Recorded live in 1994 this album contains key works from Gavin Bryars’ output. The whole album is part of line of live recordings that give an insight into Bryars’ on-going work with his ensemble, something that is at the heart of his music.
The North Shore was written for the great viola player Bill Hawkes, who was to work with Gavin for many years, and this is the premiere of the version for viola and string orchestra. The only other recording, a studio recording four years later, has long been deleted and this is the definitive performance.
Doctor Ox’s Experiment (Epilogue), a satellite work for Gavin ‘s second opera, commissioned by ENO, was written 10 years before the opera’s premiere and is a self-contained piece that tells the story of the opera in flashback by Suzel, one of the opera’s chief protagonists. This is the only music currently available on record from the opera Dr Ox’s Experiment.
