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Oliver Knussen
Person · male · United Kingdom · Glasgow · born 1952 · died 2018 · recording since 1992
British composer and conductor (1952-2018)
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Also known as 奧利佛·克努森
Timeline
23 events▣ Album 15✦ Award 5◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1
1950s
1990s
· Debut release
Debut release: Psalmodies / Vox In Rama / Nightshade
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
· Album
Album: Concerto for Orchestra / The Sentinel of the Rainbow / The Ring of Eternity / The Circles of Light
Album
source: musicbrainz
2000s
· Album
Album: Alhambra Fantasy / Khorovod / The Stations of the Sun / The Crazed Moon / Diptych
Album
source: musicbrainz
2010s
· Album
Album: Liszt: Sonata in B minor / Schumann: Humoreske / Knussen: Ophelia's Last Dance
Album
source: musicbrainz
Biography
English biography1,905 words · 6 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1354826465
Biography
Stuart Oliver Knussen (12 June 1952 – 8 July 2018) was a British composer of contemporary classical music and conductor. Among the most influential British composers of his generation, his relatively few compositions are "rooted in 20th-century modernism, [but] beholden to no school but his own"
Early life
Oliver Knussen was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Stuart Knussen, was principal double bass of the London Symphony Orchestra, and also participated in a number of premieres of Benjamin Britten's music. Oliver Knussen studied composition with John Lambert between 1963 and 1969, and also received encouragement from Britten. He spent several summers studying with Gunther Schuller at Tanglewood in Massachusetts and in Boston.
Musical life
Knussen began composing at about the age of six; an ITV programme about his father's work with the London Symphony Orchestra prompted the commissioning for his first symphony (1966–1967). Aged 15, Knussen stepped in to conduct his symphony's première at the Royal Festival Hall, London, on 7 April 1968, after István Kertész fell ill. After his debut, Daniel Barenboim asked him to conduct the work's first two movements in New York a week later. In this work and his Concerto for Orchestra (1968–1970), he had quickly and fluently absorbed the influences of modernist composers Britten and Berg as well as many mid-century (largely American) symphonists, while displaying an unusual flair for pacing and orchestration.
It was as early as the Second Symphony (1970–1971), that in the words of Julian Anderson, that "Knussen's compositional personality abruptly appeared, fully formed".
His major works from the 1980s were his two children's operas, Where the Wild Things Are and Higglety Pigglety Pop!, both libretti by Maurice Sendak – and based on Sendak's own eponymous children's books. Where the Wild Things Are received its New York premiere in November 1986 by New York City Opera, which also performed the work in April 2011.
Knussen was the head of contemporary music activities at Tanglewood between 1986 and 1993.
A much-admired orchestral work from 1994 is his Horn Concerto written for Barry Tuckwell, which "combines the colorful sound world of early 20th century music with a contemporary approach to time and melody".
He was awarded CBE in the 1994 Birthday Honours.
Knussen was principal guest conductor of The Hague's Het Residentie Orkest (Residentie Orchestra) between 1992 and 1996, the Aldeburgh Festival's co-artistic director between 1983 and 1998 and the London Sinfonietta's music director between 1998 and 2002 – and became that ensemble's conductor laureate.
In 2005, Knussen was the music director of the Ojai Music Festival.
Knussen wrote his Songs for Sue, a setting of four poems for soprano and 15-piece ensemble, as a memorial tribute to his late wife, and the music received its world première in Chicago in 2006. Knussen told Tom Service in The Guardian:I knew there were a number of Dickinson poems addressed to her sister, Sue, so one week I read all 1,700 poems of Emily Dickinson ... and I copied out about 35 of them by hand, I have no idea where the notes for this piece come from ... It seemed to want to be written ... I wasn't sure whether it ... ought to be let out at all ... because I didn't want it to be a self-indulgent thing. But actually it's very restrained. It's not a huge work – about 13 minutes – but it's a big piece emotionally.
From September 2006, Knussen was artist-in-association to the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, and from 2009 to the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
As of autumn 2012, Knussen was writing a symphonic adagio for the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was also planning to finish two concertos that he had worked on for several years: one for piano and one for cello.
His recordings as a conductor include works by Modest Mussorgsky, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Elliott Carter, Igor Stravinsky, Hans Werner Henze, Toru Takemitsu, Colin Matthews, Alexander Goehr, Robin Holloway and Poul Ruders.
Personal life
Knussen was married to Sue Knussen, a US-born producer and director of music programmes for BBC television and for the UK's Channel 4 – for which she made Leaving Home, an introduction to 20th-century music presented by Simon Rattle in a series of seven one-hour programmes, which won the 1996 BAFTA award for "Best Arts Series". She ran the Los Angeles Philharmonic's education department in the late 1990s. Oliver and Sue Knussen had a daughter, Sonya Knussen, who is a mezzo-soprano. Sue Knussen died of a blood infection in London in 2003. The Sue Knussen Composers Fund (previously, the Sue Knussen Commissioning Fund) "honours her memory and professional legacy...and...commissions works from emerging composers to be performed by contemporary music ensembles worldwide."
