23. The Hermes Experiment

Our Song Futures day concludes with a performance by sparkling ensemble The Hermes Experiment. This contemporary quartet, comprising soprano, harp, clarinet, and double bass, was founded in 2014 and has already commissioned more than 50 composers. Their recently released album HERE WE ARE was described by The Guardian as ‘witty and imaginative…joyous and heartbreaking’.

They give the world premiere of our third commission of the Festival, by one of today’s most sought-after composers, Philip Venables. Philip’s opera 4.48 Psychosis, premiered by the Royal Opera, won the 2017 British Composer Award for Best Stage Work, and has since been performed the world over. His new work for Oxford Lieder, A Photograph, has been created with the playwright and librettist Cordelia Lynn, whose works have been performed at the Royal Court, Almeida, and Young Vic Theatres.

The Hermes Experiment also includes Mah Didam by the British-Iranian composer Soosan Lolavar, who is a contributor to our day exploring Hafez, alongside Josephine Stephenson and Misha Mullov-Abbado, as well as arrangements of Richard Rodney Bennett, Barbara Strozzi and Joni Mitchell.

This concert will be streamed completely live. Shortly afterwards, it will also be available to watch again (using the same ticket and link) until 1 November 2020. Click here for further information on how tickets will work this year.

Watch the Hermes Experiment performing Meredith Monk's 'Double Fiesta' at the 2019 RPS Awards:

[youtube url=https://youtu.be/7aKaagbQZkU]