Daniel Kidane’s latest commission for the BBC Proms was performed by the Kanneh-Masons at London’s Royal Albert Hall in August 2021.
Revel follows the successful premiere of Woke at the Last Night of the Proms in 2019 performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under their chief conductor Sakari Oramo. Reviews for Revel can be read here:
“Steve Reich-esque cross-rhythms introducing the city; clashing layers as the sound systems collide."
Erica Jeal, The Guardian ****
“It’s a fluently composed piece and enjoyable”
Barry Millington, Evening Standard
“Kidane’s score is one that hums with possibility. Dawn breaks with shimmers of glass harmonica, bowed cymbal, and flute; a spiky dance breaks out full of Stravinskian cross-rhythms and stabs of clarinet. (…) Revel is bright and tonal, energetic and clean – nothing to frighten the horses, but likeable, warm, and inviting all the same.”
Ben Poore, musicomh.com ****
Revel follows a day in the life of a Mancunian youngster, who is looking forward to going out to a carnival. The work is structured in four movements corresponding to the times of his day and their moods. For the proms, the work was staged interspersed with poetry and narration by Lemn Sissay OBE.
“Both Lemn and I have links to Manchester, having lived there at earlier stages in our lives. (…) I vividly remember attending The Manchester Caribbean Carnival”, the composer explains his intention behind the music, “the carnival has become part of the fabric of Manchester life”.
Watch the performance on BBC iPlayer here.
Listen to the broadcast on Radio BBC 3 here.
