Tim’s pandemic symphony is set for its premiere
AN AWARD-WINNING Todmorden musician has been invited to premiere his new lockdowninspired symphony at one of the world’s biggest classical music festivals this month.
Tim Benjamin, a composer, will travel to Romania to present his new symphony as part of The George Enescu Festival – a major biennial fixture for the world’s top orchestras.
The symphony, conducted by Rumon Gamba, will be performed in concerts in both Timișoara and Bucharest, as well as being broadcast around the world to thousands from the famous Radio Hall in Romania’s capital city.
The symphony was written during the dark months of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020.
It draws inspiration from sources including English folk music and stories, European political turmoil, and the lives of the
Russian composers Shostakovich and Rachmaninov.
As a composer known for opera and film, there is a strong, visual, narrative element to Tim’s music, which describes the birth and spread of new ideas, and those who would, in futility, seek to destroy them. The music finds dramatic extremes of both light and darkness and promises to thrill audiences.
Tim, who is also a storyteller, writer, and director, said: “Having written the music at the height of the crisis faced by us all, often alone in our homes and despair at the future, and above all deprived of live music, I’m thrilled that it’ll be performed by so many brilliant musicians to a worldwide audience.
“Out of our collective memory of dark, silent days I hope my symphony will bring light, hope, and new ideas to audiences that once again flock to the concert hall.”
A past winner of the BBC’s Young Composer of the Year prize, Tim is best known for his work in opera, having composed 12 operas that have toured in the UK and France. His work for film and television is frequently broadcast on channels ranging from the BBC to ESPN, in countries from Australia to Japan.
“I’m thrilled that it’ll be performed by so many brilliant musicians to a worldwide audience”
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