“Roche Commissions” 2022 and 2024
The 11th “Roche Commission” Air by Thomas Adès, with Anne-Sophie Mutter as the soloist and the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra, premieres on 27 August
The 12th “Roche Commission” goes to Swiss composer Beat Furrer and premieres in 2024
The world premiere of Air for solo violin and orchestra, the 11th “Roche Commission” by British composer Thomas Adès with Anne-Sophie Mutter as the soloist and the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (LFCO), will take place on Saturday, 27 August. The composer will conduct the program himself at the KKL Lucerne Concert Hall. The musicians have been studying and working on the score over the past few days with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Thomas Adès as part of the Lucerne Festival Academy.
The title of Thomas Adès' Air is a musical term for a melody or song. Through this work, the composer fulfills violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter's wish for him to create an instrumental aria rather than a bravura concerto. The violin’s melody floats like a song high in the register above a slowly striding orchestral texture.
As part of the “Roche Commissions” series, the 12th edition of “Roche Commissions” will go to the Swiss-born Austrian composer Beat Furrer. He is one of the most sought-after representatives of his generation. The selection was made by Roche at the suggestion of Lucerne Festival’s artistic leadership. The world premiere of his work will take place as part of the 2024 Summer Festival and Beat Furrer will also conduct the new work.