Colin Currie continues as Southbank Centre’s Associate Artist, including two performances just announced as part of their 2020/21 season launch. Currie will perform Danny Elfman's Percussion Concerto written specifically for him and premiered by the London Philharmonic under conductor Alondra de la Parra at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. A four-time Oscar nominee, Elfman is known as one of the most versatile and accomplished film composers in the industry, regularly collaborating with director Tim Burton and composing scores for films such as Planet of the Apes, Edward Scissorhands and Batman. More recently Elfman has made a name for himself in the classical music world composing new instrumental and orchestral works.
Colin Currie will also lead the Colin Currie Group in three mesmerising works by Steve Reich on 10 April 2021 in “Reich Reborn” at the Royal Festival Hall as part of the International Chamber Music Series at Southbank Centre. The group will perform Reich’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet; Music for 18 Musicians; and Pulse. The three works span four decades of Reich's compositions.
A work driven by its stimulating harmonic movements, Music for 18 Musicians is a piece that is enigmatic of counterpoint-writing and captivating for audiences. Pulse has been described by Colin as a work that "leads you by the hand on a deeply authentic Steve Reich journey." The Colin Currie Group will be the best suited for giving chamber concert-goers an insight into Reich’s works and "[bringing them] into a magic circle" (BBC Music Magazine) that Reich's music so demands.
"The joy here was the sense of communion between the visibly enthused performers and a beaming audience high on hypnotic percussion." The Times on the Colin Currie Group at the Royal Festival Hall