Knussen lived in Snape, Suffolk, Benjamin Britten's base during one of his most creative periods. Snape Maltings concert hall is the home of the Aldeburgh Festival.
Knussen died on 8 July 2018, aged 66.
Compositions
Symphony No. 1, Op. 1 (1967–68), for orchestra (withdrawn)
Processionals, Op. 2 (1968/78), for chamber ensemble
Masks, Op. 3 (1969), for solo flute and glass chimes 'ad lib'
Concerto for Orchestra (1969)
Symphony in One Movement, Op. 5 (1969/2002), for orchestra – a revised version of the Concerto for Orchestra
Hums and Songs of Winnie-the-Pooh, Op. 6 (1970/83), for soprano solo, flute, cor anglais, clarinet, percussion and cello
Three Little Fantasies, Op. 6a (1970/83), for wind quintet
Symphony No. 2, Op. 7 (1970–71), for high soprano and chamber orchestra [winner: Margaret Grant Prize, Tanglewood]
Choral, Op. 8 (1970–72), for wind, percussion and double basses
Turba, (1971/76), for double bass solo
Rosary Songs, Op. 9 (1972), for soprano solo, clarinet, piano and viola
Océan de Terre, Op. 10 (1972–73/76), for soprano and chamber ensemble
Study for Metamorphosis (1972, rev. 2018), for bassoon solo
Music for a Puppet Court (after John Lloyd), Op. 11 (1973/83), "puzzle pieces" for two chamber orchestras
Trumpets, Op. 12 (1975), for soprano and three clarinets
Ophelia Dances Book 1, Op. 13 (1975), for flute, cor anglais, clarinet, horn, piano, celesta and string trio [Koussevitzky centennial commission]
Autumnal, Op. 14 (1976–77), for violin and piano
Cantata Op. 15 (1977), for oboe and string trio
Sonya's Lullaby Op. 16 (1978–79), for piano solo
Scriabin Settings (1978)
Coursing, Op. 17 (1979), for large chamber ensemble
Symphony No. 3, Op. 18 (1973–79), for orchestra
Frammenti da Chiara, Op.19a (1975/86), for two antiphonal 'a cappella' female choirs
Where the Wild Things Are, Op. 20 (1979–83), fantasy opera, libretto by Maurice Sendak
Songs and a Sea Interlude, Op. 20a (1979–81), for soprano and orchestra
The Wild Rumpus, Op. 20b (1983), for orchestra
Higglety Pigglety Pop!, Op. 21 (1984–85, revised 1999), fantasy opera, libretto by Maurice Sendak
Fanfares for Tanglewood (1986), for thirteen brass and three groups of percussion
The Way to Castle Yonder, Op. 21a (1988–90), for orchestra
Flourish with Fireworks, Op. 22 (1988 revised 1993), for orchestra
Four Late Poems and an Epigram of Rilke, Op. 23 (1988), soprano solo
Variations, Op. 24 (1989), for piano solo, written for pianist Peter Serkin
Secret Psalm (1990), for violin solo
Whitman Settings, Op. 25 (1991/92) for soprano and piano; Op. 25a (1992) version for soprano and orchestra
Songs without Voices, Op. 26 (1991–92), for flute, cor anglais, clarinet, horn, piano and string trio
Elegiac Arabesques (in memory of Andrzej Panufnik), Op. 26a (1991), for cor anglais and clarinet
Two Organa, Op. 27 (1994), for large chamber ensemble
Horn Concerto, Op. 28 (1994), for horn solo and orchestra
"...upon one note" (fantasia after Purcell) (1995), for clarinet, piano and string trio
Prayer Bell Sketch (in memory of Tōru Takemitsu), Op. 29 (1997), for piano solo
Eccentric Melody (for Elliott Carter's 90th birthday) (1998), for cello solo
Violin Concerto, Op. 30 (2002), for violin solo and orchestra
Cleveland Pictures Op. 31 (2003-09, unfinished). First performed at Snape Maltings on June 24 2022 by the BBC Symphony Orchestra
Ophelia's Last Dance, Ophelia Dances Book 2, Op. 32 (2004/2009–10), for piano solo
Requiem: Songs for Sue, Op. 33 (2005–6), for soprano and chamber ensemble
Reflection, Op. 31a (2016) for violin and piano
O Hototogisu! (fragment of a Japonisme), for soprano, flute and large ensemble (2017)
Discography (as performer)
Poul Ruders, Hans Abrahamsen – Chamber Works, London Sinfonietta, Paula Records (1985)
Knussen – Where the Wild Things Are, London Sinfonietta, Arabasque Records (1985)
Elliott Carter – Chamber Works, The Fires of London London Sinfonietta, Wergo Records (1985)
Benjamin Britten – The Prince of the Pagodas, London Sinfinietta, Virgin Classics (1990)
Alexander Goehr – Chamber Works, London Sinfonietta, Unicorn-Kanchana (1991)
Carter – Orchestral Works, London Sinfonietta, Virgin Classics (1992)
Goehr – Sing, Ariel, The Mouse Metamorphosed into A Maid, Lucy Shelton, Eileen Hulse, Sarah Leonard, Instrumental Ensemble, Unicorn-Kanchana (1992)
Ruders – Chamber Works, Capricorn, Bridge Records (1992)
Harrison Birtwistle – Chamber Works, London Sinfonietta, NMC (1993)
Aaron Copland – Grohg, etc., The Cleveland Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Argo Records (1994)
Igor Stravinsky – The Flood, etc., Charles Wuorinen – A Reliquary for Igor Stravinsky, London Sinfonietta, Deutsche Grammophon (1995)
Colin Matthews – Broken symmetry, Suns dance, Fourth Sonata, London Sinfonietta, Deutsche Grammophon (1995)
Goehr – Piano Concerto, Peter Serkin, London Sinfonietta, NMC (1995)
Knussen – Orchestral, Vocal and Chamber Works, Barry Tuckwell, Lucy Shelton, London Sinfonietta, Deutsche Grammophon (1996)
