Gareth Williams (composer)
Encyclopedia
Gareth Williams born in County Armagh is an Irish composer
, singer, and pianist
. He has produced works for Scottish Opera
, the RSAMD, and other groups.
, a festival of contemporary music and arts. William wrote his first opera in 2006, titled 'Love in the Blue Corner'. This was premiered at the Plug Festival, and the composer has gone on to write a second opera, this time for Scottish Opera, collaborating with author Bernard MacLaverty
. This was performed in Glasgow in March, 2008, Edinburgh
in April, and Brussels
in May. Parts of this opera, titled 'The King's Conjecture', were shown on BBC1 as part of a documentary about the revival of the opera genre of music. His orchestral piece for more than a thousand musicians was performed in 2009 at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
in Glasgow [2
He has also worked, in the past, with Scottish composer Craig Armstrong.
In July 2011, his chamber piece for Glasgow's Sloans Pub premiered through Noise Opera at the Merchant City Arts Festival [3
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, singer, and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. He has produced works for Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera
Scottish Opera is the national opera company of Scotland, and one of the five national performing arts companies funded by the Scottish Government...
, the RSAMD, and other groups.
Career
Williams studied composition at the RSAMD and won the award for the British Conservatoire Composers Forum 2000, and in 2004, he won the Dinah Wolff prize for composition. In 2006, he was one of six composers selected to open the Ken Exhibition in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, a festival of contemporary music and arts. William wrote his first opera in 2006, titled 'Love in the Blue Corner'. This was premiered at the Plug Festival, and the composer has gone on to write a second opera, this time for Scottish Opera, collaborating with author Bernard MacLaverty
Bernard MacLaverty
Bernard MacLaverty is a writer of fiction. He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 14 September 1942, and lived there until 1975 when he moved to Scotland with his wife, Madeline, and four children...
. This was performed in Glasgow in March, 2008, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in April, and Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in May. Parts of this opera, titled 'The King's Conjecture', were shown on BBC1 as part of a documentary about the revival of the opera genre of music. His orchestral piece for more than a thousand musicians was performed in 2009 at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a museum and art gallery in Glasgow, Scotland. The building houses one of Europe's great civic art collections...
in Glasgow [2
He has also worked, in the past, with Scottish composer Craig Armstrong.
In July 2011, his chamber piece for Glasgow's Sloans Pub premiered through Noise Opera at the Merchant City Arts Festival [3
Selected works
- Dead Duck (an hour-long piece of musical theatre), 2004
- Love in the Blue Corner (opera performed at the RSAMD), 2006
- The King's Conjecture (opera performed by Scottish OperaScottish OperaScottish Opera is the national opera company of Scotland, and one of the five national performing arts companies funded by the Scottish Government...
), 2008
External links
- scottishopera.org.uk - Information about 'The King's Conjecture' - Gareth Williams official myspace page
- http://www.sloansglasgow.com/ - Glasgow's Sloans Pub Official Website