An exhilarating journey through time and memory.

From the sweet sound of forest birdsong to the grinding gears of industry, the music in this show encapsulates a huge range of human experience. 

Inspired by Steve Reich’s childhood memories of railway journeys, ‘Different Trains’ intricately weaves together a live score for strings with field recordings and fragments of spoken word. Through mesmerising repetition and rhythmic patterns, Reich vividly evokes the contrasting destinies faced by train travellers – from passengers on leisurely trips to those caught in the horrors of the Holocaust. “It’s as much terror as it is music” says Pitchfork. 

Popping up everywhere from state funerals to trance raves, Samuel Barber’s iconic ‘Adagio’ has lost none of its emotive power since its first performance 85 years ago. A musical catalogue of birdcalls by Cassandra Miller, and fresh new work from subversive British-Malaysian composer Jasmin Kent Rodgman, catches us up to the 21st century.

This voyage from nature to the man-made, past to present, may be turbulent at times. But it’s definitely worth it. 

Jasmin Kent Rodgman’s new work is commissioned by Manchester Collective and supported by PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund

14 Sept – Birmingham – Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
16 Sept – Liverpool – Tung Auditorium
17 Sept – Leeds – The Warehouse in Holbeck
20 Sept – Manchester – Royal Northern College of Music
22 Sept – London – Southbank Centre
24 Sept – Stroud – Hidden Notes Festival

Please note that some of our shows may contain haze.

Setlist

Cassandra Miller Warblework
Samuel Barber String Quartet Op. 11, ‘Adagio’
Jasmin Kent Rodgman four-person simulation (world premiere)
Steve Reich Different Trains

Approximate runtime with interval: 100 minutes

LISTEN TO ‘DIFFERENT TRAINS’ ON SPOTIFY →

Line-up

Sara Wolstenholme Violin
Anna Tulchinskaya Violin
Alex Mitchell Viola
Christian Elliott Cello

Programme Notes →