Work of the Week - Wilhelm Killmayer: Dithyramben

"Killmayer's art is as a stiff breeze at dawn, finely defined, mindful of origin, strikingly clear, yet permeated with humour and surprise in its varying shapes and figures." (Wolfgang Rihm)

The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra has commissioned a new orchestral work from Wilhelm Killmayer called Dithyramben. As the title suggests, the ideas behind art and music in Ancient Greece were important to the composer.  "This virtuoso piece is essentially diatonic and in unison", comments Killmayer. The premiere will be on 12 January 2007 in hte Herkulessaal of Munich's Residence Museum as part of the Musica Viva series.  Christoph Poppen will conduct the concert, which is the start of celebrations to mark Killmayer's 80th birthday on 21 August 2007.