Param Vir

Param Vir

Delhi-born composer Param Vir is a leading figure in contemporary music. Based in London, his output encompasses works in several genres that include chamber music, symphonic works and opera / music-theatre. His works have been performed by major ensembles, orchestras and opera houses, and presented at several international festivals. He composes prolifically, and recent seasons have seen the premieres of several major works, including a full-length opera Black Feather Rising, a choral work He Begins His Great Trance for the BBC Singers, alongside several works for cellist Rohan de Saram. Work for large forces include a recent and much-acclaimed BBC Proms commissionCave of Luminous Mind and the hugely successful Raga Fields for three international contemporary ensembles. Most recently Ablaze! for soprano and piano drawing on Tagore’s poems, and Drum of the Deathless for percussion ensemble are clocking up performances. A new string quartet We Want to Live in #Peace (inspired by the Syrian Refugee crisis) has just been released on CD. Most recently a song cycle for baritone A Kinsman to Danger, based on the poetry of Sri Aurobindo, has had several performances since April 2018. Vir’s work is inspired by varied sources drawn from world mythology, art and literature. Groups that have performed or given premieres of his works include The Netherlands Opera, London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Klangforum Wien, Music-Theatre Wales, Schoenberg Ensemble, Fulcrum Point (Chicago), Scottish Opera, Music Theatre Wales, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, and Ensemble Modern. Currently, a new opera and a new Concerto for Indian instrumentalist are on the drawing board.