Composer Anna Clyne Photo: Javier Oddo
The London-born composer Anna Clyne has been steadily gaining in renown over recent years, finding champions in great conductors such as Marin Alsop.
'Masquerade' was commissioned by the BBC for performance at the Last Night of the BBC Proms, and conducted by Marin Alsop in 2013. The commission specifically required the piece be “exuberant” - in keeping with the party atmosphere of the famous ‘Last Night’.
For inspiration, Clyne looked back to the 18th century and London’s pleasure gardens, where the Proms or Promenade concerts were first held and where people from all walks of life mingled, enjoying the joyful chaos of a variety of entertainment, from acrobatics to exotic street entertainers, dancers, fireworks and masquerades.
And colourful chaos appears in the music from the beginning. After a sudden clap catches your attention, the music spins and swirls – a melody sweeps in like an imaginary chorus-like welcoming the audience to an imaginary masquerade. Then a raucous tune appears and mashes into it – Anna’s rendition of an old English drinking song called ‘Juice of Barley”. You are swept along with the excitement – one wondrous act after another. 'Masquerade' closes with a brilliant brass finale, like musical fireworks.
Recorded 26 March 2021, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington by RNZ Concert
Producer: David McCaw
Engineer: Darryl Stack
