Work of the Week - John Casken: Concerto for Orchestra

On 31st March, John Casken's latest orchestral work, Concerto for Orchestra, will be premiéred by the Mannheim Nationaltheater-Orchester conducted by Friedemann Layer at the Rosengarten in Mannheim, Germany. A second performance will take place at the same venue the following day.

The twenty minute work continues Casken's interest in two-movement forms which he began with his Cello Concerto (1991) and went on to develop in Sortilége (1996) and Symphony (Broken Consort) (2004). The composer comments:

My Concerto for Orchestra is a twenty-minute work in which different sections of the orchestra, as well as individual solos and duos from within the orchestra, are highlighted as the music unfolds. Each of the two movements is given equal weight and importance, with the second developing earlier material and taking it in new directions.

• John Casken - Profile