Does anyone remember Paul Venn, a conductor and composer active in the Birmingham area in the 1970s and '80s? He ran his own orchestra and put on some ambitious concerts, some , sadly, too ambitious for the skill of his available musicians, though I felt that was better than not trying at all.
I recall especially a Schoenberg centenary concert with a very ambitious programme announced in advance, including the Wind Quintet op.26, which at the time taxed even the foremost professionals. It wasn't played, but they did manage The Book of the Hanging Gardens and the first Chamber Symphony, which went well. At another concert he conducted a symphony of his own, which I thought quite good.
A google search revealed quite a few Paul Venns, none of which was he; reinding me of how many Michael Jacksons there are said to be.
I recall especially a Schoenberg centenary concert with a very ambitious programme announced in advance, including the Wind Quintet op.26, which at the time taxed even the foremost professionals. It wasn't played, but they did manage The Book of the Hanging Gardens and the first Chamber Symphony, which went well. At another concert he conducted a symphony of his own, which I thought quite good.
A google search revealed quite a few Paul Venns, none of which was he; reinding me of how many Michael Jacksons there are said to be.
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