Poul Ruders chose the Witches' 'Ho-Ho-Ho' chorus from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas as the theme for his Concerto in Pieces, aiming for a theme distinct from Britten's choice.
Composer Biography
Poul Ruders, a non-British composer, was invited to contribute to the Last Night of the Proms, a peculiarly British institution.
Composition History
Poul Ruders was commissioned to write Concerto in Pieces as a sequel to Benjamin Britten's The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, using a theme by Henry Purcell.
Performer Biography
The Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1935, performs about 30 concerts annually, along with opera performances, school concerts, and CD recordings.
Critical Reception
Poul Ruders's piece, Concerto in Pieces, for the Last Night of the Proms was a big success and was taken up internationally.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Poul Ruders believes music's unique metaphysical power allows composers to challenge societal issues and 'yell at the guards' like bureaucrats and enemies of the arts.
Performer Biography
Mathias Reumert, the percussionist, was the first percussion soloist since 1979 to win First Prize at the Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition in 2007.
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