Ahead of our concert together at Wigmore Hall, we are showcasing the works of our friend and critically acclaimed composer, Daniel Kidane.
We first worked with Daniel back in 2009, commissioning his piece ‘Towards Resolution’, which was inspired by the opening of Henry Purcell’s first three-part Fantazia. Subsequently, almost 10 years later, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we commissioned Daniel again to write for us. This time, the result was ‘Be Still’, a piece written in direct response to the passing of time during the months in which the nation was under lockdown. For this concert, we perform both these pieces as well as others from Daniel’s impressive body of work.
Today, we are also joined by another returnee to the Camerata, the incredible violinist Jonian Ilias Kadesha. Introduced to music by his violinist father, Jonian is always seeking out new musical experiences. It was this search which led him to perform Bach’s Chaconne in a pub down in Cornwall, which he cites as ‘The funniest, but also one of the most moving [musical] experiences’ of his life. This courageous and open form of music-making has led Jonian to collaborate with distinguished Camerata guests such as Martha Argerich, Pekka Kuusisto, and our own Gábor Takács-Nagy. We are delighted to be back performing together again.
Following our lunchtime concert, join us for an insightful talk by acclaimed composer Daniel Kidane, hosted by Manchester Camerata, Creative Manchester, and the University of Manchester Music Department. Open to the public, this free event offers a unique opportunity to hear Daniel discuss his recent works including Be Still and Foreign Tongues, with live musical examples and a closer look at the scores.
Kidane’s compositions are a vivid exploration of transnational identity, weaving together his multicultural heritage and diverse musical influences—from Eritrean folk to Soviet war songs and UK Jungle. His work often reflects the complex interplay of languages, both musical and cultural, and is deeply invested in championing diversity and challenging conventions within classical music.
Whether you’re an academic, music student, or simply interested in contemporary music, this talk promises to be engaging and interactive. Daniel is a passionate advocate for dialogue and invites you to bring your questions for an open Q&A session.
No ticket required—come along and be part of the conversation.
Programme
- Daniel Kidane Sublime Light
- Daniel Kidane Towards Resolution
- Daniel Kidane Breathe
- Daniel Kidane Veiled Light
- Daniel Kidane Foreign Tongues
- Daniel Kidane Be Still
Performed by
- Violin/Director Jonian Ilias Kadesha
Manchester Camerata
1st Violin
- Violin/Director Caroline Pether*
- Tom Aldren
- Sophie McQueen
- Sarah Whittingham
- Joy Becker
- Roman Lytwyniw
2nd Violin
- William Newell*
- Gemma Bass
- Coco Inman
- Catherine Landen
- Edward Pether
Viola
- Alex Mitchell*
- Alistair Vennart
- Rachel Jones
- Rebecca Stubbs
Cello
- Hannah Roberts*
- Chris Murray
- Graham Morris
- Barbara Grunthal
Double Bass
- Diane Clark
- Roberto Carrillo-Garcia
Percussion
- Janet Fulton
*String Quartet for Foreign Tongues
With thanks to The Ruth Sutton Trust for Music for their support of our Camerata 360° Fellows.
Musician Chair Supporters
Kathy Arundale (Anthony Banks & Daniel Storer)
John Caine (Janet Fulton)
Penny & John Early (Caroline Pether)
Michael Grindrod & Kathleen Baker (Caroline Pether)
The Pantall family, on behalf of John (Naomi Atherton)
Gill Williamson (Sophie McQueen)
Ron and Jill Robinson (Hannah Roberts)
Realstrings (Alistair Vennart)
Members of Camerata50 and all our other donors
