Palimpsests

George Benjamin has steadfastly pursued his path between his mutually stimulating activities on stage and behind his desk. He has been closely associated with Ensemble Modern for more than three decades. In 2023 he was honored with the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Prize. The orchestral song "A Mind of Winter" is based on a poem by Wallace Stevens. "At First Light" is inspired by a painting by William Turner. "Palimpsests" testifies to a fascination with specific overlays in medieval parchment manuscripts. With the ensemble arrangements of two pieces from the "Art of Fugue," Benjamin brings Bach's musical spirit into the present.