This short orchestral ‘fanfare’ was inspired by the sight of an albatross gliding in strong currents on a summer’s evening at Tairoa Head. The music also reflects the influence of NZ popular music, and in particular a gig by the Exponents.
Albatross in Flight Opus 72 was commissioned by the then Dunedin Sinfonia to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 1996.
Anthony Ritchie Photo: Gareth Watkins / Lilburn Trust / Wallace Arts Trust
Biography
Anthony Ritchie studied composition at Canterbury University, and the Liszt Academy in Hungary. He was Mozart Fellow at Otago University, and later was Composer-in-Residence with the Southern Sinfonia. His works include concertos for violin, viola, flute, guitar and euphonium, 4 symphonies, chamber music, and 6 operas.
Since 2005 11 CDs of his compositions have been released. His CD A Bugle Will Do: Symphony No.3 and Other Symphonic Works, recorded by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, was awarded classical album of the year by The Listener, and was finalist at the NZ Music Awards, in 2012. His Symphony No.4 Stations was selected as one of the recordings of the year by MusicWeb International, 2015.
His work is increasingly known overseas: in 2014 A Bugle Will Do was recorded by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and performed by The Ulster Orchestra, and Salaam was premiered by the Belgian choir Aquarius. He is Associate Professor of Music at Otago University.
Recorded by RNZ Concert for the 2018 NZ Composer Sessions.
Producer: David McCaw
Engineer: Graham Kennedy
