Work by Alumnus Professor Robert Saxton to be premiered by the English Symphony Orchestra at the Sheldonian Theatre

Alumnus and previous Professor of Composition Robert Saxton (Worcester College, 1975) is having his piece Scenes from the Epic of Gilgamesh premiered by the English Symphony Orchestra at the Sheldonian Theatre this Friday. Taking inspiration from the Epic of Gilgamesh, the oldest written literary text in Near Eastern/Western cultural history and itself said to be an influence on the Iliad and Odyssey, the work promises to be an exciting opener.

Robert was Professor of Composition at Oxford University and tutorial fellow in music at Worcester College from 1999 until his retirement in 2021. He has been Composer-in Association at the Purcell School for Young Musicians since 2013 and was appointed Hon Research Fellow at the Royal Academy of Music in 2021. His music from 1972 until 1998 was published by Chester/Music Sales and, since then, by the University of York Music Press and Ricordi (Berlin). Recordings have appeared on the Sony Classical, Hyperion, Metier, EMI , NMC, Divine Art and Signum labels. 

For more information about the concert, please visit the Music at Oxford website.