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‘… extremely original and rare music…’
John Adams, composer
‘The term "avantgarde" is changing and Dobrinka is one of those lending it a new meaning. Her credo… consists of a simple basic idea: That something new can always be found, even in the most familiar places. Her music, therefore, sets out to explore this zone of familiarity and the unknown, never drawing any
borders…’
Tobias Fischer, music writer and
broadcaster, www.tokafi.com
Still in her twenties, Dobrinka Tabakova is making a strong impact on performers and audiences alike, with her striking compositional style. Idiosyncratic rhythms, memorable melodies, post-tonal/modal harmonies and distinct orchestration all form her musical language. She is sought after by many of today’s leading musicians including Maxim
Rysanov, Janine Jansen, Gidon Kremer, Julian Rachlin and
Nick Daniel. |
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Dobrinka has won a number of prizes for her work, including the Jean-Frederic Perrenoud Prize and Medal at the 4th Vienna International Music Competition (1995), the GSMD Lutoslawski Composition Prize (1999), the prize for an anthem for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 (performed at St. Paul’s Cathedral) and the 2007 Adam Prize of King’s College London for the song cycle
Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music. Her works feature on a number of record labels- the anthem
Praise on Hyperion (‘startlingly original- immediately appealing’, BBC Music Magazine) and
Whispered Lullaby on the Avie label (Gramophone and BBC Music magazines Editor’s Choice June/August 2007).
Recent appointments include composer-in-residence at the 2007 Leicester International Festival of Music; guest composer at Janine Jansen’s International Chamber Music Festival, Utrecht and Julian Rachlin and Friends Dubrovnik Festival 2007; composer-in-residence at the Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica Festival in Sigulda, Latvia and featured composer at the Spectrum concerts, Berlin 20th anniversary concert. Last year Dobrinka was also one of 17 composers (including John Tavener, Giya Kancheli and Petris Vasks) invited to write a Sun Anthem for the large project of World’s Sun Songs, directed by Maris Sirmais with Riga Youth Choir Kamer, presented at the World Choral Symposium in Copenhagen. 2008 also saw the premiere of the
Concerto for Cello and Strings commissioned by the Amsterdam Cello Bienalle for Kristine Blaumane and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
Dobrinka has received commissions from BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme; the Royal Philharmonic Society; Orchestra of the Swan; International Chamber Music Festival, Utrecht; Moscow Homecoming Festival; the alternative Dutch orchestra Ricciotti Ensemble; Leicester Festival; Spectrum Series, Berlin; Amsterdam Sinfonietta as well as two chamber operas-
Midsummer Magic for the Guildhall School of Music, and
The Custard Tart Opera performed at the international ‘Profile Intermedia’ design conference in
Bremen.
One of the champions of Dobrinka’s music has been the violist Maxim Rysanov, to whom she has dedicated a number of works including the
viola concerto The Song of the Enchanting Viola and three Suites. Maxim has performed the solo suite
Pirin and the Suite in Old Style 'The Court Jester Amareu'
for viola, strings and harpsichord around Europe and is set to premiere the viola and piano BBC/RPS commission
Suite in Jazz Style early in 2009.
Forthcoming recording projects include the Suite in Old Style performed by Maxim Rysanov on the BIS label in 2010; recording of a new work for cello piano and oud; and a CD release in spring 2009 of
Modetudes performed by pianist Evelyn Chang on the Avie label.
Growing up in London, Bulgarian-born Dobrinka Tabakova (b. 1980) attended Alleyn’s School and the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department, specialising in composition and piano. She graduated with distinction BMus and MMus in composition at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (GSMD) and was then appointed composition fellow there. In 2007 she was awarded a doctorate in composition from King’s College London (KCL). Her composition teachers have included Simon Bainbridge, Diana Burrell, Robert Keeley and Andrew Schultz as well as masterclasses with John Adams, Louis Andriessen, Alexander Goehr, Marek Kopelent, Philip Manoury, Alessandro Solbiati, Olav-Anton Thommassen and Iannis Xenakis.
Please check the Concerts page for forthcoming performances. |
