Michael Bonaventure

MICHAEL BONAVENTURE, born 1962 in Edinburgh, UK, was an organ pupil of Herrick Bunney at St.Giles Cathedral, and a composition student of Judith Weir at Glasgow University. Based for some years in south east London, he pursues a career as a freelance musician; this includes his work as the resident Organist of All Saints Church in Blackheath, and as a visiting instrumental tutor for the Camden Music Service.
As a recitalist his vast solo repertoire embraces the music of all periods, but it is as an indefatigable advocate of new music that Bonaventure has become known, both at home and abroad. Inspired by the work of such pioneers as Karl-Erik Welin, Bengt Hambraeus, Juan Allende-Blin, Guy Bezancon, Jean Guillou and encouraged, in particular, by Geoffrey King and Jean-Pierre Leguay, he has to date given over 60 premieres of new works and arrangements for solo organ by composers including Judith Weir, Gabriel Jackson, Glyn Perrin, Edward McGuire, Lyell Cresswell, James McMillan, James Douglas, Laurence Crane, Paul Patterson, Avril Anderson, David Sutton-Anderson, Ian McQueen, Geoffrey King, Jean-Pierre Leguay, Timothy Salter, Huw Morgan, Tommy Fowler, Ornette D. Clennon, Matthew Allsop, Cluny Strachan, Laura Reid and many others. Some of these works have combined the organ with other forces, including electric guitars, pre-recorded electronics, woodwinds, percussion etc. Funding for the commissioning of much of this work has come generously from the Scottish Arts Council, PRS Foundation, North West Arts, the RVW Trust and the Leche Trust.
Recent premieres include Geoffrey King's "Organ Symphony" in Truro Cathedral, Tim Salter's "Fantasy" at Edinburgh University, Glyn Perrin's "Sigma Lambda" in St. David's Cathedral, Laurence Crane's "1992" (a set of three organ transcriptions of works dating from that year) in Blackheath, the first British performance of Roderik de Man's "Crosscurrents", also in Blackheath and, with trumpeter Mark O'Keeffe, Gabriel Jackson's "Aquarius with Quartz and Copper", specially written for the wedding of Paul Baxter and Beth Mackay in St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, in October 2008.
From 1980 – 1997 he appeared regularly as a recitalist in the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe, promoting unusual repertoire and new works for the organ, and he has twice been presented in concert by ECAT (Edinburgh Contemporary Arts Trust): this included a critically-acclaimed performance of Messiaen’s “Livre d’Orgue” in 1994, and the world premiere of Jean-Pierre Leguay’s “Horizon” in 1996, both given on the world-renowned Rieger organ in St.Giles Cathedral.
His playing has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 (Music for Organ, Hear & Now etc), BBC Radio Scotland and on Swedish Radio, and he has concertised throughout the UK, in Sweden, the USA (with Scottish Arts Council subsidy) and France, playing in venues such as St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral, London, and several times in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, at the invitation of Jean-Pierre Leguay, many of whose organ works he has performed and broadcast for the first time in the UK.
A recording artist for Delphian Records (www.delphianrecords.co.uk), Bonaventure’s first solo CD was released in 2005, attracting critical acclaim. Entitled “2000 NAILS”(DCD34013), it showcases contemporary British works, played on the extraordinary Hope-Jones/Willis organ in Edinburgh University’s McEwan Hall. His playing can also be heard on “Gabriel Jackson – Sacred Choral Music”(DCD34027), issued in 2005. Additionally, he has appeared as a soloist on discs devoted to music by Peter Maxwell Davies and Giles Swayne, both released to universal critical enthusiasm during 2006.
His recent releases of Messiaen’s “Livre d’Orgue”, "Monodie" and “Meditations sur le Mystere de la Sainte Trinite” (DCD34016), and the monumental “Livre du Saint Sacrement” (DCD34076), all recorded on the magnificent Rieger organ in St.Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, have attracted superlative critical praise - "Livre du Saint Sacrement" being awarded both a five-star rating and selection as Editor’s Instrumental Choice in the Proms 2008 edition of BBC Music Magazine.
Active as a composer, Bonaventure has produced solo instrumental, chamber and choral music as well as works for the organ. These works include his provocative “Animus VI” for organ (published in 1999 by Lemoine), "Nebular Amplitude" and “Praeambulum” for piano, “Rondeau” and “Funerailles” for organ; in 2008 he produced a new piece for woodwinds & brass, "Aria", for the London-based contemporary music ensemble Sounds Positive, and a setting of the "Gloria Patri" for counter-tenor, chorus and organ/electronic keyboard. He has recently completed "Friday" for Bass Clarinet & Piano, a piano miniature "Fleet" for David Appleton, and is currently at work on a new instrumental ensemble piece
Recent concert engagements have included Westminster Abbey, the cathedrals of Truro, Sheffield, Coventry, St. David's Pembrokeshire, St. Mary's Edinburgh, St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, Southwark, University of Edinburgh, Christchurch Priory, various City churches and St. Peter's Eaton Square, with the Elysian Singers of London. In January this year he gave the Kenneth Leighton Celebration Recital in Edinburgh's St. Mary's Cathedral, at the invitation of the Edinburgh Society of Organists, and in March is due to appear playing the clavichord in the premiere of Yumi Hara Cawkwell's new piece "Nota Bene" at the Purcell Room. In April this year he is to be featured at the Sounds New Festival in Canterbury, performing a programme of 20th and 21st Century Polish music for organ.
