A Spread of Dreams at the V&A South Kensington

Wednesday 2 July 2025, 8:30pm (arrivals from 8:00pm earliest).

Raphael Court, V&A South Kensington

Tickets: General £30

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) present a programme that mirrors the extraordinary atmosphere of the V&A South Kensington’s iconic Raphael Court in a celebration of The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation.

Complementing the V&A’s tranquil blue and golden Raphael Court, BCMG will depict those same colours musically in Param Vir’s A Spread of Dreams, based on W. B. Yeats’ The Cloths of Heaven: “Enwrought with golden and silver light, the blue and the dim and the dark cloths”

The entire programme is based upon that same deep blue, interspersed with shimmering metallics, presented in sound. Pierre Boulez’s delightfully rich arabesque is an adorned and intricate derivation of his larger works, whilst Elliott Carter’s Canon is a shining musical gem for four musicians which defies all expectations. In his own similarly unique way, Julian Anderson presents an introspective setting of Nietzsche’s famous text, which describes midnight as a moment of truth, revelation and self-reflection.

Prior to the event you will be sent in invitation to the event to be shown at the door. Seating is unreserved.

Please note: This event is private when the museum is closed to the public and tickets are only available upon invitation to buy. This ticket includes the performance only and there will not be provision of drinks in advance.  

Clement Power Conductor

Kristina Ammattil Soprano

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group

Pierre Boulez (1925 – 2016): Dérive I (1984) 7’

Elliott Carter (1908 – 2012): Canon for Four (1984) 6’

Julian Anderson (b.1967): Mitternachtslied for Soprano and Ensemble (2023) 6’

Param Vir (b.1952): A Spread of Dreams (2009/24)15’