An exploration of the dark and dramatic music from some of Denmark’s leading composers and recent works by Chris Petrie, performed by the sensational Azalea and Renard Ensembles. Conducted by Christopher Austin, the Azalea Ensemble will perform works ranging from Ruder’s colossal Abysm to Pelle Gundmundsen-Holmgreen’s playfully obscure Plateaux For Two. After the performance by the Renard Ensemble of a work written especially for them by Chris Petrie, the event will close with an unexpected twist from Hans Abrahamsen’s seminal work, Marchenbilder (Fairy-tale Pictures).

This project will culminate in two performances: Kings Place, London on October 24th, and the Dora Stoutzker Hall, Cardiff on November 1st.

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Biographies:

Chris Petrie (curator and composer) - Having studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and the Royal Academy of Music (London), Chris is beginning to carve an exhilarating compositional career. He has worked with some of europes most exciting ensembles including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Tonkuenstler Orchestra (Vienna), Chroma, the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales and the London Sinfonietta. Recently, Chris had his debut at the Royal Albert Hall in November after being commissioned to write an explosive new work for 800 youth musicians. Chris' music has also been featured both on TV (Welsh channel S4C) and radio (BBC Radio 3).

Christopher Austin (conductor) - is one of the UK’s foremost conductors specialising in contemporary repertoire and has a particular commitment to new Danish music which he has conducted both in concert and on (to date) three CDs for the Danish national label DaCapo. He gave the London premiere of Abysm in 2005. Christopher founded the Brunel Ensemble and has conducted many of the World's leading orchestras, including Orchestre National de Lille, Orchestra della Teatro Regio Parma, the Danubia Symphony Orchestra and at the Aldeburgh Festival. Other work includes the London Sinfonietta, Composers’ Ensemble, The Philharmonia, BBC Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, and Hallé orchestras, Present Music (New York), Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. He teaches composition, orchestration and conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London.