus of singers from Guildhall School, soprano Elizabeth Watts, countertenor Tim Morgan, tenor Gwilym Bowen and actors Jamie Parker, Jack Farthing, Anjana Vasan and Amanda Wilkin.

The residency continues in March with a performance of Miles Davis’ Sketches of Spain (arr. Gil Evans) with Guildhall Jazz Orchestra and director Scott Stroman, and concludes in May, when Balsom leads Britten Sinfonia, who are Associate Ensemble at the Barbican, in the world premiere of John Woolrich’s Hark! The echoing air. This will be part of a concert showcasing composers’ fascination with other composers’ music.

Listings

Australian Chamber Orchestra and Richard Tognetti – International Associate Ensemble at Milton Court

ACO: Goldberg Variations
Thu 3 Oct 2019 7.30pm, Milton Court

Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti (Violin), Erin Halyard (Keyboards)

Stravinsky Three pieces for String Quartet; Thomas Adès ‘Nightfalls’ from The Four Quarters; Bach Fourteen Canons on a Goldberg Ground, BWV 1087 (arr Tognetti); Bach Goldberg Variations (arr Labadie)

ACO: Luminous
Fri 4 Oct 2019 7.30pm, Milton Court

Australian Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti (Violin), Bill Henson (photography, cinematography & editing), Lior (vocals)

Luminous
Music from Britten and Janáček to REM and Pēteris Vasks

ACO: The Lark Ascending
Sat 5 Oct 2019 7.30pm, Milton Court

Australian Chamber Orchestra, Guildhall Chamber Orchestra, Richard Tognetti (violin)

Pēteris Vasks Viatore for 11 solo strings, Britten Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending, Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht

Alison Balsom – Milton Court Artist-in-Residence

Alison Balsom in Gabriel: An Entertainment with Trumpet
Mon 21 Oct 2019 7.30pm, Barbican Hall

The English Concert, Harry Bicket music director, Samuel Adamson text, Alison Balsom trumpet, Elizabeth Watts soprano, Tim Morgan countertenor, Gwilym Bowen tenor, Guildhall Chorus, Dominic Dromgoole director

Part of Alison Balsom: Milton Court Artist-in-Residence

Alison Balsom plays Sketches of Spain
Wed 18 Mar 2020 7.30pm, Milton Court

Alison Balsom trumpet, Scott Stroman director, Guildhall Jazz Ensemble

Rodrigo arr Miles Davis Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez (Sketches of Spain)

Part of Alison Balsom: Milton Court Artist-in-Residence

Britten Sinfonia with Alison Balsom
Thu 14 May 2020 7.30pm, Milton Court       

Britten Sinfonia, Alison Balsom trumpet, Jacqueline Shave director/violin

Purcell arr Berio, Maxwell Davies Fantasias and Pavans, John Woolrich (after Purcell) Hark! The echoing air (world premiere), Scarlatti Sonatas Set 2 (orch John Woolrich), Sir Harrison Birtwistle Virelai (Sus une fontayne), Ligeti arr Howarth Mysteries of the Macabre

Part of Alison Balsom Milton Court Artist-in-Residence