September has been a time for consolidating and working on new things. I’m particularly really enjoying working on a reimagining of George Antheil’s Piano Sonata No.2 ‘The Airplane’ for Plus Minus Ensemble. Super cool piece and great ways to find ways to bring the material to life for 7 unbelievably brilliant musicians. Gig is 15 January at Cafe Oto.
Author Archives: Ben
Latitude 2025
Had a great time at Latitude at end of July. Fantastic experience to perform new piano version ofThe Driver with the immense Luke Wright to a near full house in the theatre arena. Hope we can find ways to perform it again!
Latitude Slot
Excited to be going to Latitude next week to play a new piano arrangement of The Driver alongside Luke Wright. Our slot is Sunday 27 July at 1.15pm in the Theatre Arena…
https://www.latitudefestival.com/artists/luke-wright-benjamin-oliver-the-driver
J&J pics
Had a lovely time waving bonkers Martinu and my own piece Captured last week.
Fantastic group of musicians: Cat Lawlor (violin), Nici Heinrich (‘cello), Sam Carrasco (piano), Neil Doherty (trumpet), Kim Murphy (bassoon) and Alison Hughes (clarinet/bass clarinet). Plus narration from Lucy Mellors. Hope we get to do it again sometime.
Rehearsal pictures taken by Simon Whitbread
Performing Arts Collaboration South – 3 July
Looking forward to conducting a great band in pieces by Martinu’s crazy ballet La Revue de Cuisine and a new arrangement of my Captured next week at Turner Sims…
New piece for MZ Duo
Just putting the finishing touches together on a new piece for soprano saxophone, accordion and electronics, Push / Pull, for the amazing MZ Duo. Had a great workshop session with David and Iñigo, and looking forward to recording the piece in July.
The Driver @ Latitude
Excited to be performing a reworked version of The Driver with Luke Wright at Latitude in July. I’m working on piano reduction of the score that I’ll play. Will add to gig list etc when I have more details…
In the meantime here is the the latest list – we are in the theatre listings!
‘Pythagoras’ Toolkit’ snaps
Had such a blast conducting the UK premiere of ‘Pythagoras’ Toolkit’ last week. Very grateful to Turner Sims, especially Jessica Santer, for all their support. Great to work with regular musical collaborators (Nici Heinrich, Anna Durance, Amy Green, Ali Hughes) but also happy to wave at Rowland Sutherland, Cat Lawlor, Aaron Townsend and Bob Allan. Amazing puppetry work from Edie Edmundson and Bori Mezo. Awesome lights from David Duffy. Rachel Warr was brilliant as always directing. Thanks to Tom Crame for the photos. Hope we can do it again soon.
Echolocations Video
Video of Echolocations is now online. Proud of this work and to be able to collaborate with my awesome colleagues Drew Crawford, Gre and Pablo Galaz.
Entail Video
Video of Entail is now online. I created this new work with Will May. The work pays tribute to Philip Hoare’s writing on whales and the ocean, and is comprised of text taken from Hoare’s Leviathan, or The Whale.
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