Colin Matthews: A Sound World Unveiled

Colin Matthews, a composer of significant influence on contemporary UK classical music, reached his 80th birthday this year. The Nash Ensemble, under the direction of Jessica Cottis, presents a collection of four song cycles that illuminate his distinctive approach to vocal and chamber music.

Matthews creates a detailed and kaleidoscopic sound world, whether utilizing seven or seventeen players. His compositions are rich with intricate musical detail, offering a substantial foundation that could almost stand alone, yet the vocal line consistently takes center stage.

The program includes "The Island" (2007), based on Rilke poems, and "Seascapes" (2020) and "A Land of Rain" (2017), featuring soprano Claire Booth. Booth delivers vibrant performances, navigating supple musical lines. Baritone Marcus Farnsworth is featured in "As Time Returns" (2018), interpreting Ivan Blatný's poetry with clarity and warmth.

"A Land of Rain" is the most expansive work, setting ten poems by Nicholas Moore derived from translations of a Baudelaire poem. Matthews' music shifts chameleon-like through various styles, demonstrating how words can be reinterpreted. The final song, setting the French original, brings the musical strands together in a grand, almost Mahlerian conclusion.