250K

For Immediate Release

The Contemporary Music Centre announces Irish Composer Gerald Barry's opera The Importance of Being Earnest, world premiere with the Los Angeles Philharmonic

21 March 2011

Gerald Barry's The Importance of Being Earnest, an opera in three acts, commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and Barbican Centre, London, will receive its world premiere under the baton of Thomas Adès, 8pm, 7 April 2011.

This performance is part of the Aspects of Adès Festival, 1 - 9 April 2011 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles. British composer/pianist/conductor Thomas Adès, now an L.A. resident, is one of the leading music thinkers of today. In programming this series, Adès has created a unique festival especially for Los Angeles, which includes Gerald Barry's new opera, The Importance of Being Earnest. It will receive its UK premiere at the Barbican, London, on 26 April 2012.

Gerald Barry was born in Ireland in 1952 and studied with Stockhausen and Kagel. He first came to public attention in 1979 with his radical ensemble works '_______' and Ø. Many of his works have been commissioned by the BBC. His first opera, The Intelligence Park (recorded on NMC) was first performed at the 1990 London Almeida Festival, and a second, The Triumph of Beauty and Deceit opened the 2002 Aldeburgh Festival followed by performances in London and the Berliner Festwochen. It received its North American premiere with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2006, followed by performances in Paris, Amsterdam and New York. In 2005 the stage premiere of The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (recorded on RTÉ) was given at English National Opera and the German language premiere at Basle in 2008. A one act opera for Radio France, La Plus Forte (The Stronger), was written for the 2007 Festival Presences with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and given it's English premiere with the London Symphony Orchestra. It has since been performed in Amsterdam, Toronto, Dublin and Miami. Portrait concerts of Barry's music took place recently at Columbia University and the Isabelle Gardner Museum in Boston. A new orchestral work, No other people, was commissioned by RTÉ for 2009. Feldman's Sixpenny Editions for chamber orchestra, will receive its American premiere with the orchestra of St Paul in 2012. The Intelligence Park will be performed at the Irish Museum of Modern Art on May 18, 2011. Gerald Barry is exclusively published by Schott Music as of September 2009. His earlier music is with Oxford University Press.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic continues its reinvention of the concept of a 21st-century orchestra under the vibrant leadership of Gustavo Dudamel. Embarking on its 92nd season in 2010/11, the Philharmonic is recognized as one of the world's outstanding orchestras and is received enthusiastically by audiences and critics alike. Both at home and abroad, the Philharmonic is leading the way in innovative programming and redefining the musical experience.

The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland's national archive, resource centre and promotional body for new music, supporting the work of Irish composers from the Republic and Northern Ireland. Gerald Barry is a composer registered with the Centre. The Centre is supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

For further information on Gerald Barry, the Contemporary Music Centre and Irish composers contact Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. Tel: 01 6731922 Email khennessy@cmc.ie web site www.cmc.ie

For details on Gerald Barry's publisher Schott Music visit www.schott-music.com

Notes for Editors

Gerald Barry: The Importance of being Earnest
(world premiere, LAPA/Barbican commission)
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Conductor: Thomas Adès

Gordon Gietz, John Worthing (tenor)
Hila Plitmann, Cecily Cardew (soprano)
Katalin Károlyi, Gwendolen Fairfax (mezzo soprano)
Hilary Summers, Miss Prism (contralto) br /> Stephen Richardson, Lady Bracknell (bass)
Joshua Bloom, Algernon Moncrieff (baritone)

8pm, 7 and 8 April 2011
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles
CA 90012
www.laphil.com

Part of the Imagine Ireland programme
Suppported by Culture Ireland and the National Endowment for the Arts

Culture Ireland
Culture Ireland is the state agency for the promotion of Irish arts worldwide, working under the aegis of the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. Culture Ireland creates and supports opportunities for Irish artists to present their work at strategic international festivals, venues, showcases and arts markets. The agency comprises a board appointed by the Minister and an executive staff led by the Chief Executive.
www.cultureireland.gov.ie

Imagine Ireland
Imagine Ireland is a year-long season of Irish arts in America in 2011, an initiative of Culture Ireland, with funding from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
www.imagineireland.ie