Operas and Accolades
Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about writing three operas in close succession. Including A Travelling Spirit (Riddle 7: Swan), Ervallagh, Cancion de la luna and Catena.
Composer Nicola LeFanu talks to Donald Macleod about writing three operas in close succession
Composer Nicola LeFanu has been at the heart of British contemporary music for several decades, and at the forefront of promoting the works of her fellow women composers. In 2017 LeFanu turns seventy, and in conversation with Donald Macleod she looks back at her distinguished career including commissions from many leading artists. LeFanu also chats about some of the composers who have influenced her including her mother Elizabeth Maconchy, and also her husband David Lumsdaine.
Nicola LeFanu has worked with many celebrated artists during her career. One was the saxophonist John-Edward Kelly, for whom she composed a single-movement concerto. Kelly also recorded LeFanu's work 'Ervallagh', which was composed in 1993 and is a musical portrait looking out to sea and the Aran Islands from the west coast of Ireland. The 1990s was a hugely busy period for Nicola LeFanu, composing three operas in quick succession including, for one project, working with two hundred children. It was from her opera 'Blood Wedding' that came the inspiration for composing her work for countertenor and ensemble, 'Canci贸n de la luna', setting words by Lorca. Then in 1994 came a major change for LeFanu, when she moved away from London to become Professor of Music at the University of York. Teaching has always been important for LeFanu, and her pupils have included Paul Mealor, Grainne Mulvey, Luis Tinoco and Sadie Harrison.
A Travelling Spirit (Riddle 7: Swan)
Lesley-Jane Rogers, soprano
John Turner, recorder
Ervallagh
John-Edward Kelly, saxophone
Canci贸n de la luna
Nicholas Clapton, countertenor
The Goldberg Ensemble
Malcolm Layfield, conductor
Sadie Harrison: ...ballare una passacaglia di ombre...
Peter Sheppard Sk忙rved, violin
Nicola LeFanu: Catena, for eleven solo strings
The Goldberg Ensemble
Malcolm Layfield, conductor
Producer Luke Whitlock.
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Nicola LeFanu
A Travelling Spirit
Performer: John Turner. Singer: Lesley-Jane Rogers.- Metier:MSVCD92064.
- Metier.
- 7.
-
![]()
Francisco Escalada
Canten dos jilguerillos
Performer: Yaniv d'Or. Ensemble: Ensemble NAYA. -
![]()
Nicola LeFanu
Ervallagh
Performer: John鈥怑dward Kelly.- Emergo EC3992.
- Emergo.
- 4.
-
![]()
Nicola LeFanu
Cancion De La Luna
Performer: Malcolm Layfield. Singer: Nicholas Clapton. Orchestra: Goldberg Ensemble.- Naxos 8557389.
- Naxos.
- 3.
-
![]()
Sadie Harrison
...Ballare Una Passacaglia Di Ombre...
Performer: Peter Sheppard Sk忙rved.- Toccata Classics: TOCC0204.
- Toccata Classics.
- 20.
-
![]()
Nicola LeFanu
Catena
Orchestra: Goldberg Ensemble. Conductor: Malcolm Layfield.- Naxos 8557389.
- Naxos.
- 4.
Broadcasts
- Thu 27 Apr 2017 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
- Thu 27 Apr 2017 18:30成人快手 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.