It was a traditional bank holiday family gathering in the Wright household. The traditional British summer weather was much in evidence and the garden furniture was left outside in the pouring rain. Another tradition then took over: the family discussion that threatens to turn into something more heated. The subject in question was that most traditional of events, the Last Night of the Proms. "What are you going to do [...]

We are living in a glorious period for contemporary British musical composition. There are more first-rate composers living and working in the UK than at any time in our history. Among others, Harrison Birtwistle, Brian Ferneyhough, Judith Weir, George Benjamin, Oliver Knussen, Mark-Anthony Turnage and James Dillon have all written major works across a range of genres. Sadly, in the cases of Dillon and Ferneyhough, their profiles are higher abroad [...]