Robert Saxton – Orchestral Works, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Oliver Knussen, EMI Classics (1997)
Hans Werner Henze – Undine, London Sinfonietta, Deutsche Grammophon (1997)
Stravinsky – The Fairy's Kiss, Faun And Shepherdess, Ode – Lucy Shelton, The Cleveland Orchestra, Deutsche (1997)
Ruth Crawford Seeger – Portrait, Lucy Shelton, Reinbert de Leeuw, New London Chamber Choir, James Wood, Schönberg Ensemble, Deutsche Grammophon (1997)
Toru Takemitsu – Quotation of Dream, London Sinfonietta, Deutsche Grammophon (1998)
Carter – Symphonia, Clarinet Concerto, London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Grammophon (1999)
Takemitsu – Riverrun, Water-ways, Paul Crossley, London Sinfonietta, Virgin Classics Digital (1999)
Magnus Lindberg – Aura, Engine, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Deutsche Grammophon (2000)
Peter Lieberson – Chamber Works, Asko Ensemble, The Cleveland Orchestra, Deutsche Grammophon (2001)
Knussen – Higglety Pigglety Pop! & Where The Wild Things Are, London Sinfonietta, Deutsche Grammophon (2001)
Knussen – Hums And Songs of Winnie-the-Pooh and Other Chamber Works, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, EMI Classics (2002)
Modest Mussorgsky, orch Leopold Stokowski – Pictures at an Exhibition, Boris Godunov, Khovanschina, Night on a Bare Mountain, The Cleveland Orchestra, Deutsche Grammophon (2004)
Carter – Orchestral Works, London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Asko Ensemble, Bridge Records (2005)
Julian Anderson – Orchestral Works, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Ondine (2006)
Takemitsu – Orchestral Works, London Sinfonietta, Rolf Hind, London Sinfonietta Label (2006)
Knussen – Violin Concerto, Requiem, Songs For Sue, Soloists, BBC Symphony Orchestra, NMC (2012)
Goehr – Marching To Carcassonne, Peter Serkin, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Naxos Records (2013)
Britten – The Rape of Lucretia, Kirchschlager, Bostridge, Gritton, Purves, Russell, Coleman-Wright, Summers, Booth, Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble, Virgin Classics (2013)
Charlotte Bray – Caught in Treetops, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, NMC (2014)
Takemitsu – Orchestral Concert (to Mark the 20th Anniversary of his Passing), Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Tower Records (2017)
Carter – Late Works, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Colin Currie, Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Ondine (2017)
Anderson – The Comedy of Change, Heaven Is Shy of Earth, Susan Bickley, BBC Symphony Chorus, London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Ondine (2018)
Henze – Heliogabalus Imperator, Works For Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Wergo Records (2019)
Augusta Read Thomas – Carillon Sky, for solo violin and chamber ensemble - Chicago Symphony Orchestra MusicNOW Ensemble with violinist Baird Dodge. Nimbus Alliance NI 6258
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 20 | 87.1th |
| Studio albums | 16 | 95.1th |
| Awards recorded | 8 | 98.4th |
| Timeline events | 23 | 95th |
| Recording span (years) | 26 | 58.1th |
| Genres | 7 | 93th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (20 release groups · 16 studio albums)
Albums · 16
Psalmodies / Vox In Rama / Nightshade
1992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 47:10
1Psalmodies: I. Entrance for One2:142Psalmodies: II. Solo for Two1:303Psalmodies: III. Six in the Air1:224Psalmodies: IV. A Fanfare for All2:325Psalmodies: V. With Passion for All2:286Psalmodies: VI. A Chorale and a Song3:057Psalmodies: VII. Cadenza for One1:588Psalmodies: VIII. Cadenza for All3:089Psalmodies: IX. A March of Light and Darkness3:0510Psalmodies: X. A Prayer with Halo4:1711Psalmodies: XI. Exit for One2:4512Vox in Rama9:3513Nightshade9:11Sing, Ariel / The Mouse Metamorphosed Into a Maid
1992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 28 tracks · 1:05:09
1Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 1: ‘Sing, Ariel, sing’4:222Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 1: ‘He ceast, and then gan’0:143Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 1: Fughetta (sopra un soggetto di O. Messiaen) – piano solo0:414Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 1: ‘Tell her that sheds’1:545Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 1: ‘Such a sacred and home-felt delight’0:286Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 1: ‘Rose-cheeked Laura, come’1:317Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 1: (Echo) ‘Such sober certainty’0:218Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 2: ‘O you are well-tun’d now’0:519Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 2: ‘Old lecher with a love on every wind’2:3010Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 2: ‘Across the street a tenor whine’3:2611Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 2: ‘With woeful measures wan Despair’0:4312Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 2: ‘Thus