New Staged Oratorio Announced for Autumn 2026

The work, titled The Bone Compass, marks the third major collaboration between Rees and Welsh composer Brennan Holt, following their acclaimed song cycle and a shorter commission for the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. The staged oratorio combines Rees with a chamber ensemble of eleven and a live electronics setup developed in residency at IRCAM, Paris. Direction is by Sioned Mair, whose work with Music Theatre Wales has made her one of the most sought-after directors in British new opera. Following the Cardiff premiere, the production travels to the Wiener Festwochen in May 2027. Rees has described the piece as "the longest single argument I've ever been asked to make."