We’re excited to announce James Dillon @ 70, a series of concerts that will take place at hcmf// 2020 in celebration of composer James Dillon’s landmark birthday.
Dillon’s journey as a musician is synonymous with hcmf//. He achieved one of his earliest milestones, being awarded the festival’s historic Young Composer’s Award, at its first ever edition. He has gone on to enjoy numerous commissions, premieres and performances over the last four decades. In 2020, he reaches a notable moment in what has been an unparalleled career.
At this year’s festival, we’ll be presenting brand new music from Dillon, including the UK Premiere of The Freiburg Diptych. A co-commission by hcmf// and ECLAT, the solo work for violin and electronics was written for Irvine Arditti and recently received its World Premiere in Stuttgart on 7 February. In the first of the Dillon concerts at hcmf// 2020 , legendary pianist Noriko Kawai will present a set of unheard piano music by Dillon, unravelling works that have never been performed before. In a further concert, we’ll play host to the World Premiere of Pharmakeia with London Sinfonietta. This will be the first performance of this cycle for ensemble, formed around an inner movement, Circe, which premiered in 2018.
We’re looking forward to sharing more about Dillon, and the music we’ll be hearing at the festival, over the coming months. As always, his music surges forward: James Dillon @ 70 is not only a reflection of his work, but a projection of his future as a composer.