Next year conductor Neil Thomson, Violinist Peter Sheppard Skærved and The ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (Radio Symphonie Orchester Wien) will collaborate in a premiere recording for Naxos of Clarke’s new Symphony for Violin and Orchestra entitled `The Prophecies of Merlin’. The recording will take place in Vienna in the second part of next year. `The Prophecies of Merlin’ is inspired by the `Historia Brittonum’ and `Vita Merlini’, both poetic histories written by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the first half of the 12th century. Though Monmouth intended his writings to be a factual account of Merlin’s life, they have no historical basis but nevertheless  provide a captivating story spawned from the author’s vivid imagination. More on this project to follow soon.

 

 

 

RSO Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra