December 16, 2009

LCO in MUSO Magazine

London Contemporary Orchestra is determined to bring new music to the forefront of the Capital’s cultural scene as Claire Jackson discovers. MUSO Magazine, December/January 2009 issue

Contemporary classical music is like Marmite - forever branded with an altogether undeserved you-either-love-it-or-you-hate-it bumper sticker. The genre is frequently tarnished with oversimplified generalisations; people often say that the music is ‘too dissonant’, or too complex for the audience to ‘get’. This is to do the discerning listener a disservice, for although there are plenty of discordant, difficult and theory-reliant pieces, there are also numerous intricate, beautiful and moving works.

One group that is opening itself up to the varying levels of modern classical is the London Contemporary Orchestra (LCO); a young ensemble headed up by artistic directors Robert Ames and Hugh Brunt, the latter of whom also doubles as principal conductor. The duo wants to promote fresh and exciting music to a wide range of listeners who might not otherwise engage with new sounds, as well as giving under-the- radar composers a canvas upon which to paint.

Click here to read the full feature.

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