CD REVIEWS
OLIVIER MESSIAEN Livre du Saint Sacrement (DCD34076)
“This new account from Michael Bonaventure is a magnificent achievement. From the unassuming opening of ‘Adoro Te’ to the seven searing chords at the end of ‘Offrande et Alleluia final’ Bonaventure is utterly compelling and can be heartily recommended.” BBC Music Magazine July 2008, Five Stars
“The music is elemental, devout, ritualistic, eclectic…Michael Bonaventure cajoles from the mighty Rieger organ of St. Giles’ Cathedral a formidable range of authentically Gallic-sounding colours in his commanding, thrilling and brilliantly executed performance.” Stephen Pettitt, Sunday Times, June 2008
“….the current release is one of the greatest organ Cds of all time and arguably the best of the many recordings celebrating Messiaen’s centenary….Recommended without reservations.” Musical Pointers, June 2008
“…his playing has the right suggestion of incense in its mixture of the implacable and the sensuous.” Irish Times, June 2008
OLIVIER MESSIAEN Livre d’Orgue, Monodie, Meditations sur le Mystere de la Sainte Trinite (DCD34016)
“Playing that fully embraces the Messiaen spirit in demanding works…Michael Bonaventure is an ideal interpreter.” Gramophone Magazine March, 2008
“…performances of exceptional insight….if anyone can convey the genius of Livre d’Orgue through the quality of his interpretation, Bonaventure can.” International Record Review, March 2008
“Superbly clear and articulate performances….overwhelming in their mystic radiance. Bonaventure achieves a projection and clarity of attack worthy of Yvonne Loriod’s pianism.” Choir & Organ, July 2008
“…it is the sheer musicality of Bonaventure’s interpretations that brings his performance to life and makes complete poetic sense even of Messiaen’s most abstract gestures…..Shades of ecstasy and lustre…” The Scotsman, February 2008
“Michael Bonaventure does get Messiaen's music to lift off the page, even in the most rigorous pages of the Livre d'orgue....a delight for the ears..." BBC Music Magazine July 2008 Four Stars
2000 NAILS (DCD34013) (Works by Avril Anderson, Peter Nelson, Judith Weir, Ian McQueen, Michael Bonaventure, Edward McGuire and Lyell Cresswell)
“…fantastic, strange, kaleidoscopic, and otherworldly. Bonaventure's insight, technique, and commitment are riveting. If you're weary of the "same old, same old," try this!" The American Organist, July 2007
“….yes, one man is playing all these notes and whipping up that particular storm of expressionst tone…it’s Michael Bonaventure at the organ of Edinburgh University’s McEwan Hall…..I find myself listening in awestruck fascination as the programme of contemporary music unfolded on this unusual CD on the Delphian label….” CD Review, BBC Radio 3, November 2005
“….Bonaventure is a thoroughly convincing advocate of new music….his registrations combine colour with clarity….” BBC Music Magazine, August 2005. Rating: 4 stars
“I admire this recording a lot….Bonaventure has picked an utterly uncompromising programme and performs it with virtuosity and commitment…” Chris Bragg, musicweb, October 2005
GABRIEL JACKSON - SACRED CHORAL WORKS (DCD34027)
“….Gabriel Jackson’s ‘St.Asaph Toccata’ is spectacularly brought to life by Michael Bonaventure….” Marc Rochester, Gramophone Magazine, November 2005
GILES SWAYNE - CONVOCATION (DCD34033)
A Convocation of Worms (1995) is a gripping 20-minute cantata for countertenor and organ setting a 15th-century text, adapted from the Coventry mystery plays, in which Death, appearing at Herod's court after the massacre of the innocents, strikes the king and his courtiers dead and delivers a chilling speech about his control over all living things. Such a powerful premise is ideal for Swayne's subversive style and Stephen Wallace and Michael Bonaventure successfully capture its potent, Expressionist mixture of menace and pity. Tempo, July 2008
PETER MAXWELL DAVIES - SACRED CHORAL WORKS (DCD34037)
“(from 'O Magnum Mysterium')…an organ Fantasia of diabolical complexity, Michael Bonaventure plays it with vehemence, and brings out the brooding quality of Three Organ Voluntaries, based on 16th-century motets.” Sunday Times, August 2006 ..