Bernard Stevens

Biographical Information

Bernard Stevens was one of the finest composers of his generation. As a student at the Royal College of Music, London, he won the foremost prizes in composition. At the end of World War II, he won the highly contested 'Daily Express Victory Symphony' Competition with his Symphony of Liberation, composed during his army service and first performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1946. He composed in every major genre: orchestral, oratorio, opera as well as solo and chamber works. A highly valued professor with an international reputation, he was, however, a reluctant promoter of his own works. Since his death in 1983, his catalogue of works has been attracting growing admiration for their power, accessibility, beauty and consummate musicianship, gaining them an increasing following. The listed CDs have received many laudatory reviews. The publication in hardback of the illuminating volume, Bernard Stevens and His Music - a Symposium (pub. Kahn and Averill, London) has contributed to a re-evaluation of his work.

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Discography
	The Piano Music of Bernard Stevens CD 1 - Works for Solo Piano CD 2 - Works for Solo Piano, Piano (Four Hands), & Two Pianos (Four Hands) Michael Finnissy Isabel Beyer Harvey Dagul Dutton CDLX 7160
	Stevens - Chamber Music Piano Trio, Op.3 Sonata for Violin & Piano in one movement, Op.1 Trio for Horn, Violin and Piano, Op.38 Fantasia on a theme of Dowland for Violin and Piano, Op.23 Improvisation for Solo Violin, Op.48a Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble. Albany TROY 572
	The Shadow of the Glen one-act opera from the J M Synge play Also on the disc is Bernard Stevens' The True Dark song cycle from the epic poem by Randall Swingler. listed in best CDs of 2001 - BBC Music Magazine Albany TROY 418
	Symphony No 1 - A Symphony of Liberation with 'Cello Concerto Baillie/BBC Philharmonic, cond: Downes Meridian CDE 84124 This recording was sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Musicians
	Violin Concerto with Symphony No2 Kovacic/BBC Philharmonic cond: Edward Downes Meridian CDE 84174 This recording was sponsored by the Rex Foundation, USA
	Theme and Variations for String Quartet with String Quartet No2, and Lyric Suite for String Trio, Delme Quartet Chamber Music CD of the Year - Classic CD 1991 Reissued on Albany in 2001
	Stevens and Howells Choral Music Mass for Double Choir Finzi Singers, cond: Spicer Chandos CHAN 9021
	Max Rostal in Memoriam (Remastered Concerto performances) Bartok No 2/Stevens/Berg/Shostakovitch No 1 Symposium 1142-3 (This is a double CD)
	Piano Concerto, Dance Suite, Variations for Orchestra Roscoe/National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, cond: Adrian Leaper Marco Polo 8223480 CD This recording was sponsored by the Rex Foundation
	Howells and Stevens Piano Music, Jeremy Filsell Guild GMCD 7119
	Classic Widows, music from the film by Ken Russell Includes extracts from A Symphony of Liberation and the film music, Mark of Cain Chandos CHAN 7008 Click here for details of re-release
Plans are currently under way for a CDs of Bernard Stevens' choral music

Reviews

Symphony of Liberation and 'Cello Concerto
"This is impressive music, beautifully written and thoughtfully scored, thematically memorable without sounding oppressive."
Robert Cowan - CD Review

Violin Concerto
"Successive listenings have persuaded me that this is one of the great English violin concertos." Lehmann - American Record Guide

String Quartets and Lyric Suite for String Trio
Classic CD Chamber Music Pick of the Year "This disc is an unanswerable argument for hailing Stevens not as somebody worth attention but as a major British composer of the order of Britten and Tippett."

". . . a centrally important composer who was unforgivably neglected . . ." Edward Pearce - Classic CD

Variations for Orchestra
"The Variations for Orchestra are quite simply a masterpiece. In them Stevens concluded his personalised synthesis of serialism within tonal structures to invigorating effect, the music closely argued and tellingly orchestrated." Guy Rickards - The Gramophone

"It is one of the most imposing orchestral works combining traditional form and contemporary embellishment this listener has ever encountered - a fitting conservative response to Elliott Carter's great twelve-tone Variations for Orchestra of 1954." Paul Snook - Fanfare, USA

"His works are emerging with an untarnished strength rivalled by few of his contemporaries." Calum Macdonald - Music and Musicians International

Bernard Stevens' manuscripts have been acquired by the British Library

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Contact Information
For detailed catalogues and further information about the works of Bernard Stevens, contact:	Cathy Stevens cathy@europastringchoir.com 01202 740379
Other Contacts
bmic	www.bmic.co.uk
The British Library	www.bl.uk
Bardic Edition	www.bardic-music.com
Lengnick	www.ricordi.co.uk
Roberton	www.goodmusicpublishing.co.uk
The Bernard Stevens Trust 95 Albert Road Poole Dorset BH12 2BX UK
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	"Stevens was a superb composer.” Robert Matthew Walker, International Record Review
Bernard Stevens 1916-1983