Press Information:
1 March 2007
John Tavener
The Beautiful Names
World Premiere
Tuesday 19 June 2007, 7.30pm
Westminster Cathedral, BBC Radio 3
Sir John Tavener has turned to Islam for inspiration for this major new work, to be
performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Westminster Cathedral in June. Conducted
by Jiří Bĕlohlávek, the BBC SO is joined by the choral forces of John Mark Ainsley, the BBC
Symphony Chorus and the cathedral’s own choristers for this world premiere performance
of The Beautiful Names.
The Beautiful Names sets the 99 names for Allah as culled from the Qu’ran, sung in Arabic.
‘Inspiration for the piece came to me as a vision,’ says Tavener, ‘and the music just came to
me immediately I saw the Arabic word’. He has worked closely with the Arabist Michael
Macdonald to ensure correct pronunciation and stress - ‘the sound actually does help create
the music’.
The 70-minute work is divided into eleven groups of nine ‘tonal zones’ and the start of each
new section is prefaced by a magisterial calling out of Allah. Making his strongest reference
yet to Islam, Tavener also calls upon Sufism, Hinduism and Buddhism in his choice of
structure, instrumentation and tonality.
Tavener’s relationship with God has provoked debate over the years. He converted to Greek
Orthodoxy in 1977 and much of his work has been inspired by the Orthodox liturgy.
Tavener is keen, however, to celebrate his recent embracing of ‘the perennial philosophy of
such masters as Guenon and Schuon’, and compositions since 2001 have made strong
references to Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, though Tavener is keen to insist that ‘in my
prayer-life I remain totally Christian’.
Completed in 2005, The Beautiful Names was commissioned by HRH The Prince of Wales,
who shares the composer’s interest in Greek Orthodoxy and Islam.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will give a repeat performance of The Beautiful
Names at the İstanbul Music Festival on Friday 22 June; a tour made possible by the generous
support of the British Council.
This concert will be recorded by BBC Radio 3 for broadcast on Performance on 3 on Thursday 21 June.
Listings Information
Tuesday 19 June 2007
BBC SO / Jiří Bĕlohlávek; John Mark Ainsley (tenor); BBC Symphony Chorus;
The Choristers of Westminster Cathedral
How to book tickets
BARBICAN BOX OFFICE: 020 7638 8891 / barbican.org.uk
Tickets £8 - £24
How to get to the Cathedral
The nearest tube and train station is Victoria, in addition the 11, 24, 148, 507 and 211 bus
lines stop immediately in front of the Cathedral Piazza, on Victoria Street. Underground Victoria Line, District & Circle, St James's Park. The main entrance to the cathedral is via
Victoria Street.
For further press information or pictures, please contact Alison Walker
Tel: 020 7765 4714 email: alison.walker02@bbc.co.uk
bbc.co.uk/symphonyorchestra