Peter Maxwell Davies: Mr Emmett Takes a Walk

Featuring

Adrian Clarke
Etienne Siebens
Jonathan Best
Rebecca Caine
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
Paul Driver

Psappha New Music Ensemble
Miscellaneous

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Composer's Artistic Vision

The composer, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, initially imagined the music's time-span as the moment before Mr. Emmet's self-inflicted death, with memories and fantasies teeming through his mind.

Performer Biography

Etienne Siebens, the conductor, is a specialist in contemporary music and conducted the world premiere of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's opera "Mr Emmet Takes a Walk" in 2000.

Composition History

The theatre work "Mr Emmet Takes a Walk" is based on musical fragments by J.S. Bach, Schumann, Andrea Gabrieli, and Mozart.

Compositional Technique

The musical styles in "Mr Emmet Takes a Walk" change as the text suggests, with some parts being emphatically tonal to provide clarity.

Performer Biography

Psappha, the ensemble on this recording, is a leading new music and music-theatre ensemble in the North of England, formed in 1991 by Artistic Director Tim Williams.

Performer Biography

Adrian Clarke, a baritone on this recording, has sung for all major UK opera companies and created many roles, including The Maharal in John Casken's Golem.

Composer Biography

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the composer, was appointed Master of the Queen's Music in 2004 and is known for his ability to communicate forcefully across various musical genres.