I, faltering forward’2:2913Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 2: Postlude2:2014Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 3: ‘… rebuke, The raging heart’0:5415Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 3: ‘There is so much to celebrate’1:2016Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 3: (Instrumental)0:1617Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 3: ‘I see them all’0:1518Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 3: ‘… my unground grain’0:1619Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 3: ‘The time of year’3:5720Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 4: Adagio (with cadenza) ‘… unanxious one, sing’6:2121Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 4: ‘I squeezed up the last stair’5:4522Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 5: ‘Thou hast nor youth nor age’0:5523Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 5: ‘The palm at the end of the mind’3:1524Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 5: (Echo) ‘Without human meaning’1:0325Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 5: ‘All’s in deep sleep and night’1:0526Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 5: ‘The rock of autumn, glittering’1:3127Sing, Ariel, op. 51: Part 5: (No. 1 completed) ‘… brilliantly, lightly’2:5728The Mouse Metamorphosed Into a Maid, op. 5413:291995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 38:19
1An Alice Symphony: I. Speak Roughy / Speak Gently7:272An Alice Symphony: II. The Lobster Quadrille11:353An Alice Symphony: III. 'Tis the Voice of the Sluggard8:524An Alice Symphony: IV. Who Stole the Tarts? - Dream - Conclusion10:25The Fairy's Kiss / Faun and Shepherdess / Ode
1997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks · 1:03:54
1Faun and Shepherdess, op. 2: I. The Shepherdess3:162Faun and Shepherdess, op. 2: II. The Faun3:223Faun and Shepherdess, op. 2: III. The River3:334The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 1. The Lullaby in the Storm (Andante)2:405The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 1. Allegro sostenuto (fig 11)2:006The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 1. (fig. 27)2:037The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 1. Andante - Vivace agitato (fig. 40)1:348The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 2. A Village Fete (Tempo giusto, fig. 51)4:139The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 2. Valse (fig. 78)2:4510The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 2. Doppio movimento (fig. 97) - Più mosso - Tempo agitato ma giusto4:0111The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 3. At the Mill (Moderato, fig. 120)3:1412The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 3. Allegretto grazioso (fig. 132)3:0513The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 3. Pas de Deux: A. Entrée (Moderato, fig. 158)1:3214The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 3. Pas de Deux: B. Adagio (fig. 166)3:1415The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 3. Pas de Deux: C. Variation (Allegretto grazioso, fig. 175)1:1316The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 3. Pas de Deux: D. Coda (Presto, fig. 181)2:0417The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 3. Scène (Andante non tanto, fig. 205)4:5318The Fairy's Kiss: Scene 4. Berceuse of the Eternal Dwellings (L'istesso tempo [Più lento], fig. 205)5:1319Ode: I. Eulogy - Lento3:4520Ode: II. Eclogue - Con moto2:4521Ode: III. Epitaph - Lento3:29Concerto for Orchestra / The Sentinel of the Rainbow / The Ring of Eternity / The Circles of Light
1997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:05:01
1Concerto for Orchestra: I. Misterioso con moto3:432Concerto for Orchestra: II. Vivo, dancing2:433Concerto for Orchestra: III. Molto adagio e sostenuto5:114Concerto for Orchestra: IV. Presto, leggiero e vivo (Dancing)5:295The Sentinel of the Rainbow14:376The Ring of Eternity12:157Chamber Symphony "The Circles of Light": I. Molto adagio, sostenuto e calmo5:058Chamber Symphony "The Circles of Light": II. Vivo5:219Chamber Symphony "The Circles of Light": III. Molto adagio e sostenuto6:0210Chamber Symphony "The Circles of Light": IV. Più mosso4:351998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks · 1:11:41
1Music for Small Orchestra: I. Slow, pensive7:212Music for Small Orchestra: II. In roguish humor. Not fast2:373Three Chants: No. 1. To an Unkind God2:354Three Chants: No. 2. To an Angel2:545Three Chants: No. 3. (To a Kind God)3:546Piano Study in Mixed Accents1:287Three Songs: No. 1. Rat Riddles3:188Three Songs: No. 2. Prayers of Steel1:489Three Songs: No. 3. In Tall Grass3:3910String Quartet: I. Rubato assai3:1311String Quartet: II. Leggiero2:0412String Quartet: III. Andante4:1813String Quartet: IV. Allegro possible2:06142 Ricercare: No. 1. Sacco, Vanzetti6:07152 Ricercare: No. 2. Chinaman, Laundryman3:3316Andante for Strings4:0317Rissolty Rossolty2:5918John Hardy3:4019Suite for Wind Quintet: I. Allegretto3:0920Suite for Wind Quintet: II. Lento rubato2:3321Suite for Wind Quintet: III. Allegro possible - Andante - Allegro - Meno mosso - Tempo primo4:22Higglety Pigglety Pop! & Where The Wild Things Are
