CECILIA McDOWALL
‘Cecilia McDowall is another of the new generation of highly communicative musicians who favours writing which, without being in any way facile, is brightly cogent, freshly witty and expressive in its own right.’
GRAMOPHONE
‘The life-affirming, restorative strength of her direct and unaffected speech is fully communicated in these carefully prepared, joyous performances.’
TEMPO
FEATURED WORK
‘There was nothing lacking in invention, in this new work. The musical and emotional contrasts were tangible. At the outset, the glowering darkness of the Philharmonia’s woodwind, taken up by rich textures in the chorus, with a periodic rocking motion, and the alternation, then unifying, of the soloists all had a mesmerising effect.’
CHURCH TIMES
‘There is much sparkling and shimmering in McDowall’s writing. Cadences quiver and shiver unresolved, then vaporise as though overcome by their mysteriousness.’
THE TIMES
FEATURED RECORDING
The disc contains numerous gems, including the explosively sonorous Colour is the Keyboard for solo piano, sparked by the work of Russia’s famous synaesthetes Kandinsky and Scriabin, while Cavatina at Midnight for piano trio is an achingly beautiful homage to the nightingale.’
CLASSICAL MUSIC.COM
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‘Sometimes richly tonal, sometimes more exploratory in harmonic range, her music is always full of invention… a welcome collection of McDowall’s powerful, imaginative works.’
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
LATEST NEWS
International Women’s Day | BBC Singers Seven Ages of Woman
To mark International Women’s Day 2020, BBC Radio 3 has commissioned seven very different composers to write a movement each of an a cappella choral work entitled Seven Ages of Woman. Helena Paish; Electra Perivolaris; Samantha Fernando, Emily Hall, Deirdre...
The Girl from Aleppo | Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Dubai
On February 9 a performance of the cantata 'Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo' is given by Dubai Opera Festival Chorus, the Latifa School Girls' Choir, conducted by BBC Singers' own Rob Johnston. The violin solo will be performed by Eva Grasbeck and accompanied...
Carol Services at St Paul’s Cathedral | 23 & 24 Dec
On 23 and 24 December at 4pm carol services at St Paul's will include Cecilia McDowall's carol, 'Before the paling of the stars'. This is the start of the Christmas season with the re-telling of the story of the birth of Christ in words and music. The Cathedral Choir...
OUP CATALOGUE
‘During the past few years the music of this British composer has been heard more and more, and her output has impressed audiences, players and critics alike. It deserves to.’
‘During the past few years the music of this British composer has been heard more and more, and her output has impressed audiences, players and critics alike. It deserves to.’
‘She constantly tweaks the ear with her range of spicy rhythms and colours then suddenly produces a highly atmospheric and grippingly expressive interlude which is just as compelling.’
GRAMOPHONE
‘She constantly tweaks the ear with her range of spicy rhythms and colours then suddenly produces a highly atmospheric and grippingly expressive interlude which is just as compelling.’
GRAMOPHONE