RESOUNDING ECHOES: From August 2022, Robert McCarney's regular series features little-known twentieth century classical composers.
'... lending a new late twentieth century dimension to the English pastoral ...' - Roderic Dunnett of Ian Venables' Piano Quintet Op 27
British composer Ian Venables was born in Liverpool in 1955. He studied with Richard Arnell at Trinity College of Music and with Andrew Downes, John Joubert and John Mayer at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Known especially for his art songs and chamber music, Venables has also written choral works such as Awake, Awake, the World is Young, Op 34 and the Requiem, Op 48.
In addition to his compositional activities, Venables is very active in the wider music community as chairman of the Ivor Gurney Society, president of the Arthur Bliss Society, one of the vice-presidents of the Gloucester Music Society and as an expert on John Addington Symonds (1840-1893), the nineteenth century English poet and literary critic.
Information: ianvenables.com
Ensemble. A Sumptuous Programme - Roderic Dunnett reports from the 2024 Three Choirs Festival in Worcester
Richly-designed and original - Roderic Dunnett looks forward to the Three Choirs Festival, 27 July - 4 August 2024 in Worcester, UK
Ensemble. Wholly Fresh Life - Roderic Dunnett attends two events in the UK to hear the work of Ian Venables
Profile. A Spiritual Journey - Roderic Dunnett takes an extended look at the career of English composer Ian Venables, and listens to a recent performance of the orchestral version of his Requiem
CD Spotlight. Generally Moving and Serenely Consoling - Gerald Fenech is impressed by choral music of Herbert Howells and Ian Venables. '... a highly attractive choral disc, refreshingly performed and sumptuously recorded ...'
Classical music news. The Elgar Festival - An annual celebration of the great British composer takes place in Worcester and Malvern, UK, during May
Ensemble. Packed With Good Things - Roderic Dunnett reports from the 2019 Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester
Ensemble. Centres of Excellence - Roderic Dunnett looks back to the 2017 Three Choirs Festival at Worcester, and forward to 2018 in Hereford
Ensemble. Deeply Gratifying - The first performance of Ian Venables' new clarinet quintet, heard by Roderic Dunnett
Ensemble. Top Class Musicianship - Roderic Dunnett visits Gloucester for the 2010 Three Choirs Festival
Ensemble. Expertly Structured - Mike Wheeler was at a song recital by Richard Roddis and Philip Robinson
Ensemble. An Accomplished Performance - Matthew Moss sings British music, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Exquisite finesse - A song recital by Andrew Kennedy and Simon Lepper impresses Roderic Dunnett