Muhly and Albarn pen bite-sized Sinfonia ViVA works

André de Ridder will conduct his orchestra in performances of the bite-sized works over the next two seasons. They will then be available for free download from the orchestra's website and eventually made into an album.

'Completing the list will be a line-up of composers from a wide range of backgrounds,' De Ridder tells Muso. 'It's characterised by a mixture of pedigree, talent and open-mindedness that is becoming a trademark of Sinfonia ViVA's new artistic direction.'

The premiere of the first work in the series - by American pianist Uri Caine - was in October. A piece by the young Julliard-trained composer Nico Muhly will follow in Derby on 27 January, accompanied by Schoenberg's first chamber symphony and music by Mendelssohn.

'It's an interesting idea, the short orchestra piece,' says Muhly, who has previously collaborated with Philip Glass and Björk. 'My piece is actually a trick - it's like a Missa Brevis where you have different parts of the text being simultaneously recited so you get to the end faster. I'm basically writing a six-minute piece and folding it in half.'

A composition by Gorillaz creator and Monkey: Journey to the West composer Damon Albarn will premiere at Leicester's new performing arts venue, Curve, on 1 February. Further commissions have been agreed with Judith Weir, Larry Goves and Ian Vine.

www.vivaorch.co.uk

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