Radius
"An enviable assortment of gifted young players"
Radius - founded by Tim Benjamin - specialise in the performance of new music from around the world written by living composers, together with works by 20th-century masters. The ensemble is comprised of outstanding young international concert artists, and aims to showcase their individual talent both as soloists and together, performing new music to the highest possible standard. Critically acclaimed by the national and musical press, Radius have appeared at London's Wigmore Hall and Southbank Centre, at festivals including the 2007 London Design Festival, and have given the first performances of more than ten new works.
"Radius are the sum of a remarkable group of parts and demand to be listened to and engaged with"
Radius are:
- founder & director: Tim Benjamin
- violin: Daniel Rowland, Alexandra Wood
- cello: Oliver Coates, Rosie Banks
- flute: Jennifer George, Adam Walker
- clarinet: Charys Green, Sarah Watts
- horn: Jocelyn Lightfoot
- trumpet: Huw Morgan
- trombone: Tyler Vahldick
- horn: Jocelyn Lightfoot
- piano: John Reid
- percussion: Adrian Spillett, Owen Gunnell
"The performance by the young contemporary music ensemble Radius was exceptionally assured"
18th June 2009, Wigmore Hall, London
A Celebration of Charles Darwin and Evolution
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, and the 150 years since the first publication of "On the Origin of Species", critically acclaimed ensemble Radius perform a programme featuring different approaches to "chance" in music (Cage, Boulez, Newland), glorious bird-song (Messiaen), and a new semi-staged work dramatising Darwin's letters from the Beagle, by Tim Benjamin.
Radius at Wigmore Hall June 2009Larger size poster (JPG, 90k)
Programme for 18th June 2009
- Boulez: Domaines
- Cage: Telephones And Birds (Not Birds But Messiaen)
- Paul Newland: Monotonous Forest *
- Messiaen: L'Allouette Lulu and L'Allouette Calandrelle from Catalogue d'Oiseaux
- Cage: Radio Music
- Tim Benjamin: A Dream of England (A dramatic setting of Charles Darwin's letters from the Beagle) *
Debut CD, out now!
Radius's debut CD, ep-one, is now available for sale through this website. Featuring works by Ian Vine and Tim Benjamin, and priced at just £3.99, this is a recording not to be missed! Radius ep-one
Concert Report: Radius at the Purcell Room, Southbank, 25th May 2008
Radius performed works by four British composers: Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Thomas Adès, Ian Vine, and Tim Benjamin, together with a rare performance of George Crumb's beautiful Eleven Echoes of Autumn. The programme featured two world premieres: The Rosenhan Experiment, a one-act music theatre piece by Tim Benjamin featuring countertenor Robert Ogden, and a new work by Ian Vine. This concert was repeated on the 21st June at the Corsham Festival, near Bath. The Purcell Room was reviewed in Music Web International and Corsham was reviewed in the Gazette and Herald.
Concert Report: Radius at the Wigmore Hall, 8th January 2008
Featuring five new works to celebrate the 50th birthday of Simon Holt, plus music by Vivier, Xenakis, and Feldman, Radius gave a well-attended and well-received concert at London's Wigmore Hall on 8th January 2008. There were three press reviews, in Music Web International, Johnson's Rambler, and by Andrew Clements in The Guardian.
Concert Report: The Corley Conspiracy
Radius performing The Corley Conspiracy at the Southbank CentrePhoto: Tim Benjamin
Radius's recent performance of The Corley Conspiracy (by Tim Benjamin and Sean Starke) took place on three days at London's Southbank Centre. A review in the Guardian is reproduced on the reviews page, and some photos from the event are on the music page. In December, The Corley Conspiracy was selected as one of Classical Music magazine's "premieres of the year".
Call for Proposals
Radius are calling for performance proposals for our 2008 Autumn season and beyond. We are keen to hear from composers, promoters, and publishers, as well as from other potential collaborators. We are particularly interested to:
- Perform works which have already been performed, and which are scored for at least four of our core group;
- Receive proposals from collaborators (e.g. dance, video) for half or whole concerts or other public events.