British Open to showcase ‘Star Crossed Lovers’
The organisers of the 171st British Open Championship have announced that the test-piece for the 2025 event will be ‘Star Crossed Lovers’ by Stephen Roberts. The new work, commissioned by Martin and Karyn Mortimer will receive its first official performance at Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Saturday 6th September.
Stephen Roberts’ works have proved popular with bands and audiences alike in the past with 'Arabian Nights — Fantasy on Rimsky Korsakov's Scheherazade for Brass Band' being used in 2013 and 'Reflections on Swan Lake’ more recently in 2015. 'Star Crossed Lovers' is also takes inspiration from a Romantic composer, in this case the piece takes its title from Shakespeare's play and is based on is based on Sergei Prokofiev's music for the ballet 'Romeo and Juliet'.
Commenting on his work the composer writes: "I have tried to create something that is cohesive and stands as a work in its own right by using some of Prokofiev's most memorable musical motifs and fusing them with passages of my own in a similar musical style. The emphasis is very much on emotion, with the main themes expressing the opposing passions of love and hate and creating a musical drama that will test both the technical and expressive qualities of bands and conductors. The work lasts about sixteen minutes and is both tuneful and dramatic in style, with three cadenzas to test the soloists in smaller groups."
