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BBC Scotland's John Johnston reports
"The highlight will be the Scottish premiere of the new symphony"
 real 56k

Saturday, 23 June, 2001, 22:40 GMT 23:40 UK
Sound of the snowscapes
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies in Antarctica
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies during his stay in Antarctica
A symphony inspired by the sweeping snowscapes of the Antarctic has received its Scottish premiere.

Saturday's performance of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's Antarctic Symphony was the centrepiece of the six-day St Magnus Festival in Orkney.

Inspired by the composer's visit to the Antarctic, it was performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
The composer spent almost a month in Antartica
The symphony is the eighth - and last - to be written by the Orkney-based composer.

The work - a sequel to Vaughan Williams' Sinfonia Antarctica - was commissioned jointly by British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Philharmonia Orchestra.

He spent almost a month in the biting cold of the Antarctic with the BAS.

"The new Antarctic Symphony reflects my experiences in one of the world's last great wildernesses," said Sir Peter.

And he added: "Now I am hearing the symphony again... I am being reminded of all sorts of things that happened in Antarctica that I had forgotten - like the sheer coldness."

Range of events

The work had its world premiere last month at the Royal Festival Hall in London as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

The 25th annual St Magnus Festival includes a variety of events including music, theatre, art and poetry.

Venues ranging from the St Magnus Cathedral to the Flotta Kirk will host performances from a mixture of local acts and world-renowned artists.

These will include readings by festival poet Vikram Seth, author of novels including the bestseller A Suitable Boy, along with performances by London Brass and the Nash Ensemble.

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See also:

14 Feb 01 | Sci/Tech
Delay for Antarctic explorers
01 Feb 01 | Sci/Tech
Antarctic ice sheet shrinks
07 Dec 99 | Sci/Tech
Antarctica's icy origins
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