“How long have I got to live? No idea.. but in my situation, I can’t waste time thinking about things I can’t change.. and I’ve never been so productive in my life. Seize the day,” says War Horse composer Adrian Sutton.
In September 2022 the Olivier-awarded and Tony-nominated British composer was given an incurable cancer diagnosis. His response to this was to “seize the day” and turn all his attention to writing a slew of new orchestral and chamber works including a major Violin Concerto.
All these new (and previous) orchestral works were performed at the Southbank Centre with the RPO in June 2023 to a standing ovation.
The same orchestral works were recorded in January 2024 with the BBC Philharmonic and Fenella Humphreys as soloist in the Violin Concerto for an album to be released by Chandos on 4th October. All works are world premiere recordings (though the War Horse Suite is a 15-minute derivation of some highlights from the larger work War Horse: The Story in Concert).
Adrian plans to continue to write for as long as he can. This year he has further upcoming commissions including a song-cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano quartet commissioned by Lucy Schaufer (Wild Plum Arts); Sap and Sinews (Orchestral Version) for the Presteigne Music Festival; a short orchestral/choral work for Macmillan Carol Concert, Cadogan Hall on 3rd Dec 2024 with Ben Goldscheider (horn), the Northern Lights Symphony Orchestra and Vivace Chorus under Adam Johnson, and finally a commission for SATB choir.
The worldwide theatre hit War Horse, featuring Adrian’s acclaimed orchestral score, returns to UK theatres in September: https://www.warhorseonstage.com/.