Southbank Sinfonia – Eruptions of Sound and Colour

Mark Simpson – Geysir
Mozart – Serenade No.10 in Bb major K361/370a “Gran Partita”

Nicholas Daniel, conductor

Performed in the round, imagine the pressure and tension of a geyser ready to erupt. Tense stillness followed by a shattering eruption. Mark Simpson’s ‘Geysir’ – the Icelandic word for geyser – captures this. In 8 minutes, his sound world fluctuates from violent pulsations of sound and texture to ethereal flurries.

Composed as a partner to Mozart’s ‘Serenade in Bb’, Simpson draws upon the same tonality and instrumentation: 12 winds plus double bass. Embark on a tour de force of colours and textures.

You can’t miss the drama in Mozart’s ‘Serenade’ either. From the sonorous opening to intricate chains of variations, operatic outbursts to rapid passages, Mozart’s ambitious work is sure to thrill and entertain.