Concerts!

The first UK show was a success! Pieces were performed by the Stranded Ensemble, our newly founded graduate composers' ensemble at King's, to a full room who were very happy. Matias Hancke and Teodoro Cromberg also pulled out some sweet electronics with their project Senales e intersecciones. They have some shows in Rome next week if you're there.

At the intermission George Benjamin came up and said he really liked my piece and the idea behind it (88 was performed) and said that I should write more of them. Then after the second half he came up again with more ideas for it. I said, "you're thinking of writing one, aren't you?" and he said, "yes, I really am." That was really exciting. Messiaen's favorite student, Britain's superstar composer, likes my stuff. AWESOME.

Today was "Composing Through Art" at the National Gallery, with presentations and workshops from both art historians and composers. It's hard to convincingly say there was an instant change in all of my art perception, but there were a few profound realizations that are going to really influence the way I look at renaissance painting. And hearing Graham Fitkin and George Fenton speak and getting to ask questions was very cool.

Tomorrow I'm either seeing Sigur Ros or seeing Strauss's Elektra at the Royal Opera House. Either one sounds pretty good to me. Then Saturday is a concert from the Ionian Singers, in Dulwich, which you should really come to, because they're shooting for 100 to keep the venue happy. It's a really cool program of Sibelius, Holst, Debussy, Ravel, Faure, and others. Info is here.

Off to work!