Sally Beamish’s double concerto for clarinet, violin and orchestra, DISTANS, was written during lockdown in 2020 and received its world premiere in 2021. This week the work receives its German Premiere with the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg conducted by Sakari Oramo with clarinetist Martin Fröst, for whom the work was written, and Ukrainian-Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman at the Elbphilharmonie Grand Hall.
Beamish’s Scottish and Swedish connections influence this work which touches on the folk music of Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Scotland, going back to ancient times with the use of bells, bird bones and cow horns in mankind’s earliest music. Written during the lockdown of 2020, the work also explores the idea of connection and of isolation.
Commissioned by the Concertgebouworkest, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. The World Premiere was given by Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra on May 21, 2021 conducted by Johannes Gustavsson. The Concertgebouworkest gave their premiere at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam on 5 April 2023 conducted by Klaus Mäkelä.
