Sounds New -

When the Flame Dies

Performing:

New Music Players
Carlos del Cueto (conductor)

Cocteau - Edward Grint
Princess Death - Lucy Williams
Orpheus - Julian Podger
Euridice - Emily Phillips
Raymond - Andrew Radley
 
Love or creativity? The Poet must choose before the candle flickers and dies. Will he bring back his dead lover from the underworld, or choose art, creativity, and immortal fame? ‘When the Flame Dies’ explores the life of French poet, novelist, artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau and characters from his film ‘Orphee’ in a fast-paced human drama. Five outstanding young singers join the brilliant New Music Players ensemble of twelve top musicians, plus live electronics and stunning new video by theatre designer William Reynolds (Royal Opera House, Opera North).

Presented by Sounds New in collaboration with the Canterbury Festival. The work was written by Ed Hughes (composer) and Roger Morris (librettist), with video design provided by William Reynolds.

The New Music Players are:

Flute - Rowland Sutherland
Clarinet - Fiona Cross
Trumpet - Edward Maxwell
Horn - Richard Steggall
Percussion - Owen Gunnell
Harp - Federica Mossone
Piano - Richard Casey
Violin - Susanne Stanzeleit
Violin - Adam Summerhayes
Viola - Bridget Carey
Cello - Michael Atkinson
Double Bass - Paul Sherman

Composer Ed Hughes’ recent works have been performed in Berlin, Tel Aviv, Sydney, Salamanca and across the UK and Europe. Buried Flame, a choral piece setting poems by detainees at Guantanamo Bay, is one of only five works by UK composers selected for performance at the ISCM World Music Days Festival 2012. Writer Roger Morris is the author of a series of historical crime novels set in St Petersburg. The Cleansing Flames was shortlisted for the 2011 CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger Award. 

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