Thank you for supporting the thrilling new project with David Sawer and the internationally acclaimed BalletBoyz

BCMG provide the original score for a new audio-visual rendering of Sawer’s 2009 Rumpelstiltskin by BalletBoyz, recorded under the baton of Martyn Brabbins.

Rumpelstilzchen

A Sky Original from BalletBoyz, directed and produced by International Emmy Award-winning Michael Nunn and William Trevitt with theatre and opera director Richard Jones. The spellbinding fable is brought to life for the screen with an all-star cast including Jane Horrocks (Absolutely Fabulous) in the title role, alongside Tanya Reynolds (Sex Education) and John Marquez (Doc Martin). The film’s wordless narrative is set to a bespoke score performed by Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, accompanying pools of tears, wild wedding receptions and a desperate search for a mysterious name.

A Miller boasts to the King that his daughter can spin straw into gold. Three times the King demands she does so, promising marriage. If she fails, her life is forfeit. Three times she despairs until Rumpelstiltskin appears, spinning straw into gold in exchange for a gift…

Rumpelstilzchen is a Sky Original.

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group’s recording was supported with financial assistance from RVW Trust and the following individuals through BCMG’s Sound Investment scheme, which previously supported Rumpelstiltskin’s premiere concert score:

Elisabeth Al-Khalifa Paul Bond Peter and Avis Burton Christopher Carrier John Christophers Alan Cook John Hess Fern Hodges Stephen Johnson

Jeremy Lindon Colin Matthews Geoff Peace Michael and Sandra Squires Richard and Carolyn Sugden Terry Thorpe Janet Upward Judith Weir Sarah and Martin Williams

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A grotesque fable for our time

Once upon a time there was a miller who was poor, but who had a beautiful daughter. Now it happened that he had to go and speak to the King, and in order to make himself appear important he said to him, “I have a daughter who can spin straw into gold”. The King said to the miller, “That is an art which will please me well. If your daughter is as clever as you say, bring her tomorrow to my palace, and I will put her to the test.”

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Praise for Sawer's score

Sawer’s score is entrancing. Exquisitely scored for 13 players…it is dark, lean and jagged, embracing both eerie menace and seductive charm.
The Daily Telegraph

Sawer…a gifted colourist, explored extremes of pitch, particularly conspicuous in the frowsy gurgles of muted tuba and bass clarinet, or the intentionally scratchy, ghostly string harmonics. Richard Jones cool, sharp direction and Stewart Laing’s versatile wooden box design gave necessary focus to this hybrid work. Six dancer – actors enacted the story with blackly comic gusto.

The Observer

Disturbing and intricately theatrical.
Guardian

From the ever-darkening timbre of the alchemy music to the expansive horn solo, the brittle, syncopated wedding music, mocking flute and stuttering speech rhythms, Sawer tightens his score with unerring focus and is handsomely served by BCMG’s virtuosic instrumentalists and conductor Martyn Brabbins.
The Independent

[the] constantly changing sonic perspective only enriched the expressive power of the music…
The Times

Rumpelstiltskin was first performed by BCMG conducted by Martyn Brabbins at CBSO Centre, Birmingham on 14 November 2009.