Kate Mount
Awards The Ivors Classical Music Award
The Ivors Classical Music Award This year’s Ivor Novello Award recipients list is not exactly short on high achievers. But, even against such contenders, if there were to be an award for productivity, innovation and versatility, pioneering composer Thea Musgrave would surely be in a field of her own. Born in Scotland and trained at the Conservatoire in Paris, her music career has proved breath-taking in its scope and devastating in its impact on every sector of the classical world. Her work has been performed around the world, often with her conducting her own productions (including the 1977 premiere of her Mary, Queen of Scots opera at the Edinburgh International Festival). She has enjoyed both academic acknowledgement (two Guggenheim Fellowships, multiple honorary degrees) and achievement (with Professor roles at prestigious colleges such as Queens College at the City University of New York and the University of California, Santa Barbara), huge critical acclaim and public devotion. And, most importantly, she has composed landmark works in choral music, symphonic music, chamber music and opera. Whatever field she works in, Musgrave’s work is always characterised by her dramatic sensibilities and some serious musical muscle. Not for nothing did the BBC stage a special presentation of her music, entitled Total Immersion: Thea Musgrave, at the Barbican in 2014. Three concerts in a single day, encompassing her chamber, choral and symphonic works, showed that she has range to die for. Perhaps because of her mastery of these multiple areas, Musgrave’s work often crosses barriers and always has a dramatic effect, with instruments often placed in different locations in order to enhance their impact. Musgrave’s own work has taken her to many different locations over her incredible career. Indeed, she has resided in the US since 1972. But today she comes home to the UK to pick up a well-earned Ivor and to give us all the chance to salute a unique and indefatigable classical talent.
The 2018 Ivor Novello Awards 27
