In what is thought to be the first new plainsong mass in over 60 years (since Duruflé's Requiem of 1947), Roxanna has used the famous Missa de Angelis as a basis for the London Oratory School Schola's new mass which will be premiered on 7th May 2010 at St James's Church, Spanish Place, London accompanied by brass octet. There will be two versions available - this choral (also in an organ version) and a congregational one which will be pared down to something everyone can sing at their weekly masses. Come and hear the angels - click here to buy tickets.
Hold on! We haven't had Spring yet! Nevertheless, Roxanna's latest addition to her new Four Seasons series for über-violinist Tasmin Little will be Indian Summer. Based on Northern Indian traditional music, it is loosely structured as a Raga using four different indigenous modes and slightly Bhangra-ized tabla (Indian drums) rhythms. The new work will be premiered with Tasmin and the Orchestra of the Swan on 28th April 2010 at Birmingham Town Hall. A second performance is scheduled on 28th May 2010 at the Spring Sounds Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon. Click here to buy tickets.
In her 4th collaboration with one of the UK's favourite poets Wendy Cope, The National Chamber Choir of Ireland, under the baton of Paul Hillier, will premiere her "Two Poems by Wendy" at Cork International Choral Festival (the commissioners) on 30th April 2010. the homeless hammer and Some Rules include plenty of opportunity for the choir to act and the conductor is also required to sing a couple of (very) short solos... Click here to buy tickets.
Catch Roxanna's traditional Polish Carol arrangement on Christmas Eve at 4pm (Eastern Time), in a live webcast from St Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, by clicking here.
Click here to listen to Roxanna's recent interview with Classic fM podcast supremo Bob Jones!
Roxanna’s “Stay with Me” is now available on a new CD “Padre Pio PRAYER” with sensational choir The Sixteen, on their own “Coro” label (COR16071). The disc also includes settings of the same prayer by Will Todd and James MacMillan – and further works by all three composers. A rave review can be found in the current GRAMOPHONE Magazine (highlights of this can be found on this site’s REVIEWS page).
Roxanna was interviewed by Radio New Zealand for their “Composer of the Week” programme – it’ll be broadcast on the 15th of March at 9am and again on the 16th at 7pm (NZ time). Frequencies are on our website here. Meanwhile, anyone else can hear it here.
"That Mighty Heart" for mezzo and piano will be premiered alongside songs by 99 other British composers in a remarkable new project from the NMC. It's new Songbook CD will be launched with 4 concerts containing all these songs at King's Place (London) between 1st - 4th April. For further details of Roxanna's performance (1st April) click here.
The Endellion String Quartet have commissioned Roxanna to write music to go alongside new poems by Wendy Cope about characters you'd find in a typical concert audience. With The Traditionalist, The Radical, The Cougher and The Drinker there will be something for (or about!) everybody. The piece will be toured around several major UK festivals this Spring and Summer - details to follow....
...further Seasons for Tasmin Little & Orchestra; a new plainsong mass for Schola, the choir of London Oratory; more songs for Tenor, horn and piano commissioned by the Temple Music Foundation; song cycle for Patricia Rozario accompanied by San Francisco über-choir Chanticleer and a large-scale work for Narrator & Ensemble with Mobius.