Wise Music Group is pleased to announce an array of exciting world premieres taking place during the first half of the 2021-22 season, from some of the most respected composers working today. After a period of enforced silence, concert halls are opening back up to audiences with new and rescheduled premieres, much to the joy of orchestras and spectators alike.
Listed below are the world premieres being performed between November 1 and March 31.
November 4, 2021
Mark Adamo
Last Year (Concerto for Solo Violoncello with Harp, Piano, String Orchestra, and Percussion) World Premiere
Jeffrey Ziegler, violoncello
New Century Chamber Orchestra
First Congregational Church Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
November 12, 2021
Bent Sørensen
La sera estatica World Premiere
Copenhagen Philharmonic
John Storgårds, conductor
The Royal Danish Academy of Music Copenhagen, Denmark
November 25, 2021
Cheryl Frances-Hoad
Scenes from the Wild World Premiere
William Morgan, tenor
City of London Sinfonia
Geoffrey Paterson, conductor
Southwark Cathedral, London, United Kingdom
Based on the book by Dara McAnulty: Diary of a Young Naturalist. Where Dara traces the year through his autism and being bullied at school, but primarily through real events that describe his interaction with the natural world. His fascination for all flora and fauna and his horror at their destruction lead on to the start of his activism; by the end of this year he emerges, just before his 15th birthday, knowing where he must go.
December 3, 2021
Joan Tower
1920/2019 World Premiere
New York Philharmonic
Jaap van Zweden, conductor
Alice Tully Hall, New York, NY, United States of America
1920/2019 was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic, Jaap van Zweden, Music Director. 2020 is the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote. 1920 was the year when the amendment was ratified and adopted — an important and long sought-after achievement. This piece was written in 2019 as the #MeToo movement continued to grow. Victims of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment are ending their silence, finding strength by sharing their experiences and beliefs. Tower says these two years — 1920 and 2019 — were probably the two most historically significant years for the advancement of women in society.
December 9, 2021
Thomas Agerfeldt Olesen
Weihnachtsortorium, version für Orchesters World Premiere
Aarhus Symphony Orchestra
Vokalensemblet Gaia; Concert Clemens
Florian Helgarth, conductor
Symfonisk Sal, Musikhuset Aarhus, Denmark
December 19, 2021
Howard Blake
The Snowman Symphony World Premiere
Harrogate Symphony Orchestra
Bryan Western, conductor
The Royal Hall Harrogate, United Kingdom
December 23, 2021
Ramón Paus
Cantata Sobre Fondo Alborán World Premiere
ORCAM (Orquesta y Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid)
Marzena Diakun, conductor
Auditorio Nacional, Madrid, Spain
December 31, 2021
Gabriela Lena Frank
Pachamama Meets an Ode World Premiere
Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor
Verizon Hall, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
January 6, 2022 (& January 7-8, 2022)
Vers le Silence World Premiere
Cleveland Orchestra
Franz Welser-Möst, conductor
Severance Hall, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
February 4, 2022
Memoria World Premiere
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
Jessica Cottis, conductor
National Concert Hall, Dublin, Ireland
March 10, 2022
Sei Anime World Premiere
Mahan Esfahani, cembalo
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Andris Poga, conductor
Grieghallen, Bergen, Norway
March 16, 2022
The Rising of Mother Country (for string quartet, oboe, clarinet, horn, piano, didgeridoo) World Premiere
Chineke! Chamber Ensemble
Chi-Chi Nwanoku, conductor
Adelaide Festival, Adelaide Town Hall
March 25, 2022
Meditations on Joy World Premiere
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Robin Ticciati, conductor
Grime says of the work “This piece is an exploration of joy in its many different forms, from a personal perspective. The act of composing, although often a huge challenge, can occasionally elicit the most intense feeling of joy, and that is something that I wanted to pervade the whole piece. This is contrasted by much darker music, the one often coming out of the other quite unexpectedly.”
March 31, 2022
Orpheus Undone World Premiere
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti, conductor
Symphony Center, Chicago, IL, United States of America