Stephen Whittington is an Adelaide-born composer, pianist, writer and music critic. He is head of Sonic Arts at the Elder Conservatorium of Music and teaches composition, music theory and sonic arts.

As a pianist he enjoys an international reputation as an interpreter of the music of John Cage, Morton Feldman, Erik Satie and many contemporary composers, and has performed at Festivals and concert venues in Asia, Europe and North America.

His string quartet Music for Airport Furniture was released on CD by Cold Blue Records in 2013, to widespread critical acclaim. In September 2012 he directed John Cage Day, which included his own performance of ASLSP (As SLow aS Possible) on the Elder Hall organ, lasting 8 hours.

His string quartet Windmill has been frequently performed and has been described as ‘the classic work of Australian musical minimalism.’ Recent works include Fake Gallants (2015) for Baroque ensemble, Autumn Thoughts for piano (2015) – premiered by the composer at a recital in Beijing in November 2015- A la manière de M.R. for piano trio (2016), and Fragments for P.B. (2016) for chamber ensemble and electronics.

Program

One of the most significant European composers of his time, György Kurtág (b.1926) is a very distinctive voice in contemporary composition. Drawing on many sources, including his Hungarian heritage, he creates an intimate musical world populated by his friends, family, composers who have influenced him – often expressed in miniature works, sometimes as brief as a few seconds.

This concert explores that world through works dedicated by Kurtág to other composers – including Leos Janacek, Olivier Messiaen, and Karlheinz Stockhausen – and works by those composers.