Premiere of the Month: Far from home

Canadian composer Cassandra Miller will bring the folk music of Greece to the Royal Albert Hall in her new, one-movement Viola Concerto. British violist Lawrence Power will perform the work alongside the BBC Philharmonic as part of the BBC Proms. ‘He has such a rich musical personality, it was inspiring to compose something that resonates with his style,’ she says of the soloist, with whom she has previously worked.

The concerto is based off a recording of Greek violinist Alexis Zoumbas, in which he plays a moiroloi – a lament-style song from the north-west of the country, which honours those who have passed on. ‘I visited the region in 2009, became obsessed with the music and then came across the recording,’ Miller says. The composition process began with a transcription of the source recording…