EXAMPLES OF RICHARD'S RECENT WORK
The Journey - 65-minute opera commissioned by Welsh National Opera
Music - Richard Barnard
Words - Alan Harris
First performed in South Wales in June 2010, conducted by Richard, the opera starred WNO’s Jennifer Walker, Only Men Aloud’s Aled Powys Williams and seven choirs from across South Wales. Using Welsh mythology and set in the Valleys, the opera tells the story of young Dewi and his journey to find his lost love, Ariene – a river princess. As well as telling a tale of adventure, passion and struggle, the piece explores and celebrates the power and solace of nature. The libretto and music incorporated words and music from WNO projects across the Valleys.
- The Journey - Ariene Falls in Love (mp3)
- The Journey - Ariene and Dewi's Duet (mp3)
- The Journey - Chapel-goers Song (mp3)
- The Journey - On the Edge (mp3)
- The Journey - Dewi's Realisation (mp3)
- The Journey - The Lark Descends... (mp3)
- Birdsong Brings Relief - from live performance by Juice (mp3)
- The River Begins - Opera North Family Choir Project (mp3)
NEW SCORE FOR NOEL CLARKE'S LATEST SHORT FILM
Richard has written and produced the score to 'Reign of Death' - a sci-fi film-noir short starring BAFTA award-winning Noel Clarke.
View full version of film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa9O5PTNct8
BRISTOL ENSEMBLE'S 'ELEKTROSTATIC' NEW MUSIC SERIES CONTINUES...
March 10th: Juice vocal group and DJ Gabriel Prokofiev (nonclassical label) came up from London for a fantastic gig featuring Richard's Birdsong Brings Relief and the latest in his set of short violin pieces Six Moments Alone.
Feb 10th: A packed crowd in for 'Shaker Loops' String music concert, also featuring live dulcimer, strings and electronics with film from Liz Purnell and Andy Keep .
RICHARD CONDUCTS THE BBC SINGERS AND BRISTOL STUDENTS PERFORMING 'AT THE BORDER'
A hugely successful performance of 'At the Border' on the 24th July 2008 marked the culmination of an 8 month project, generously sponsored by the Colston Society, with St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School, Horfield Primary, writer Peter Spafford, BBC Singers and Zimbabwean musicians Cecilia Ndlovu and Sibusiso Mhlamga. Richard and Peter led workshops with students and used the students' ideas, words and musical material to compose a 50 minute oratorio for choir, soloists and orchestra as a 'sequel' to Tippett's A Child of Our Time focussing on the themes of migration, persecution, political oppression and the refugee.
The final piece received a standing ovation and hugely positive feedback from students, parents, teachers, performers and an audience including the Lord Mayor of Bristol.
BBC Singers learning manager Garth MacArthur described 'At the Border' as "a triumph. The audience loved it and it sounded so fabulous"
