Each year, the Royal Northern College of Music's In Focus series invites trailblazing composers to the college where they work closely with students, culminating in a compelling day of performances. This Summer they welcome Edition Peters composer Roxanna Panufnik.
RNCM will present two In Focus days presenting a programme of Panufnik's work to audiences in Manchester on May 1, and at the Wigmore Hall in London on May 10.
There will be two concerts on each day, the first brings together a selection of Panufnik’s captivating solo works, each showcasing her signature blend of lyricism, cultural influences, and storytelling. Babylonia for solo piano evokes the mysticism of an ancient world, while A Wind at Rook’s Haven for solo flute paints an atmospheric soundscape. Vocal music takes centre stage in Mine Eye and Sweet Love Remember’d, inspired by Shakespeare. Hora Bessarabia for solo violin pulses with Eastern European folk rhythms, and adding to the mix, a new work by Haodong Wang for solo flute promises further discovery in this rich and evocative programme.
The days will also feature a composer talk with Panufnik in conversation with RNCM Deputy Principal Manus Carey.
The second concert will then celebrate Panufnik’s choral and instrumental music. The RNCM Chamber Choir will perform a selection of her works, including the intricate Kyrie after Byrd and the uplifting Love Endureth. All Shall Be Well brings voices and cello together in a poignant reflection on resilience, while Modlitwa, co-composed with her father Andrzej Panufnik, offers a deeply personal moment of devotion. Instrumental gems like Heartfelt for string quartet sit alongside a new work, Atlantis, by Yelin Zhou, making for an evening of new discovery.
Find timings, tickets and more information now at the links below.
