Profiles
"the exemplary CHROMA" Rian Evans, The Guardian, 2009
“a tantalising playfulness … leaves you feeling exhilarated, if a little clumsy by comparison”
Guy Dammann The Guardian 2010
Associate Ensemble Tête à Tête opera company
Ensemble-in-residence for Education at Cardiff University
Ensemble-in-Residence at Royal Holloway University of London
Founded in 1997, CHROMA is a dynamic, critically acclaimed chamber ensemble featuring some of Britain's most outstanding musicians, known for the passion it brings to contemporary works, its vivid renderings of classic pieces and its diverse participation/learning activity.
Following its debut at the Purcell Room CHROMA has become most closely associated with the performance of contemporary music and has forged close links with many prominent British composers through many premières and collaborations.
Recent world premières include CHROMA commissions from Julian Grant - Strike Opponent’s Ears With Both Fists, Arlene Sierra - Surrounded Ground, David Bruce Saudades, Dominic Shovelton El Ingles and Philip Cashian Aquila. Premieres written for CHROMA in last year include Mark Bowden The Root of The Wind, Andrew Hamilton Product #2 and Charlie Piper Bordello (commissioned by C3/Kettle’s Yard), Mark Bowden the radiant dark (RHUL), Mark Yeats schlink's approximation (Manchester Pride). Recent EU premieres include David Bruce’s Piosenki and Gumboots, and Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking by Per Nørgård.
With Tête à Tête, for whom CHROMA is Associate Ensemble, premieres include Julian Grant’s “knitting opera” Odysseus Unwound, the six opera shorts Blind Date, The Cumnor Affair (music Philip Cashian, libretto Iain Pears) - and several works in development through The Opera Festival.
New works in 2011 include ROH2 OperaShots at the Linbury - Stewart Copeland/Anne Dudley double bill; a commission from Marcus Barcham-Stevens – in a programme with EU premiere of David Bruce’s The North Wind Was A Woman; pieces by composers at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Royal Holloway University of London; and clarinet/viola/accordion/electronica pieces by Erick Flores, Jessica Aslan, Jan Hendrickse, Hugo Morales, Philip Dawson and Joseph Davies for premiere at Soundwaves Festival, Brighton in July.
CHROMA has an active participation and learning programme, including collaborations with Kings Place (Somers Town schools) and Tête à Tête, primary school programmes in Norwich, Amersham and Wiltshire, and is resident at Cardiff University and Royal Holloway University of London.