Peter Maxwell Davies is one of the most significant figures in post-War European music * Rose to prominence in late 1960s with neo-expressionistic music-theatre pieces Eight Songs for a Mad King and Vesalii Icones, orchestra scores Worldes Blis and St Thomas Wake, and opera Taverner * Many works composed for distinctive chamber sextet of Fires of London * Since the 1970s, worklist includes Trumpet Concerto, 8 Symphonies, and 10 Strathclyde Concertos written for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra * Many works for young performers * Active as conductor, both of his own works and standard repertoire* Appointed Master of the Queen's Music in 2004
Looking Ahead: further CD recordings of symphonies reissued on Naxos label; new touring production of Eight Songs for a Mad King by Music Theatre Wales (Mar-Jul)
"...vivid theatricality and a musical idiom that combines medieval mysticism, modernist rigour and happy accessibility." — New York Times
For information on Maxwell Davies works available from other publishers please visit the composer's website at www.maxopus.com
