Sutton: Violin Concerto, Five Theatre Miniatures, A Fist Full of Fives, War Horse Suite, Short Story

After a devastating cancer diagnosis in September 2022, Adrian Sutton, composer of the music for “War Horse”, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” and other National Theatre productions, made the conscious decision to change his focus and devote himself exclusively to music for the concert hall. This has led to a series of significant new works, including his violin concerto, which premiered in June 2023 at the Southbank Centre with Fenella Humphreys and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Sutton commented: “We all have limited time and resources. How can we make the best use of them? In my situation, there is only one answer: I avoid wasting time and energy worrying about things I cannot change. Instead, I decide how to respond to the facts – and I decide not to be a victim.” This new album with Welterstein recordings reflects the composer’s new focus. Adrian Sutton says about the album: “Here is my true musical self. My core musical DNA. The violin concerto (as I am a violinist myself) is the main course on this CD for me, but the other works are a showcase of what I have always been about, from the refreshing and instrumentally challenging “A Fist Full of Fives” to orchestral suites derived from my theatre works. I am very proud of them all and am delighted to have had the opportunity to share them.”