Celebrating the Dutilleux Centenary

Special series of events in tribute to the music and legacy of Henri Dutilleux

The School of Music is collaborating with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales to mount a tribute to the internationally-acclaimed composer Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013).

A series of orchestral and chamber music concerts featuring Dutilleux’s music at St David’s Hall, Hoddinott Hall and Cardiff University Concert Hall starts on his centenary day of 22 January 2016 and continues into March.

Dr Caroline Rae, Reader at the School of Music, said: "Henri Dutilleux was among the greatest and most celebrated French composers of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Heir to the tradition of Debussy and Ravel, his music is characterised by that most French of attributes – magic of timbre. 

"It is fitting that Dutilleux's centenary will be celebrated in Cardiff as he had connections with the city. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University during his visit to the city in 2008 for the BBC Discovering Dutilleux Festival organised by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in collaboration with Cardiff University."

Alongside the series of concerts, the School of Music will also host the Dutilleux Centenary Symposium and present a day of talks by eminent composers and scholars investigating Dutilleux’s music and legacy. Speakers include Eric Tanguy, Julian Anderson, Caroline Potter and Caroline Rae. The opening address will be presented by Her Excellency Madame Sylvie Bermann, Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom. Admission to the Symposium is free.

Dutilleux’s music will also be featured daily on BBC Radio 3’s acclaimed Composer of the Week from 18 to 22 January 2016. Dutilleux scholars Caroline Rae and Caroline Potter join Donald Macleod in an investigation of his music.

22 January     St David’s Hall, Cardiff, 7.30 pm

                        BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conductor Thomas Søndergård

                        Akiko Suwanai (violin)

                        Dutilleux         Métaboles (1964)

                                               Sur le meme accord

                        Debussy         Nocturne (completed Robert Orledge) UK premiere

                        Mozart            Requiem

27 January     BBC Hoddinott Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, 7.30 pm

                        BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conductor Pascal Rophé

                        Elizabeth Atherton (soprano)

                        Eric Tanguy               Affetuoso in memoriam Henri Dutilleux

                        Julian Anderson        Shir Hashirim

                        Thierry Pécou           Les Liasons magnétiques

                        Kenneth Hesketh       Graven Image

                        Henri Dutilleux          Le Temps l’horloge

28 January     Cardiff University Concert Hall, 9.30 – 4.00pm

                        Dutilleux Centenary Symposium

2 February     Cardiff University Concert Hall 7.00pm

                       Quatuor Psophos
                
                        Lekeu              String Quartet

                        Debussy         String Quartet

                        Dutilleux         Ainsi la nuit

15 March        Cardiff University Concert Hall, 7.00 pm

                        The Riot Ensemble

                        Dutilleux         Les citations