2001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 35 tracks · 1:41:36
Disc 11Scene 1: Jennie: "Why Am I Longing To Be Away Somewhere"3:122Scene 1: Jennie: "I Have Two Windows"5:143Scene 2: Pig: "Hello Little Lady"4:014Scene 2: Pig: "If I Could Eat Experience"0:545Scene 3: Cat: "You Must Be Going To A Very Terrific Place"3:046Orchestral Interlude: The Journey To The Big White House2:267Scene 4: Rhoda: "Thank You Very Much For The Ride"1:168Scene 4: Rhoda: "Are You Alright, Miss?"4:449Scene 5: Baby: "Baby, Here Is Nurse"2:2510Scene 5: Baby: "Yum, Yum!"5:1511Scene 5: Baby: "Who Can Help Me?"3:0912Scene 6: Lion: Jennie's Descent Into The Cellar - "How Black It Is!"1:5213Scene 6: Lion: "Quiet In There!"3:4214Scene 7: The Ash-tree: "Now I Have Nothing"5:1015Scene 7: The Ash-tree: Kleine Trauermusik1:0816Scene 8: Recognition: "Jennie!"3:4817Orchestral Interlude: The Ride To Castle Yonder2:4218"Hello, As You Probably Noticed"0:5319Scene 9: Higglety Pigglety Pop!: Fanfare I - Overture3:0320Scene 9: Higglety Pigglety Pop!: Fanfare II2:3621Scene 9: Higglety Pigglety Pop!: Coda1:16Disc 21Overture1:332Scene 1: Max3:423Scene 2: Mama3:064Change Of Scene0:555Scene 3: Max's Room: Pantomime And Arietta 12:006Scene 3: Max's Room: Transformation And Arietta 22:437First Sea Interlude3:178Scene 4: The Wild Things4:159Scene 5: Coronation3:0410Scene 6: The Wild Rumpus5:1611Scene 7: Max Alone3:3512Scene 8: Parting2:4113Second Sea Interlude2:2314Scene 9: Max's Room1:16Vintage Alice / Syzygy / Songs
2003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:08:51
1Syzygy: I. Ecce Puer5:442Syzygy: II. Nightpiece19:163Four Songs on Poems of James Joyce, No. 1: Dove Song3:394Four Songs on Poems of James Joyce, No. 2: She Weeps Over Rahoon3:145Four Songs on Poems of James Joyce, No. 3: A Flower Given to My Daughter1:226Four Songs on Poems of James Joyce, No. 4: Monotone3:307Two Songs on Poems of James Joyce, No. 1: Bahnhofstrasse2:258Two Songs on Poems of James Joyce, No. 2: Alone2:569Vintage Alice: "There was a table set out under a tree..." / First Evocation of the Queen2:4710Vintage Alice: Cadenza I "bat! - at!...bat! - at!..."1:1211Vintage Alice: The Mad Hatter's Song, Verse I "...little bat! Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!" / The Star, Verse II "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" / The Star, Verse II "'You know the song, perhaps?' The Hatter said"4:1112Vintage Alice: Second Evocation of the Queen0:3813Vintage Alice: Cadenza II "fly - sky...fly - sky..."0:3214Vintage Alice: The Mad Hatter's Song, Verse II "...world you fly...Up above the world you fly" / "'Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse,' said the Hatter"2:4115Vintage Alice: Interlude "Little bat!"1:5116Vintage Alice: Changing Places "Let's all move one place on" / "He moved on as he spoke..."3:0917Vintage Alice: Cadenza III "move...moving...Let's all keep on" / "'But what happens when you come to the beginning again?' Alice repeated"1:3218Vintage Alice: Quodiblet-Return "Ah! ah! ah! ah!"2:4319Vintage Alice: Hymn to the Queen "God save our gracious Queen" / "Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its sleep..."3:1820Vintage Alice: Sleeping-Coda "Twinkle, twinkle..."2:11Horn Concerto / Whitman Settings / Way to Castle Yonder
2003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 50:52
1Flourish with Fireworks, op. 224:022The Way to Castle Yonder, op. 21a: I. The Journey to the Big White House3:103The Way to Castle Yonder, op. 21a: II. Kleine Trauermusik1:034The Way to Castle Yonder, op. 21a: III. The Ride to Castle Yonder3:135Two Organa, op. 27: I. Notre Dame des Jouets1:296Two Organa, op. 27: II. Organum to Honour the 20th Anniversary of the Schönberg Ensemble3:417Concerto for Horn, op. 28: I. Intrada2:028Concerto for Horn, op. 28: II. Fantastico5:379Concerto for Horn, op. 28: III. Cadenza1:2810Concerto for Horn, op. 28: IV. Envoi3:1711Music for a Puppet Court, op. 11: I. Puzzle I - "Iste tenor ascendit"1:2812Music for a Puppet Court, op. 11: II. Toyshop Music After "tris"2:1413Music for a Puppet Court, op. 11: III. Antiphon (after "Iste tenor ascendit..")2:0414Music for a Puppet Court, op. 11: IV. Puzzle II - "tris"2:4315Whitman Settings, op. 25a: I. When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer2:4416Whitman Settings, op. 25a: II. A Noiseless Patient Spider2:3717Whitman Settings, op. 25a: III. The Dalliance of the Eagles2:0218Whitman Settings, op. 25a: IV. The Voice of the Rain2:4019"...upon one note"3:182006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 1:18:16
1Eden7:262Imagin'd Corners10:1334 American Choruses: No. 1. I'm a Pilgrim3:5144 American Choruses: No. 2. Beautiful Valley of Eden6:4254 American Choruses: No. 3. Bright Morning Star!3:4564 American Choruses: No. 4. At the Fountain4:057Symphony18:028Book of Hours: Part 111:569Book of Hours: Part 212:16Alhambra Fantasy / Khorovod / The Stations of the Sun / The Crazed Moon / Diptych
