Michael Berkeley's Tsunami Threnody

"Since the term was coined in the 1920s, the concerto for orchestra has proved a useful addition to the repertoire of genres available to the composer. The latest comes from Michael Berkeley, whose new work pays tribute to the collective virtuosity of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, of which he is associate composer.

It is dedicated to the orchestra's principal conductor, Richard Hickox, who led its world premiere performance last night, but the work also honours victims of the Asian tsunami that struck while he was in the midst of composing the score, and in particular the arts advocate Jane Attenborough.

"Her'' movement is the central elegy, subtitled Threnody for a Sad Trumpet, effectively a solo concerto movement for the BBC NOW's principal trumpeter Philippe Schartz, whose eloquent playing was a highlight of the performance. Yet the outer movements have their elegiac moments, too..."

Matthew Rye
"Proms 2005: sad trumpet pays an eloquent tribute"
The Telegraph (UK) July 20, 2005