Piatti Quartet, Fidelio Trio & Thomas Gould - Gavin Higgins: Ekstasis (2021)

Gavin Higgins (b. 1983) is one of the most exciting and gifted compositional talents of his generation, described as "boldly imaginative" (Times) and "a talent to watch" (The New York Times). From a long lineage of brass band musicians, Higgins was born in Gloucestershire and grew up in the Forest of Dean. He studied French horn at Chetham’s School of Music and composition at The Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal College of Music. In 2010 he became the inaugural music fellow for the Rambert Dance Company writing a number of daring ballet scores including What Wild Ecstasy (2012) which was shortlisted for a British Composer Award; and the ground-breaking Dark Arteries (2015) which was shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Award and a British Composer Award.His work has been commissioned by some of the UK’s leading festivals, including three commissions for the BBC Proms: Der Aufstand (2012), Rough Voices (2020) and the "fast, exciting and brilliantly scored" (Telegraph) Velocity which opened the Last Night of the Proms (2014). In 2019 his first opera, The Monstrous Child, commissioned by the Royal Opera House, opened to critical acclaim, being described as "a triumph" (The Guardian). In 2020 Higgins was appointed Composer-in-Association with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Tracklist
01. Gursky Landscapes: I. Dolomites, Cable Car
02. Gursky Landscapes: II. Les Mées
03. Gursky Landscapes: III. Kamiokande
04. Gursky Landscapes: IV. Utah
05. Gursky Landscapes: V. Kathedrale
06. Ruins of Detroit: I. Ballroom, Lee Plaza Hotel
07. Ruins of Detroit: II. Car, Michigan Theatre
08. Ruins of Detroit: III. Piano, St Albertus School
09. Seven Welsh Folk Songs: I. Dacw 'Nghariad i
10. Seven Welsh Folk Songs: II. Hob Y Deri Dando
11. Seven Welsh Folk Songs: III. Pwsi Meri Mew
12. Seven Welsh Folk Songs: IV. Tros Y Garreg
13. Seven Welsh Folk Songs: V. Y Pren Ar Y Bryn
14. Seven Welsh Folk Songs: VI. Beth Yw'r Haf I Mi
15. Seven Welsh Folk Songs: VII. Y Saith Gysgadur (Dadl Dau)
16. Ekstasis: I. Palms rise to the universe
17. Ekstasis: II. Sweat
18. Ekstasis: III. We turn to the gods and are torn apart
19. Ekstasis: IV. Meditation
20. Ekstasis: V. This he plunged into my heart