The violist Stephen Upshaw plays Errollyn Wallen’s ‘LAVINIA’, commissioned for him by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation and Riot Ensemble.

Wallen says of her piece: ‘Based on the Ancient Greek character Lavinia, this piece seeks to convey the overwhelming and consuming nature of jealousy which most often grows out of pain at the prospect of loss. Towards the end of the piece we hear some notes from Lavinia’s aria from my opera, Dido’s Ghost.’

 

Watch Stephen Upshaw plays contemporary British viola music by recent graduates

Read How to approach contemporary music, by violist Stephen Upshaw

Read Dulcinea Quartet and violist Stephen Upshaw receive Trinity Laban Fellowship awards

 

The opera, Dido’s Ghost, will premiere at the Barbican later this year.

 

To read Errollyn Wallen’s Premiere of the Month, click here.