Yorkshire-born Gavin Bryars – composer, jazz-bassist and founder of the legendary Portsmouth Sinfonia – in conversation with Music at Paxton Festival organiser Angus Smith.

Gavin gained international success through the hauntingly beautiful works Sinking of the Titanic and Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet. He has composed prolifically for the theatre and dance as well as for the concert hall and has written five full-length operas. Among Gavin Bryars’ other works are four string quartet, a string sextet and a great deal of chamber music, much of it for his own ensemble. He has also worked with performers outside the “classical” music world such as Tom Waits, Natalie Merchant, Gavin Friday. Since 2006 he has collaborated with Opera North Projects, initially with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) on Shakespeare sonnets  and subsequently on a project on the songs of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan. The Gavin Bryars Ensemble, founded in 1986, performs internationally. His four children now perform regularly with him.

Free entry to ticket holders for the Consone Quartet concert in the Picture Gallery at 3.30pm. Book here.