Harrison Birtwistle's Donum Simoni MMXVIII, a new fanfare written to celebrate Simon Rattle's first full season with the London Symphony Orchestra, opened their 18/19 Season at the Barbican Centre, London.
Recognised as "a heavyweight among fanfares... the last word goes to the lone tuba, a deadpan sign-off adding a touch of humour". (The Guardian)
"Like all self-respecting fanfares, it begins in the brass - though in their growling lowest range - and percussion and woodwind join to build powerfully" (The Telegraph)
"Birtwistle's new fanfare achieves a lot in just three minutes, and it's a handsome gift to Sir Simon Rattle" (The Spectator)
The work was jointly commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Barbican Centre.
You can listen to the full concert on BBC iPlayer here.
