DOMINIQUE
LeGENDRE
UK based Trinidad-born composer Dominique Le Gendre has written music extensively for theatre, dance, film, television and radio drama for BBC Radio 3 and 4. Her musical language has been described as “…luminous, glittering and distinctive, reflecting the rich multi-culture of her Caribbean upbringing.”
In 2004 she was invited to become an Associate Artist of the Royal Opera House, (ROH2) Covent Garden, who commissioned her full-length opera “Bird Of Night," (based on the legendary Soucouyant) which premiered in October 2006 at the ROH Linbury Theatre.
Her chamber works have been commissioned and performed by The ROH chamber soloists, The Philharmonia Orchestra, The Manning Camerata, Lontano Orchestra, Tête-a-tête Opera, Ibis Ensemble and British cellist Tony Woollard among others.
In August 2012 she co-curated with Melanie Abrahams " London is the Place for Me", a two week festival to celebrate Trinidad and Tobago's 50th Anniversary of Independence organized by the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London.
In January 2014 she workshopped "Jab Molassie" a new music-theatre work commissioned by Calabash Foundation for the Arts. The libretto for this new work has been written by UTT faculty member (Double Bass) Caitlyn Kamminga and is inspired by Stravinsky's "Soldier's Tale". It sets the universal Faustian tale in Trinidad and includes a double-tenor steel-pan in the 9 piece ensemble.
Her current projects include a one-year creative engagement project inspired by Estauries in collaboration with Practical Philosopher Ayisha De Lanerolle, Creative Producer Kate Theophilus, Chef Sarah Saunders and LAB Director Susan Benn. Dominique is also researching, developing and creating a number of new theatre and music-theatre projects, in collaboration with Jamaican Writer Pat Cumper.
ARTISTES
Cara ADAMS soprano
Jude BALTHAZAR tenor
Edward CUMBERBATCH tenor
Natalia DOPWELL soprano
Leandra HEAD soprano
Rory WALLACE tenor
Justin WELSH baritone
Danielle WILLIAMS mezzo-soprano
Dr Jeffrey MIDDLETON pianist
Byron Sean BURFORD pianist
a newly commissioned Caribbean Songbook by Dominique LeGendre
Saturday July 9
Following in the well established tradition of setting traditional folk songs and African-American spirituals for classical solo performance, our foundation has undertaken to commission a collection of Caribbean songs and poems newly arranged for piano and voice by a talented home grown composer.
Influenced as a young girl by the sounds of ‘La Petite Musicale’ rehearsing traditional folk songs as she sat beneath Olive Walke’s piano, Dominique LeGendre later went on to pursue guitar performance and composition, her creations boasting many Caribbean influences including everything from parang to bottle and spoon.
We believe that her songs will appeal both to local and international audiences especially of the Caribbean Diaspora, and will be a refreshing inclusion to the repertoire of many classically trained Caribbean singers and pianists who struggle to find repertoire that represents their heritage, and can fit into any recital programme.
The sheet music for these songs will be made available for purchase online immediately following their debut, with future plans for a CD recording and international performances in the near future.