A whisper of melody, played by a lone violin, gradually grows and shapes into the stirring sweep of a full string section – echoing, perhaps, the resolute journey of a seed from the Earth towards the Heavens. This is The Patience of Trees, a new concerto for violin, strings and percussion by acclaimed composer Dobrinka Tabakova, and it formed the centrepiece of a special immersive concert at Manchester Central during MIF21.

Devised by violinist Hugo Ticciati and performed with Manchester Camerata, the programme also featured Tabakova’s reflective Frozen River Flows, Steve Reich’s pulsing New York Counterpoint and the two standout submissions for the O/Modernt Composition Award: Vulpes Vulpes by British composer Paul Saggers, which won the award, and Todo Era Vuelo en Nuestra Tierra by Julieta Szewach.

Together, the works combined into a timely meditation on nature and the city – and a reflection of sorts on our welcome emergence from this locked-down year. You can stream the entire concert on demand until 16 October 2021.

Programme

Dobrinka Tabakova The Patience of Trees World premiere
Steve Reich New York Counterpoint
Paul Saggers Vulpes Vulpes World premiere
Julieta Szewach Todo Era Vuelo en Nuestra Tierra World premiere
Dobrinka Tabakova Frozen River Flows

Click here for the programme notes