Benutzer:1PaulRoberts!/Paul Roberts

Paul Roberts (26.05.1963)

Born in Hull (England). Musical career began as a chorister in Durham

Cathedral, where he also studied piano and violin. Began composing from an

early age, and a composition was sung by the cathedral choir whilst he was still

a chorister. Played viola in the Durham County Youth Orchestra from 1978-81.

Studied music at Liverpool University from 1981-85 (B.A. Hons, M.Mus in

composition), studying composition with James Wishart. Winner of the annual

Alsop Composers’ competition at the University in 1984 and 1985. From 1985-

89 studied composition with Vic Hoyland and Jonty Harrison at Birmingham

University (PhD in composition 1995). In 1992, awarded the Beethovenpreis

from the city of Bonn.

Compositions range from music for solo instrument to full orchestra, choral

music and several electroacoustic works on tape. Works have been performed by

ensembles such as the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, members of

the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, soloists from the Ensemble Intercontemporain

and the Orchester der Beethovenhalle Bonn.

From October 1989 he moved to Florence to become musical assistant to

Luciano Berio. This relation continued uninterrupted until the composer’s death

in 2003. During this time he was responsible for the production of scores and

material for the premières of over 40 new or revised works, and engraved many

major scores in definitive editions – all in close collaboration with the composer

– such as La vera storia, Un re in ascolto, Formazioni, Concerto II, Alternatim,

Ofanìm, Stanze. After Berio’s death, he continued to produce several important

editions which the composer had projected and requested, including new scores

of Eindrücke, Circles, and Passaggio. In 2005, he formulated the grouping

together of the 4 short orchestral pieces by Berio [Fanfara, Entrata, Festum and

Encore] which Boulez later introduced in Chicago in 2008 with the title Quatre

Dédicasses. In 2006, for the new practical score of Recital, he identified every

single musical quotation in the original version of the work as performed by

Cathy Berberian and Luciano Berio. Other composers for whom he has

produced scores include Boulez, Birtwistle, Rihm and Pärt.

As an expert on the music of Luciano Berio he has published several writings,

including the first survey of the complete Chemins series in the book Berio’s

Sequenzas (Ashgate 2007).