2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 1:16:48
1Khorovod13:012The Stations of the Sun18:283The Crazed Moon13:294Alhambra Fantasy11:255Diptych: I. Parades9:146Diptych: II. Pavillons en l'Air11:112009 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 50:48
1Four Dances in One Movement: Whispering —1:512Four Dances in One Movement: Rocking —5:033Four Dances in One Movement: Ecstatic —3:524Four Dances in One Movement: Extravagant8:375Nightshade8:466Abysm: I. Abysm11:357Abysm: II. Burning1:498Abysm: III. Spectre9:15Liszt: Sonata in B minor / Schumann: Humoreske / Knussen: Ophelia's Last Dance
2010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:05:29
1Humoreske, op. 20: I. Einfach - Sehr rasch und leicht - Noch rascher - Erstes Tempo - Wie im Anfang5:202Humoreske, op. 20: II. Hastig - Nach und nach immer lebhafter und stärker - Wie vorher - Adagio4:283Humoreske, op. 20: III. Einfach und zart - Intermezzo - Adagio4:274Humoreske, op. 20: IV. Innig - Schneller - Sehr lebhaft - Immer lebhafter - Stretta - Mit einigem Pomp5:465Humoreske, op. 20: V. Zum Beschluss5:396Ophelia's Last Dance, op. 3210:167Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178: I. Lento assai - Allegro energico12:248Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178: II. Andante sostenuto6:479Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178: III. Allegro energico1:4410Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178: IV. Finale8:38Choral / Autumnal / Violin Concerto / Requiem – Songs for Sue
2012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:17:54
1Choral, op. 810:012Autumnal, op. 14: Nocturne3:423Autumnal, op. 14: Serenade4:014Whitman Settings, op. 25: When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer3:075Whitman Settings, op. 25: A Noiseless Patient Spider3:186Whitman Settings, op. 25: The Dalliance of the Eagles2:067Whitman Settings, op. 25: The Voice of the Rain3:108Secret Psalm4:249Prayer Bell Sketch, op. 296:5810Violin Concerto, op. 30: Recitative5:0211Violin Concerto, op. 30: Aria5:2112Violin Concerto, op. 30: Gigue5:5413Requiem – Songs for Sue, op. 33: From Emily Dickinson3:5814Requiem – Songs for Sue, op. 33: Antonio Machado2:4315Requiem – Songs for Sue, op. 33: W.H. Auden3:1316Requiem – Songs for Sue, op. 33: Rainer Maria Rilke1:3617Ophelia's Last Dance, op. 329:20The Comedy of Change / Heaven Is Shy of Earth
2018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:02:22
1The Comedy of Change: I.2:122The Comedy of Change: II.2:473The Comedy of Change: III.1:554The Comedy of Change: IV.2:315The Comedy of Change: V.3:396The Comedy of Change: VI.5:307The Comedy of Change: VII.5:158Heaven is Shy of Earth: I. Intrada3:109Heaven is Shy of Earth: II. Kyrie5:0810Heaven is Shy of Earth: III. Gloria (With Bird)6:5911Heaven is Shy of Earth: IV. Quam dilecta tabernacula tua5:0912Heaven is Shy of Earth: V. Sanctus8:0613Heaven is Shy of Earth: VI. Agnus Dei10:01— · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 50:54
1Flouish with Fireworks, op. 224:032The Way to Castle Yonder, op. 21a: I. The Journey to the Big White House3:103The Way to Castle Yonder, op. 21a: II. Kleine Trauermusik1:034The Way to Castle Yonder, op. 21a: III. The Ride to Castle Yonder3:175Two Organa, op. 27: I. Notre Same des Jouets1:316Two Organa, op. 27: II. Organum to honour the 20th anniversary of the Schönberg Ensemble3:477Horn Concerto, op. 28: I. Intrada2:028Horn Concerto, op. 28: II. Fantastico5:379Horn Concerto, op. 28: III. Cadenza1:2810Horn Concerto, op. 28: IV. Envoi3:2211Music for a Puppet Court, op. 11: I. Puzzle I: "Iste tenor ascendit..."1:2912Music for a Puppet Court, op. 11: II. Toyshop Music (after "tris")2:1513Music for a Puppet Court, op. 11: III. Antiphon (after "Iste tenor ascendit...")2:0514Music for a Puppet Court, op. 11: IV. Puzzle II: "tris"2:4615Whitman Settings, op. 25a: I. When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer2:4416Whitman Settings, op. 25a: II. A Noiseless Patient Spider2:3717Whitman Settings, op. 25a: III. The Dalliance of the Eagles2:0218Whitman Settings, op. 25a: IV. The Voice of the Rain2:4319"...upon one note"2:53
Album · 2
