Page 551 - Media Coverage Book - 75th Aldeburgh Festival 2024
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Judith Weir and Ryan Wigglesworth at the Knussen Chamber Orchestra’s
performance of Weir’s Planet at the Aldeburgh festival. Photograph: Ellie
Sawyer/Britten Pears Arts
The composer Judith Weir, (b1954), master of the king’s music, is one of
the festival’s featured musicians, with 14 works from across her career
programmed in various concerts. Having always trod an independent-
minded path, she has more than come into her own, and deserves this
generous celebration. Her new orchestral piece, Planet, was given its world
premiere last Tuesday by the Knussen Chamber Orchestra conducted by
Ryan Wigglesworth, in a concert that included Mozart’s Symphony No 41
Jupiter K551, and his Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor, K491 (top
woodwind playing here).
Founded in memory of the inspirational composer and teacher Oliver
Knussen, the KCO consists of Royal Academy of Music students playing
alongside professionals.
They gave full, persuasive expression to Weir’s ambitious exploration of our
galaxy and planet as seen from a distance in three Nasa photographs. In
three parts, the music moves from aerated, misty flurries of woodwind to
