Recording of Higdon Percussion Concerto Inducted into National Recording Registry

Colin’s recording of the Jennifer Higdon Percussion Concerto conducted by Marin Alsop with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, has been inducted into the National Recording Registry. The National Recording Preservation Board (NRPB), combined with nominations from members of the public, select 25 recordings per year, of which Colin's recording is one for 2019. Alongside the Village People’s Y.M.C.A. and Whitney Houston’s rendition of the Dolly Parton classic, I Will Always Love You., the purpose of the registry is to demonstrate the breadth and richness of America's audio legacy. An initiative that began in 2002, the registry also ensures the recordings have an assured long-term preservation for generations to come.

Colin has said the following of the recording and the composer:

“The recording with the London Philharmonic Orchestra is one of those perfect musical storms, thankfully documenting a perfect match-up of Marin Alsop, who devours this style, and an orchestra completely and passionately honed to task… what you hear is a pure concert, a one-take one-off, and that vivid edge is wonderfully suited to the music. I have remained great friends with the composer who is a marvellous spirit, full of humour, curiosity and enthusiasm for all types of music and art. Her Percussion Concerto unleashed a new level of energy into our repertoire, and I salute Jennifer once again on her astonishing achievement with this music.” Colin Currie, March 2020

Composed for Colin, Higdon's Percussion Concerto was commissioned by The Philadelphia Orchestra. The composer's desire for the concerto was to maintain the relationship between the soloist and the orchestra, but has an added musical relationship between the percussion soloist and the percussion section in the orchestra. Higdon wrote for the soloist to play a large amount of percussion instruments, including the vibraphone and marimba (Colin's favoured percussion instrument). 

Colin and Jennifer Higdon after the world premiere with Philadelphia Orchestra

Of the concerto the composer said the following:

" Not only does a percussionist have to perfect playing all of these instruments, but he must make hundreds of decisions regarding the use of sticks and mallets, as there is an infinite variety of possibilities from which to choose. Not to mention the choreography of the movement of the player; where most performers do not have to concern themselves with movement across the stage during a performance, a percussion soloist must have every move memorized. No other instrumentalist has such a large number of variables to challenge and master." Higdon, Program notes: "Percussion Concerto"

Watch Colin perform the concerto in an encore following a performance with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra:

www.intermusica.co.uk/currie. In an encore following a performance with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Colin Currie performs the cadenza from Jennifer Hig...

Southbank Centre announce 2020/21 season featuring Colin Currie and Colin Currie Group

Colin Currie continues as Southbank Centre’s Associate Artist, including two performances just announced as part of their 2020/21 season launch. Currie will perform Danny Elfman's Percussion Concerto written specifically for him and premiered by the London Philharmonic under conductor Alondra de la Parra at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall.  A four-time Oscar nominee, Elfman is known  as one of the most versatile and accomplished film composers in the industry, regularly collaborating with director Tim Burton and composing scores for films such as Planet of the Apes, Edward Scissorhands and Batman. More recently Elfman has made a name for himself in the classical music world composing new instrumental and orchestral works.

Colin Currie will also lead the Colin Currie Group in three mesmerising works by Steve Reich on 10 April 2021 in “Reich Reborn” at the Royal Festival Hall as part of the International Chamber Music Series at Southbank Centre. The group will perform Reich’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet; Music for 18 Musicians; and Pulse. The three works span four decades of Reich's compositions. 

A work driven by its stimulating harmonic movements, Music for 18 Musicians is a piece that is enigmatic of counterpoint-writing and captivating for audiences. Pulse has been described by Colin as a work that "leads you by the hand on a deeply authentic Steve Reich journey." The Colin Currie Group will be the best suited for giving chamber concert-goers an insight into Reich’s works and "[bringing them] into a magic circle" (BBC Music Magazine) that Reich's music so demands. 

"The joy here was the sense of communion between the visibly enthused performers and a beaming audience high on hypnotic percussion." The Times on the Colin Currie Group at the Royal Festival Hall

Sold out peformances of Drumming at the Southbank Centre

Colin leads the Colin Currie Group in four special performances of Steve Reich Drumming at London’s Southbank Centre this December.

The work will be performed in the venue’s Hayward Gallery alongside the visually puzzling art by Bridget Riley in the Southbank Centre’s major retrospective on her work.

Reich’s Drumming returns to the site of its premiere: in 1972, its original performance was in Hayward Gallery, with musicians including Reich himself and Michael Nyman, Gavin Bryars and Cornelius Cardew.

The concerts on 6 and 7 December sold out in record time. For any ticket returns and to find out more, click  here.

> Listen to Colin’s Spotify playlist which includes the Colin Currie Records release of Drumming, as well as other choice recordings of Reich’s work, curated by Colin: A Guide to Steve Reich