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'Discovering Dutilleux' Festival announced for 15-17 February 2008

January 2008

Dutilleux logo

BBC Wales and the School of Music at Cardiff University are delighted to announce a special festival to honour the distinguished French composer, Henri Dutilleux (b. 22 January 1916). This partnership between BBC Wales and the School of Music has come about because of the passion for Dutilleux's music that is shared by the major participants: the Principal Conductor and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Thierry Fischer and Jac van Steen, the orchestra's Senior Producer, Tim Thorne, and one of the School's lecturers, Dr Caroline Rae. Dr Rae is a specialist in French music (the School has recognised expertise in French music) and first met Dutilleux while completing her doctorate.

Tim Thorne, Senior Producer BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Dr Caroline Rae, School of Music; BBC National Orchestra of Wales Principal Conductor Thierry Fischer and Professor Robin Stowell, Head of School

Tim Thorne, Senior Producer BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Dr Caroline Rae, School of Music; BBC National Orchestra of Wales Principal Conductor Thierry Fischer and Professor Robin Stowell, Head of School.

In addition to concerts, there will be talks and discussions on the music of Henri Dutilleux - see Full Programme Details for further information. Further comments on Dutilleux's significance from the major participants may be found on the:
BBC National Orchestra of Wales website.

In recognition of Dutilleux's eminence, Cardiff University is awarding him its highest honour, an Honorary Fellowship. The ceremony will take place in St David's Hall at the end of the concert on Saturday 16 February.

This has been a busy start to 2008 for Cardiff's School of Music. On 14 January, in Zakopane in southern Poland, the University awarded the Polish composer Henryk Mikolaj Górecki an Honorary Fellowship. Later that same week, our Distinguished Research Professor in Composition, Judith Weir, was accorded the honour of what has turned out to be the last of the BBC's famous January weekends ('Telling the Tale') devoted to a major composer of the 20th or 21st century. So, two honorary fellowships and two dedicated festivals in the space of five weeks!