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | British Composers: The Prince of Pagodas / Gloriana - Symphonic SuiteSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 53 tracks · 2:23:36Disc 1 1The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Prelude2:16 2The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. The Fool and the Dwarf1:50 3The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. March and Courtiers' Dance3:34 4The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Entry of the Pages and the Four Kings2:21 5The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Variation of the King of the North1:28 6The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Variation of the King of the East2:41 7The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Variation of the King of the West1:05 8The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Variation of the King of the South1:37 9The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. The Kings Bow Before the Emperor0:58 10The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Variation of Princess Belle Epine3:15 11The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Variation of Princess Belle Rose and Pas de Deux5:53 12The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. The Kings and Belle Rose1:56 13The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Belle Epine and the Four Kings2:30 14The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. The Rage of the Kings1:45 15The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act I. Entry of the Four Winged Frogs3:27 16The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Introduction: Belle Rose Borne in by the Frogs1:29 17The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Waltz: Clouds, Stars and Moon5:08 18The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Belle Rose Borne in by the Frogs0:42 19The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Entrée: Sea Horses, Fish Creatures and Waves1:52 20The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Variation: Sea Horses1:27 21The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Variation: Fish Creatures3:21 22The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Coda2:01 23The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Belle Rose Borne in by the Frogs0:41 24The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Pas de deux: Male and Female Flames1:21 25The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Variation: Male Flame1:08 26The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Variation: Female Flame1:19 27The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Coda1:47 28The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 1. Belle Rose, Exhausted, Borne in by the Frogs1:03 29The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 2. Belle Rose in Darkness2:03 30The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 2. The Pagodas4:51 31The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 2. The Salamander3:15 32The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 2. Pas de deux: The Prince and Belle Rose4:52 33The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act II, Scene 2. Belle Rose Hunts for the Prince2:45 Disc 21The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 1. Empress Belle Epine4:44 2The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 1. The Old Emperor3:05 3The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 1. Appearance of Belle Rose and the Salamander1:56 4The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Transformation4:26 5The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Pas de six: Entrée2:00 6The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Variation 1: Pas de deux3:47 7The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Variation 2: Girl's Solo1:05 8The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Variation 3: Boy's Solo1:04 9The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Pas de trois1:53 10The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Coda1:21 11The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Pas de caractère: The Emperor and the Fool1:48 12The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Pas de deux: Belle Rose and the Prince of the Pagodas4:04 13The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Variation 4: The Prince1:07 14The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Variation 5: Belle Rose2:23 15The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Finale4:31 16The Prince of the Pagodas, op. 57: Act III, Scene 2. Apotheosis1:35 17Gloriana - Symphonic Suite, op. 53a: I. The Tournament3:56 18Gloriana - Symphonic Suite, op. 53a: II. The Lute Song4:21 19Gloriana - Symphonic Suite, op. 53a: III. The Courtly Dances9:50 20Gloriana - Symphonic Suite, op. 53a: IV. Gloriana Moritura6:59 | Compilation | 6 February 2006 | |
| 2013 | The Rape of LucretiaSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 28 tracks · 1:45:46Disc 1 1The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene I. "Rome is now ruled by the Etruscan upstart" (Male Chorus)2:30 2The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene I. "It is an axiom among kings" (Female Chorus, Male Chorus)2:29 3The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene I. "Here the thirsty ev'ning has drunk the wine of light" (Male Chorus)2:34 4The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene I. "Who reaches heaven first is the best philosopher" (Collatinus, Male Chorus, Junius, Tarquinius)2:23 5The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene I. "Maria was unmasked at a masked ball" (Junius, Tarquinius, Collatinus, Male Chorus)4:24 6The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene