Gerald Barry (composer) facts for kids
Gerald Barry (born 28 April 1952) is a famous Irish composer. He writes unique and exciting music. His operas and other pieces are known around the world.
About Gerald Barry
Gerald Barry was born in Clarehill, Clarecastle, County Clare, in Ireland. He went to school at St. Flannan's College. Later, he studied music at University College Dublin. He also learned from famous composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen in Germany.
Growing up in the countryside, Gerald Barry did not hear much music. But one day, he heard an opera song on the radio. It was from a Handel opera called Xerxes. This moment changed everything for him. He said it was like a "lightning flash" that made him discover music.
Barry's music is very special. It has "sharp edges" and is often surprising. His pieces sound like no one else's. They are known for being strong, funny, and sometimes intense. He often reuses musical ideas in different ways. For example, a piece for violin might become a piano song.
One of his most popular operas is The Importance of Being Earnest. It was first shown in Los Angeles and then in London. Critics loved it, saying it was like a "surrealistic shape." This opera won a big award in 2013, the Royal Philharmonic Society Prize.
In recent years, his music has been played by major orchestras. In 2022, the Berlin Philharmonic performed his piece Aus Die bitteren Tränen der Petra von Kant. This was a double bass concerto based on one of his operas. They also played his orchestral piece, Chevaux de frise, that same year. In 2023, his work Kafka’s Earplugs was played at the BBC Proms.
Selected Works
Gerald Barry has written many different kinds of music. He is especially famous for his operas.
Operas
The Intelligence Park (1981–8) This opera was first shown in London in 1990. It was also played on BBC Radio 3. Later, it was performed in Dublin and at the Royal Opera House in London.
The Triumph of Beauty and Deceit (1991–92) This opera was made for Channel 4 Television. It was performed at the Aldeburgh Festival in 2002. It also toured to other cities like London and Berlin. Later, it was played in New York and Paris.
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (2001-4) This opera was first performed in 2005 by the English National Opera. It was also shown in Switzerland. Part of this opera was later turned into a Double bass concerto for the Berlin Philharmonic.
La Plus Forte (2007) This is a special opera for just one woman. It was first played in Paris in 2007. The famous singer Barbara Hannigan performed it. It has since been performed in many cities around the world.
The Importance of Being Earnest (2010) This opera is based on a play by Oscar Wilde. It was first performed in Los Angeles and London. It has been staged in many places, including the Royal Opera House in London and Lincoln Center in New York. It won the Royal Philharmonic Society Prize in 2013. The recording of this opera was even nominated for a Grammy Award.
Alice's Adventures Under Ground (2014/15) This opera is based on the famous book by Lewis Carroll. It was performed in Los Angeles, London, and Dublin. It had its first full stage performance at the Royal Opera House in 2020. This performance was also filmed.
Salome (2017) This opera is also based on a text by Oscar Wilde. Its first performance in Los Angeles was delayed. It is now planned to be performed there in 2026.
Other Important Works
Gerald Barry has written many other pieces for different instruments and groups. Here are some of them:
- Things that Gain by Being Painted for voice, cello, and piano (1977)
- Things That Gain for piano (1977)
- Kitty Lie Over Across From The Wall for piano and orchestra (1979)
- O Lord How Vain for choir (1984)
- String Quartet No. 1 (1985)
- Chevaux-de-frise for orchestra (1988)
- Triorchic Blues for piano (1991)
- The Conquest of Ireland for bass voice and orchestra (1995)
- String Quartet No. 2 (1998)
- The Eternal Recurrence, for soprano and orchestra (1999)
- Wiener Blut for orchestra (2000)
- String Quartet No. 3 (Six Marches) (2001)
- Piano Concerto (2012)
- Humiliated and Insulted for piano (2013)
- Organ Concerto for organ and orchestra (2018)
- Viola Concerto (2019)
Recordings
Many of Gerald Barry's works have been recorded. This allows people all over the world to listen to his unique music.
- Gerald Barry: Chamber and Solo Piano Works. Nua Nós, Noriko Kawai (piano), Dáirine Ní Mheadhra (conductor): NMC DO22 (1994).
- Barry. Orchestral Works. National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Robert Houlohan (conductor): Marco Polo 8.225006 (1997).
- The Triumph of Beauty and Deceit. Soloists, Composers Ensemble, Diego Masson: Largo 5135 (1998).
- Things That Gain. Music for piano, 2 pianos, chamber and vocal music. Gerald Barry and Kevin Volans (pianos), Xenia Ensemble. Nicholas Clapton (countertenor): Black Box Music BBM 1011 (1998).
- La Jalousie Taciturne. Irish Chamber Orchestra, Fionnuala Hunt (conductor): Black Box Music BBM 1013 (1998).
- Snow is White. The Schubert Ensemble: NMC D075 (2001).
- In the Asylum. Trio Fibonacci: NMC D107 (2005).
- The Intelligence Park. Almeida Ensemble, Robert Houlihan (conductor): NMC D122 (2005).
- The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant. Soloists, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Gerhard Markson (conductor): RTÉ 261 (2005).
- Triorchic Blues for trumpet. Marco Blaauw (trumpet): BV Haast Records CD 0406 (2006).
- The Chair for organ. David Adams (self-produced, 2008).
- Lisbon. Thomas Adès (piano), Birmingham Contemporary Music Group: Contemporary Music Centre CMC CD08 (2009).
- Lady Bracknell's Song, from The Importance of Being Earnest. Gerald Barry (voice & piano): NMC D150 (2009).
- The Importance of Being Earnest. Soloists, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Thomas Adès (conductor): NMC D197 (2014).
- Barry meets Beethoven. Soloists, Chamber Choir Ireland, Crash Ensemble, Paul Hillier (conductor): Orchid Classics ORC 100055 (2016).
- Piano Concerto / Beethoven, for Bass and Ensemble - Nicholas Hodges (piano), Mark Stone (baritone), Britten Sinfonia, Thomas Adès (conductor): Signum Classics SIGCD616 (2020).
- The Eternal Recurrence. Jennifer France (Soprano), Britten Sinfonia, Thomas Adès (conductor): Signum Classics SIGCD659 (2021),
- Gerald Barry. In the Asylum - Fidelio Trio: Mode 332 (2022).
- Viola Concerto / The Conquest of Ireland - Laurence Power (viola), Joshua Bloom (bass), Britten Sinfonia, Thomas Adès (conductor): Signum Classics SIGCD687 (2022).
