On September 27 Theodore Kuchar conducted the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra in the world premiere of The Language of Water, a sixteen-minute composition for 22 solo strings. The work was commissioned with financial assistance from the Manitoba Arts Council.
Upcoming premieres
The Skin of Night – July 2006, Harrington/Loewen Duo, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Duos for Violin and Cello – June 20, 2006, Agassiz Summer Festival, Winnipeg, Canada
New Work, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra – September 27, 2006, Winnipeg, Canada
Commission from the Harrington/Loewen Duo
The Harrington/Loewen Duo has commissioned Matthews to write a new work for their 2006 tour of Atlantic Canada and their performance on the 14th World Saxophone Congress in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Symphony No. 1, Out of the Earth – Arkivmusic.com
It has been suggested that the future of concert music lies in linking like-minded souls around the world to form a new, perhaps even more vibrant, audience. If that’s the case, then this project stands out as a monument to this new era. Within this global context, Michael Matthews can claim citizenship of a new music world. Not only has he lived in many different parts of the globe, including Pakistan, Korea, the Caribbean and several different parts of North America, he also continues to work with musicians around the world. This project combines his talents with those of the American composer/conductor Virko Baley, with Therese Costes, a vocal soloist from Canada, as well as with musicians from Ukraine, creating a virtual international concert hall. Unlike the recently popular post-modern composers, Michael Matthews has crafted a musical world melding a vast array of ideas together to form a new aesthetic. His music is at once grounded in the past, and without being self conscious, allows the musical ideas to find a new frame of reference
that is at once familiar, but also original.
Miniatures in Belgrade
The Composers’ Association of Serbia presented Matthews’ Miniatures on their 12th International Review of Composers. The concert took place in Velika Sala, Belgrade, on May 17; the performers were the Gudacki Quartet: Miloš Petrovic, violin, Ivana Cetkovic, violin, Nataša Stanojevic, viola, and Igor Cetkovic, cello.
Vertical Garden performed in Mexico
On July 19, 2005, flutist Asako Arai performed Vertical Garden in Mexico City.
Away, tear away performed in Mexico
On October 6 and 10, 2005, the Mexico City Woodwind Quintet performed Away, tear away at concerts at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and the Cervantino Festival.
Preludes world premiere
On October 8, 2005, three of the composer’s Preludes for piano were given their world premiere by Peter Vinograde The concert took place at Eckhardt-Gramatté hall in the University of Winnipeg.
Violin/Viola Duos world premiere
On October 9, 2005, Oleg and Mikhail Pokhanovski gave the world premiere of Book I of theDuos for Violin and Viola. The concert took place at the Broadway Disciples United Church in Winnipeg. Also on that concert were three Preludes for piano, performed by Peter Vinograde.
Commission from Meduse
The Meduse ensemble of Montreal has commissioned Matthews to write a new work for their 2006-2007 season. The commission was funded by the Manitoba Arts Council.