I. "Collatinus is politically astute" (Male Chorus, Junius, Collatinus, Tarquinius)4:15 7The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene I. "Goodnight!....There goes a happy man!" (Collatinus, Tarquinius, Junius)4:00 8The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene I. "Tarquinius does not dare" (Male Chorus)2:14 9The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene I. "My horse! My horse!" (Tarquinius, Male Chorus)2:58 10The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene II. "Their spinning wheel unwinds" (Female Chorus, Lucretia, Bianca, Lucia)5:21 11The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene II. "Listen! I heard a knock" (Lucretia, Bianca, Lucia)2:47 12The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene II. "Time treads upon the hands of women" (Lucia, Bianca, Female Chorus, Lucretia)3:26 13The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene II. "The oatmeal slippers of sleep" (Female Chorus, Male Chorus)1:51 14The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act I, Scene II. "Lucia runs to the door" (Female Chorus, Tarquinius, Male Chorus, Bianca, Lucia, Lucretia)5:23 Disc 21The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene I. "The prosperity of the Etruscans" (Female Chorus, Male Chorus, Collatinus, Lucia, Junius, Bianca)7:30 2The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene I. "She sleeps as a rose" (Female Chorus)3:00 3The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene I. "When Tarquinius desires" (Male Chorus)2:12 4The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene I. "Within this frail crucible of light" (Tarquinius, Female Chorus)4:01 5The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene I. "Lucretia!...What do you want?" (Tarquinius, Lucretia, Male Chorus, Female Chorus)5:47 6The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene I. "Interlude: Here in this scene you see virtue" (Female Chorus, Male Chorus)3:52 7The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene II. "Oh! What a lovely day!" (Lucia, Bianca)5:56 8The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene II. "Good morning my Lady" (Bianca, Lucia, Lucretia)3:27 9The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene II. "Flowers bring to every year" (Lucretia, Bianca)3:18 10The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene II. "You were right. Tarquinius took one of the horses" (Lucia, Bianca, Collatinus, Junius)2:39 11The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene II. "Never again must we two dare to part" (Collatinus, Lucretia)4:50 12The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene II. "Last night Tarquinius ravished me" (Lucretia, Collatinus)3:28 13The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene II. "This dead hand lets fall" (Collatinus, Junius, Bianca, Lucia, Female Chorus, Male Chorus)3:57 14The Rape of Lucretia, op. 37: Act II, Scene II. "Epilogue: Is it all?" (Female Chorus, Male Chorus)5:14 | Live | 14 January 2013 |
Broadcast · 2
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 2002-06-05: Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 11:041Alhambra Fantasy (dedicated to Gerard Grisey)11:04 | Live | — | |
| — | 2006-02-14: Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, Amsterdam, NetherlandsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 23:531Book of Hours23:53 | Live | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Oliver Knussen head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 19 | 79.7th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 20 | 87.1th |
| Studio albums | 16 | 95.1th |
| Awards recorded | 8 | 98.4th |
| Timeline events | 23 | 95th |
| Recording span (years) | 26 | 58.1th |
| Genres | 7 | 93th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Stoeger Prize | won | |
| 1993 | Royal Philharmonic Society Award (Chamber-Scale Composition) | won | |
| 2006 | Nemmers Prize in Music Composition | won | |
| 2010 | Royal Philharmonic Society Award (Conductor) | won | |
| 2015 | The Queen's Medal for Music | won | |
| — | Commander of the Order of the British Empire | won | |
| — | Ditson Conductor's Award | won | |
| — | Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards | won |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oliver_knussen.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/85391dc7-8a0d-4bda-a299-c74a2135525ediscography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/85391dc7-8a0d-4bda-a299-c74a2135525ecore—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q949003genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q949003seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Knussenbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Knussen
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: 17.IX - Orchestra Mozart · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q949003 · MusicBrainz: 85391dc7-8a0d-4bda-a299-c74a2135525e
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