Manchester Camerata Presents: The music of Arthur Russell & Philip Glass

This event is postponed due to Covid-19, more details to follow. 

Disco cellist meets classical minimalist – Manchester Camerata plays homage to two New York legends.

Arthur Russell, cellist, singer, composer and producer of a new genre of music, one that fluidly blended the distinct sounds of country and classical, disco and experimental composition. Russell spent his 20s and 30s mingling with the avant-garde of Lower Manhattan and this gritty New York scene heavily influenced his phenomenal body of work, most of which lay undiscovered until after his premature death from AIDS-related illness in 1992.

The 2008 documentary Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell rightfully repositioned Russell as a cult figure, a maverick genius and the creator of some of America’s most beautiful songs.

Russell collaborated with classical composer and pianist (and fellow New-Yorker) Phillip Glass in 1983. Most famously know as a minimalist composer and for his work with the Philip Glass Ensemble, Glass has also worked with some of the biggest names in music; Mick Jagger, Leonard Cohen, David Bowie and Iggy Pop.

‘Arthur Russell’s untimely death in 1992 took away a restless talent with an enduring fascination.’ AJ Dehany, London Jazz News

 “Devoutly into disco and the communal ecstasy of the dance floor, Russell found in its sweaty repetitions a response to the highbrow minimalism that his peers Philip Glass and Steve Reich were practising in the classical world.” Peter Gordon, Composer

Joining us on this joyous celebration of 80s New York counter-culture we have the ever fantastic LGBT+ Dance party DJs Kiss Me Again.

Doors: 7:00

Performance : 8:00