The Nash Ensemble’s annual contemporary musicshowcase features six works by Sir Harrison Birtwistle,with whom the group has enjoyed a long and closeassociation. In addition to two earlier Nash commissions,Fantasia upon all the notes and The Woman and the Hare,they include a new Duo specifically written for the Nash’sviolist Lawrence Power and cellist Adrian Brendel. Theprogramme also takes in Elliott Carter’s Mosaic, inspiredby memories of the pioneering harpist Carlos Salzedo, anda newly revised piece for solo bassoon by the late OliverKnussen, originally written as a study for a large-scaleproject based on the writings of Kafka. Stefan Asburyconducts the ensemble works and the solo soprano is theNash’s frequent and welcome guest, Claire Booth.

This concert is dedicated to the eminent composer andconductor Oliver Knussen, who died in July 2018.