19 Oct 2017

Lyell Cresswell premieres his second piano concerto

From Upbeat, 1:40 pm on 19 October 2017
Lyell Cresswell

Lyell Cresswell Photo: Gareth Watkins / Lilburn Trust / Wallace Arts Trust.

Michael Houstoun is about to play a new piano concerto, written for him by Lyell Cresswell, working with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Lyell turned 70 in 2014 and is busier than ever writing works for artists and ensembles, both here and in Scotland where he lives. This is his second piano concerto, the first was written for Stephen de Pledge five years ago.

Cresswell's music is widely performed and broadcast, and has featured in many festivals around the world.  His most recent was Llanto a clarinet concerto, (commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra), which premiered in July in Edinburgh and received glowing reviews.

He’s received many awards including the Sounz Contemporary Award for his first piano concerto and last year was made a New Zealand Arts Laureate Award.