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Press Release

CD Launch
James Wilson: Songs and Chamber Music

Dublin, 1 December 2003

On 3 December 2003 the British Ambassador, Mr Stewart Eldon, will officially launch 'James Wilson: Songs and Chamber Music' in the Contemporary Music Centre in Fishamble Street.

This new CD from senior Irish composer James Wilson is a selection of his songs and chamber music. The works span the period 1972 to 2001 and include his charming Sonatina (1998) for clarinet, violin, cello and accordion performed by Concorde, as well as 'The Windhover' (1979) and other vocal settings sung by leading British soprano Jane Manning. This is the second CD of his songs and chamber music with soprano Jane Manning and Concorde.

On the making of this CD James Wilson says, "I have been fortunate in having my work performed by friends who are musicians of such distinction. To all of these people I am very grateful."

The composer, along with Jane Manning and performers from Concorde, will all be present at the launch, together with friends and colleagues from the world of music and the arts, to celebrate and enjoy a wine reception at 5.00pm, courtesy of CMC.

The assistance of the Arts Council in funding the recording of this CD is gratefully acknowledged. Further information on the Arts Council recording scheme at www.artscouncil.ie.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

James Wilson
James Wilson was born in London and came to live in Ireland in the late 1940s. He was professor of composition in the Royal Irish Academy of Music and was also for many years a course director of the Ennis/IMRO Composition Summer School. His extensive output has been performed and broadcast throughout Ireland, the UK and Scandinavia and includes seven operas, twelve concertos as well as numerous vocal, chamber and instrumental works. Recent works include a Clarinet Concerto (1999) commissioned by RTÉ for performance by John Finucane and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland; a Harp Sonata (1998 rev. 2000); and a test piece for the 2000 AXA Dublin International Piano Competition, the last two commissioned with funding from the Arts Council. James Wilson received the Marten Toonder award in 1997. He is a founder member of Aosdána, Ireland's state-sponsored academy of creative artists. Further information on James Wilson and his music is available from the Contemporary Music Centre www.cmc.ie

Jane Manning
Jane Manning, soprano, has more than thirty years' international experience in an exceptionally wide-ranging repertoire. She has given more than 350 world premieres to date and has worked with composers such as Ades, Bennett, Birtwistle, Cage, Carter, Harvey, Lutyens and Weir. She has appeared with many of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles, including the BBC Symphony, Philharmonia, Concertgebouw, London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Intercontemporain amongst other. Her catalogue of CDs includes the major song cycles of Messiaen and all Satie's vocal music. Her many operatic roles include that of Rebecca Dingley in the first production of James Wilson's A Passionate Man, dealing with the life of Jonathan Swift.

Contemporary Music Centre CD shop
Don't just read about new music, listen to it! The CMC CD shop at no. 19 Fishamble Street carries the most comprehensive selection anywhere of contemporary Irish CDs. Some 100 CDs are available from the online CD shop at www.cmc.ie or by contacting the Contemporary Music Centre directly, tel: +353-1-673 1922, mailto: info@cmc.ie

James Wilson: Songs and Chamber Music is available at the retail price of 15.50

Further information from Karen Hennessy mailto:khennessy@cmc.ie