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Stephen Oliver ONE OF THE FOREMOST COMPOSERS IN A GENERATION
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The Least of my Troubles
(title from Blondel)
NOTES: Stephen left most of his estate in trust, to further the work he had already been doing during his life, the Stephen Oliver Trust. Stephen's archive of original scores and papers in 2006 was presented to the British Library by his family.
In 2010 Simon Callow led an anniversary concert which would have been Stephen's 60th birthday. Performance highlights included British Youth Opera presenting two semi-staged performances of Euridice, Stephen’s adaptation of Peri’s opera of 1600, at the Peacock Theatre. Simon Callow also wrote a tribute to Stephen in The Independent.
A Newsletter published by Jim Oliver, 'Stephen Oliver Sixtieth Anniversary Year' (Nov.2010) perhaps gives a relatively comprehensive overview, a snapshot of what might inspire an 'Oliver Revival' (see below).
Whilst Stephen hosted his own TV series, this project will be the first TV documentary which celebrates his brilliant and prolific career and his all-too-short life.
In 2010 Simon Callow led an anniversary concert which would have been Stephen's 60th birthday. Performance highlights included British Youth Opera presenting two semi-staged performances of Euridice, Stephen’s adaptation of Peri’s opera of 1600, at the Peacock Theatre. Simon Callow also wrote a tribute to Stephen in The Independent.
A Newsletter published by Jim Oliver, 'Stephen Oliver Sixtieth Anniversary Year' (Nov.2010) perhaps gives a relatively comprehensive overview, a snapshot of what might inspire an 'Oliver Revival' (see below).
Whilst Stephen hosted his own TV series, this project will be the first TV documentary which celebrates his brilliant and prolific career and his all-too-short life.
IN SUMMARY: Stephen Oliver was set to become one of the leading composers of his generation died far too young. Stephen was educated at St Paul's Cathedral, Ardingly College and at Worcester College, Oxford, where he read music under Kenneth Leighton and Robert Sherlaw Johnson.
His first opera, The Duchess of Malfi (1971), was staged while he was still at Oxford. Later works include incidental music for the Royal Shakespeare Company (including The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby), a musical, Blondel (1983; with Tim Rice), and over forty operas, including Tom Jones (1975), Beauty and the Beast (1984), Lady Jane (1986) and Timon of Athens (1991). Stephen also wrote music for television, including several of the BBC's Shakespeare productions (Timon among those), and some chamber and instrumental music.
A good friend of Simon Callow who commissioned the piece Ricercare No4 (for Cantabile). He also composed the score for the thirteen-hour radio dramatization of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1981. The work combined a main theme with many sub-themes, all composed within the English pastoral tradition.
In Tony Palmer's Film 'Wagner' (made 1982-3), Stephen can be seen playing the part of conductor Hans Richter and conducting in the pit of Wagner's theatre at Bayreuth.
Stephen was a frequent guest on BBC Radio 4's light discussion programme Stop The Week. He also wrote and presented his own TV series Understanding Opera for LWT. He died of AIDS-related complications in London. In 2006, Oliver's archive of original scores and papers was presented to the British Library by his family.
His first opera, The Duchess of Malfi (1971), was staged while he was still at Oxford. Later works include incidental music for the Royal Shakespeare Company (including The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby), a musical, Blondel (1983; with Tim Rice), and over forty operas, including Tom Jones (1975), Beauty and the Beast (1984), Lady Jane (1986) and Timon of Athens (1991). Stephen also wrote music for television, including several of the BBC's Shakespeare productions (Timon among those), and some chamber and instrumental music.
A good friend of Simon Callow who commissioned the piece Ricercare No4 (for Cantabile). He also composed the score for the thirteen-hour radio dramatization of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1981. The work combined a main theme with many sub-themes, all composed within the English pastoral tradition.
In Tony Palmer's Film 'Wagner' (made 1982-3), Stephen can be seen playing the part of conductor Hans Richter and conducting in the pit of Wagner's theatre at Bayreuth.
Stephen was a frequent guest on BBC Radio 4's light discussion programme Stop The Week. He also wrote and presented his own TV series Understanding Opera for LWT. He died of AIDS-related complications in London. In 2006, Oliver's archive of original scores and papers was presented to the British Library by his family.
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Neil Anthony, Creative Director
