Casken’s work is often inspired by the Northumberland countryside and coastline: symphonic poem Orion Over Farne (1984-86) draws on the myth, landscape and poetry of the Farne Islands using rich orchestral sonorities. The Violin Concerto, premiered at the 1995 BBC Proms and performed by the young German violinist Sophia Jaffé, takes its narrative from Tolstoy's Father Sergius, a story reflecting some of the turmoil of human experience.
Concerto for Orchestra (2007) is Casken’s most recent orchestral work, written for the Nationaltheater-Orchesters Mannheim and reflecting the composer's interest in two-movement forms which began with his Cello Concerto (1991).
Sophia Jaffé violin
Hallé Orchestra
Markus Stenz conductor
Watch John Casken talking about Orion Over Farne: