Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, composer of our next production, The Lighthouse, dies at age 81.
From our Creative Director, Brian Staufenbiel:
With the recent news of Sir Peter’s passing, I have been reflecting with gratitude about the extraordinary musical and theatrical generosity his work exudes. We dedicate our production of ‘The Lighthouse’ to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
From our Artistic Director, Nicole Paiement:
His capacity to create vivid images through the use of sound, communicating directly and powerfully with the audience, is unmatched.
Known as the ‘enfant terrible’ in the earlier part of his career, Sir Peter composed some 300 works, including 10 symphonies, 10 so-called Strathclyde Concertos, and the operas including Taverner and The Lighthouse. He moved to the Orkney Islands in the early 70s, leading to a calmer style of music, which often incorporated Scottish motifs. In 1987 he was knighted, and in 2004 he became Master of the Queen’s Music – a post considered to be the musical equivalent of the poet laureate.”
Read more and watch a video about Peter Maxwell Davies, his life, and his music in this BBC article.