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CONTACT
 
Email: info@robertrival.com
 
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CURRENT PROJECTS
 
—Second commission for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra's 2011/12 season.
 
—Piece for youth string orchestra. Commissioned by the Canadian Music Centre.
 
  ESO logo Resident Composer of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
  CCFA logo Supported in part by the Canada Council for the Arts
   
UPCOMING EVENTS

WED., DEC. 21 & THU. DEC. 22, 2011, 7:30pm — EDMONTON, ALBERTA
"Silent Night" (arrangement) (world premiere)
— Performance by Nathan Berg, the Richard Eaton Singers & the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the Winspear Centre. Stuart Chafetz, cond.
A Lightly Classical Christmas. $20-75.

SAT., MAR. 31, 2012 — EDMONTON, ALBERTA
Commissioned work (world premiere)
— Performance by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the Winspear Centre. Julian Kuerti, cond. $20-75.

FRI., MAY 4 & SAT., MAY 5, 2012 — EDMONTON, ALBERTA
Lullaby (world premiere)
— Performance by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the Winspear Centre. William Eddins, cond.

TUE., MAY 8, 2012 — NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Lullaby (US premiere)
— Performance by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall as part of Spring for Music. William Eddins, cond.

 

WHAT'S NEW

 
ESO Podcasts with Canadian Composers
NOV. 2011—In an attempt to raise the profile of the contemporary music the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra programs, I've started to create podcasts in which I interview composers about their work (and that of their colleagues). So far I've interviewed Rob Teehan (Toronto), Allan Gilliland (Edmonton) and Allan Gordon Bell (Calgary), the latter two as part of a series, "Remembering Malcolm Forsyth", posted in the lead-up to our performances of the late composer's last work "A Ballad of Canada" on Nov. 11 & 12.
 


CBC Commissions String Sextet "The Tempest"
JUL. 2011—I've completed String Sextet "The Tempest". Commissioned by the CBC, it was inspired by Prospero's monologue "Ye elves of hills" from Shakespeare's The Tempest. The premiere performance, yet to be scheduled, will be recorded by CBC radio for future broadcast.
 


Interview with Edmonton's SEE Magazine
APR. 2011—Jerry Ozipko interviewed me for Edmonton's SEE Magazine. Read the article here.
 


Resident Composer of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
MAR. 2011—I'm thrilled to announce that I've been appointed the next Resident Composer of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. The ESO, which performs in the acoustically superb Winspear Centre, has a long tradition of supporting contemporary music. It's a tremendous honour to be given this opportunity to compose for such a fine and dynamic ensemble. I look forward to working with Music Director William Eddins, the musicians and staff—and to getting to know the audience and community.
 


New Duo Sonata Premiered in Australia
FEB. 2011—The Elanée Ensemble premiered my Sonata for Viola & Double Bass on Feb. 20 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Here's what the critic Peter Donnelly had to say in a review published in The Mercury:
"An attractive and concise four-movement work, it opens with a swirling ostinato with later allusions to Shostakovich. The sad and dirge-like second movement has some difficult high harmonics for both instruments; a second adagio is more song-like while the finale is contrastingly jokey."
On Feb. 28, the ensemble performed the third movement at Government House, the official residence of the Governor of Tasmania, where it was reportedly well received. The next complete performance is scheduled for Jul. 1 at the Tasmanian Conservatorium.
 


Windermere String Quartet Commissions New Work
FEB. 2011—Toronto's Windermere String Quartet, which performs on Classical period instruments, has commissioned me to write a string quartet, Traces of a Silent Landscape, inspired by a snowshoeing trip in Algonquin Park.