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Tom Service visits Opera North for the world premiere of ‘Pleasure’, a dramatic opera written by the young up-and-coming composer Mark Simpson, making his debut in the genre.  Set in a gay nightclub full of neon lights and a decadent cabaret atmosphere, it tells the story of Val, its toilet cleaner; Anna Fewmore, a cynical drag queen who’s seen it all; and two young customers seeking sex and love. Music critic Paul Griffiths reviews the opera too, which is a co-production between Opera North, The Royal Opera House and Aldeburgh Music.

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‘Pleasure’ will be broadcast on Radio 3’s ‘Hear and Now’ on June 11th.

Tom interviews Mark Simpson about ‘Pleasure’ and its relationship with his other output written in collaboration with -or inspired by – the work of poet Melanie Challenger, like the critically-acclaimed oratorio ‘The Immortal’ and the tone-poem ‘A mirror-fragment’.  Mark discusses how his life and his creative inspiration have changed since winning both ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Young Musician of the Year and ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Young Composer of the Year in 2006, about subsequently living in Berlin, London and his native Liverpool, and about juggling life as a composer and clarinettist. Mark’s currently the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Philharmonic’s Composer in Association.

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We visit Birmingham's Symphony Hall as it turns 25 this month, to learn about its illustrious history, its relevance in the local community today, as well as its contribution to the UK's cultural life. Tom talks to its CEO Nick Reed, to local journalist Christopher Morley from the Birmingham Post who was at the premiere concert back in 1991, and with Catherine Arlidge, one of the violinists with the CBSO.

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