Brian Howard, one of Australia's most striking composers of chamber operas, studied with Peter Sculthorpe, Richard Meale, Bernard Rands and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies* Taught composition at University of Melbourne and New South Wales Conservatorium in Sydney * Held composer residencies at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris and the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen * Commissions from Australian Opera, Victoria State Opera, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, West Australian Ballet and Opera Factory Zürich * Particularly acclaimed for his chamber operas which are based on texts by Steven Berkoff (after Kafka), Louis Nowra and Jean Rhys * Operas have strong theatrical thrust, with social conventions threatened by dangerous external forces and psychological disturbance * Output also includes evocatively crafted ensemble and orchestral works * Early scores demonstrate a forceful, modernist idiom while recent works embrace tonal harmony, minimalist processes and a rich poetic vein
Works by Brian Howard include: Metamorphosis (1983) Chamber opera in six scenes Whitsunday (1988) Chamber opera in three acts Wide Sargasso Sea (1996) Chamber opera
"Howard has turned Metamorphosisinto a riveting piece of musical theatre that holds you to your seat in shock" — Opera
