We’re excited to once again feature Will Davenports Open Conversations. This time he checks in with the incredible Philip Venables. 

Philip Venables has been described as a ”composer of ferocious dramatic instincts” and ”an arrestingly original musical personality” by Alex Ross in The New Yorker and as ”one of the finest composers around” by The Guardian. Philip’s output covers opera, music theatre, multimedia concert works, chamber music and song, an eclectic range of styles and influences, and themes such as social politics, violence, gender and storytelling.

Alongside their long-term collaborator Ted Huffman, Philip has produced numerous pieces, such as the opera Denis and Katya, 4.48 Psychosis and My Favourite Piece is the Goldberg Variations. 

The self-referential piece which Philip wrote is entitled Venables Plays Bach. 

You can learn more about Philip’s work at philipvenables.com

Will says ‘It was a pleasure to have a conversation with composer Philip Venables for Episode 2 of the ‘Open Conversations’ series with ConnectsMusic’. You can watch episode 1 of the series where Will was joined by Asher Fynn and Luca Manning here: (Part 1) (Part 2).

Will Davenport is a composer studying Electronic Music and Composition at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Will has composed music for various noteworthy clients, such as The National Trust, The Barbican and The BBC. Will has had music commissioned for projects such Guildhall’s ‘Tessiture Elettronico’ concert of electro-acoustic music, the Barbican’s Sound Unbound festival and Illuminated River, which is a new lighting installation spanning across the Thames. His current projects include his debut album, an experimental audiobook and an interactive event for String Quartet & Electronics.