Philip Venables

Philip Venables
Philip Venables
Philip Venables
Born1979 (age 44–45)
Chester, Cheshire, England, UK
NationalityBritish
OccupationComposer
Notable workOperatic adaptation of 4.48 Psychosis (2016)
Bound to Hurt (2015)
Illusions (2015)
Websitephilipvenables.com

Philip Venables (born 1979) is a British composer known for his operatic and theatrical works with themes of sexuality, violence and politics.

Life and career

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Born in Chester, Venables studied at Jesus College, Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music,[1] where he studied under Philip Cashian and was awarded the DipRAM diploma and the Manson Fellowship in Composition.[2]

Venables' orchestral works include Arc, written for the BBC Philharmonic; String Quartet for the Duke Quartet at Wigmore Hall; Hyaline, for the London Symphony Orchestra; and The Revenge of Miguel Cotto for the London Sinfonietta. His operatic and vocal works include In America et ego, performed at the Bregenz Festival; UNLEASHED, for Tête à Tête (opera company): The Opera Festival; va and Thalidomide for the BBC Singers.[3] His artistic collaborations have included Bound to Hurt, with Turner Prize winner Douglas Gordon;[4] and Illusions, with avant-garde cabaret artist David Hoyle.[5]

Venables wrote the 2016 operatic adaptation of 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane for the Royal Opera at the Lyric Hammersmith. Authorised by Kane's estate as the first operatic adaptation of her work, the opera was well received by critics[6][7] and nominated for the 2017 Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production.[8]

Venables is the Doctoral Composer in Residence at the Royal Opera House and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.[1] In 2016, he became an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.[9]

Venables received an Ivor Novello Award nomination at The Ivors Classical Awards 2023. Answer Machine Tape, 1987, composed for solo piano with amplification and KeyScanner device, projection and recorded sound, was nominated for Best Small Chamber Composition. [10] In 2024 Venables received a second Ivor Novello Award nomination at The Ivors Classical Awards 2024 for The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions which received its UK premiere at the Manchester International Festival.[11]

Venables identifies as queer and many of his works touch on LGBT culture.[12][5] He lives in London and Berlin.[13]

Works

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This is an incomplete list and may not reflect the entirety of the composer's output.

Year Title Genre For Reference
2006 String Quartet Ensemble String quartet ISMN 979-0-57036-076-5[14]
2006 K, prelude to Mozart's Clarinet Quintet, K581 Ensemble Clarinet in A and string quartet ISMN 979-0-57036-079-6[15]
2006–2011 Piano Studies (The boy with the moon in his eyes) Solo Piano ISMN 979-0-57036-078-9[16]
2007 Thalidomide Vocal 24 voices [17]
2008 Time Stands Still, after John Dowland Vocal Soprano and guitar ISMN 979-0-57036-162-5[18]
2008 ANIMA Ensemble 14 players ISMN 979-0-57036-087-1[19]
2009 Fight music Ensemble 8 players ISMN 979-0-57036-094-9[20]
2009 Len's music Ensemble Solo cello, viola, clarinet, horn ISMN 979-0-57036-109-0[21]
2010 Metamorphoses after Britten Solo Any solo wind instrument ISMN 979-0-57036-226-4[22]
2010 I ____ the body electric Vocal Male singer and male speaker with piano or another instrument ISMN 979-0-57036-192-2[23]
2011 Flipp Duo Two saxophones of the same type ISMN 979-0-57036-339-1[24]
2011 Klaviertrio im Geiste Ensemble Piano trio ISMN 979-0-57036-233-2[25]
2011 Fuck Forever Vocal Male speaker, piano, cello and woodblock ISMN 979-0-57036-303-2[26]
2011 numbers 76–80 : tristan und isolde Vocal 4 voices (SATB) and string quartet ISMN 979-0-57036-304-9[27]
2011 numbers 91–95 Vocal Speaker and two tape recorders, harp, flute and woodblock ISMN 979-0-57036-302-5[28]
2012 The Revenge of Miguel Cotto Vocal Ensemble, two male vocalists, percussion and tape [29]
2015 Illusions Ensemble Video playback (projection) and 9 players [5]
2016 4.48 Psychosis Opera Orchestra and 6 vocalists [6][7]
2019 Denis & Katya Opera 2 singers and chamber orchestra [30]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Philip Venables announced as Doctoral Composer-in-Residence at Guildhall School of Music and Drama — News — Royal Opera House". www.roh.org.uk.
  2. ^ "Philip Venables - University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  3. ^ "Philip Venables — People — Royal Opera House". www.roh.org.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  4. ^ Wainwright, Oliver; Fox, Imogen; Sample, Ian; Service, Tom (28 September 2015). "Meet the Turner prize shortlist, from the musician to the mind-reader". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Hind, Rolf (12 September 2015). "Queer pitch: is there such a thing?". The Guardian.
  6. ^ a b Ashley, Tim (25 May 2016). "4.48 Psychosis review – Venables brings Sarah Kane's savage text to musical life". The Guardian.
  7. ^ a b "4.48 Psychosis review". The Independent. 26 May 2016. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Olivier Awards 2017: full list of nominations | Spectator Life". Spectator Life. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  9. ^ "2016 Honours are announced - Royal Academy of Music". www.ram.ac.uk.
  10. ^ Taylor, Mark (18 October 2023). "Nominees announced for The Ivors Classical Awards 2023". The Ivors Academy. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  11. ^ Taylor, Mark (15 October 2024). "Nominations for The Ivors Classical Awards 2024 announced". The Ivors Academy. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Erotic gods make sweet music | Sexuality". Topics.
  13. ^ "Philip Venables". philipvenables.com. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  14. ^ "String Quartet by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  15. ^ "K by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  16. ^ "Piano Studies (The boy with the moon in his eyes) by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  17. ^ "Thalidomide". British Music Collection. 21 April 2009.
  18. ^ "Time Stands Still by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  19. ^ "ANIMA by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  20. ^ "Fight music by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  21. ^ "Len's music by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  22. ^ "Four Metamorphoses after Britten for solo clarinet by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  23. ^ "I _ the body electric by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  24. ^ "Flipp by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  25. ^ "Klaviertrio im Geiste by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  26. ^ "Fuck forever by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  27. ^ "numbers 76-80: tristan und isolde by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  28. ^ "numbers 91-95 by Philip Venables | University of York Music Press". www.uymp.co.uk.
  29. ^ "The London Sinfonietta's Blue Touch Paper programme -MusicalCriticism.com (Concert review)". www.musicalcriticism.com.
  30. ^ "Denis & Katya | Philip Venables". Retrieved 13 April 2023.
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