Ensemble 10/10

 

 

 

"The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's avant-garde flying squad, Ensemble 10/10."

Ensemble 10/10 is the contemporary music ensemble of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Founded by cellist Hilary Browning and clarinettist Nicholas Cox, 10/10 gave its first concert on 22 November 1997 at 10.10pm. The rich history of its first ten years includes a number of commissioned works and many British premieres.

Last year alone included twelve world premieres or anniversary commissions, including Sonatinas for Alto Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra by Gary Carpenter and Rose Hobart by Ian Gardiner, who have both recently won a British Composer Award. New works were heard from internationally renowned composers such as Kurt Schwertsik and Olga Neuwirth. Even beyond these, Ensemble 10/10 worked with a distinguished list of British composers, including Kenneth Hesketh, Stephen Pratt and David Horne.

In the upcoming season, Ensemble 10/10 looks forward to celebrating its tenth anniversary and then the beginning of Liverpool's year as European Capital of Culture. The last two of its ten anniversary commissions, from Graham Fitkin and Steve Martland, will be performed, whilst new commissions for 2008 Capital of Culture Year will come from Ian Gardiner, James Wishart, the exciting American Michael Torke, and Mark Simpson, the Liverpool-born 2006 BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Recent work by Viennese composers Johanna Döderer and Lukas Ligeti will contribute to the Phil’s Viennese Masters series.

The Phil’s new Composer in the House, Kenneth Hesketh, also curates one programme. The Composer in the House system, an initiative of the Royal Philharmonic Society, the PRS Foundation and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, is delighted to join in funding this second placement. 10/10’s first concert of the season celebrates the ‘handover’ of the scheme from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with a performance of a work by their composer Stephen McNeff alongside one by Kenneth Hesketh.

While performances continue in the excellent acoustic of The Cornerstone, Hope at Everton, this season Ensemble 10/10 also makes its debut in the 480-seat Concert Room in the newly refurbished St George's Hall, the neo-classical jewel in Liverpool's architectural crown.

 

The Ensemble has recorded a number of CDs, including music by John Casken (2003), and When Worlds Collide (a collaboration with Zappa tribute band The Muffin Men, 2003). A CD of Gary Carpenter's music (including Ein Musikalisches Snookerspiel, Da Capo, Distanza, After Braque and Die Flimmerkiste) was released by NMC on 3 September 2007; a CD of Stephen Pratt's music (including Double Act, Lovebytes with soprano Claire Booth and the Violin Concerto with Anthony Marwood) is also due for release in Autumn 2007. You can order Gary Carpenter's CD from our Music Store.