Peter Maxwell Davies News

THE leading British composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies unveiled his plans for a quiet civil partnership ceremony in his home town of Salford yesterday a ' and told "stupid" Orkney Council it had missed the party.

As the Dean of Southwark Cathedral observed, the second concert in this year's City of London Festival, on 22 June 2009, marked not one but two 800th anniversaries: that of London Bridge -- the first stone of which was cut on the same day 800 years ago and of the University of Cambridge.

Since there is no point in avoiding controversy, let us start one: in my very humble opinion, James MacMillan is the greatest living British composer.

Quentin, London Ethan Hawke doesn't possess the comic ability for Autolycus, and the Bohemia scenes are just embarrassing Music Michael, London There are some fine things but it would benefit from ruthless pruning of the text and generally tightening up Film V-Jay, London The sheer enjoyment and fun of films like these is their spectacular action ...

London, Herbides Ensmeble takes no prisoners Hebrides Ensemble: Scotland's foremost chamber group Musicians have to work hard to compete with the renaissance splendour of Stationers' Hall but nobody could accuse the Hebrides Ensemble of not giving it its best shot.

The Queen's composer, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, has disclosed that he is writing a comic opera about the MPs' expenses scandal, which may feature duck houses and moats.

Honourable Members, form an orderly queue here : you are soon to have your very own opera, courtesy of none other than Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, pictured, Master of the Queen's Music.

AT THIS time of year in Orkney, the days are long and the sun rarely seems to set, which is probably just as well, given the amount of entertainment on offer at this year's St Magnus Festival.

One of Scotland's major cultural events - The St Magnus Festival - is getting under way in Orkney.

By Kenneth Walton THERE'S something horrifyingly spooky about Sir Peter Maxwell Davies' chamber opera The Lighthouse.

A Promising New Beginning for Young Musicians in the Conflict Zone; August Debut is Planned for Northern Kurdish Region Visionary Project Gains Support of British Council, Iraqi Government and Charities Making Music & Musicians For Harmony 17-year-old Iraqi piano prodigy Zuhal Sultan has confirmed plans for the first-ever NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA ...

THE Queen's Master of Music says the appointment of Carol Ann Duffy as Poet Laureate has shown how far Britain has come its attitude towards gay people.

While all eyes are on Carol Ann Duffy, his intriguing successor as Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion has quietly been composing five sonnets about climate change, which will be set to music by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the Master of the Queen's Music.

Jacob Kriese / Special to The Star Joan Kemper joined the board of the Ojai Music Festival during a time of uncertainty.

BBC Philharmonic at Bridgewater Hall, review The symphonies of Peter Maxwell Davies provide a challenging evening's entertainment in this birthday concert.

The controversial music cuts proposed at Tenbya s Greenhill School have been slammed as a a scandal and a disgracea by an eminent figure in the music world.

THE last of the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra's Spring concerts drew a capacity audience to hear a varied and ambitious programme which highlighted the considerable abilities of these young musicians.

Last night's Faculty Recital by trumpeter Scott Macomber of San Francisco State University was a tour of unfamiliar gems, where the one familiar work on the program was offered in an unconventional setting.

RENOWNED cellist Julian Lloyd Webber is set to become a narrator for the first time ever a ' as part of Edinburgh Youth Orchestra's spring concerts.

Could the Proms, the world's biggest brand-name in music festivals, get any bigger? Yes, says this season's programme, which offers some impressive statistics: 100 concerts in all, including 19 chamber concerts and, on the Last Night, five Proms in the Park events.