In 2026 we’re celebrating Steve Reich’s 90th birthday. But who needs a birthday as an excuse? Steve Reich’s music is our guilty pleasure – we love listening to it and we absolutely adore playing it.
In this program, we’re presenting three of our Reich favourites and special guest Gabi Sultana joins us all the way from Malta. Gabi is the soloist in Piano Counterpoint – a scintillating tour de force. Who needs six pianists when you have one astonishing virtuoso?
Gabi is joined by Ronan Apcar, Claire Edwardes and Niki Johnson in Quartet – glittering music with hints of jazz infiltrating Reich’s trademark rhythmic complexity. And with a piano–percussion quartet to hand, it makes sense to reprise Radio Rewrite, which was such a hit in our all-Reich marathon at City Recital Hall in 2018. Inspired by a meeting with Jonny Greenwood, Reich riffs on two Radiohead songs: Everything in its Right Place and Jigsaw Falling into Place. Will you recognise the originals? ‘The truth is,’ says Reich, ‘sometimes you hear them, sometimes you don’t.’
Arrive early for a special treat: one of Reich’s iconic works for tape. Come Out loops spoken voice, distilling its inherent melody and emotional power.
PROGRAM
Christopher Cerrone How to Breathe Underwater (2011)
Steve Reich Come Out for tape (1966)
Steve Reich Quartet for two vibraphones and two pianos (2013)
Steve Reich Piano Counterpoint for piano and tape (1973/2011)
Steve Reich Radio Rewrite for large ensemble (2012)
- 90 minutes, no interval
