Liza Lim (Compositora) 

Ensemble works

LARGE ENSEMBLE WORKS

The Alchemical Wedding (1996)
For chamber orchestra (22 musicians)
2Fl/Picc, 2Ob (2. Cor Ang), Cl eflat, Cl bflat, Bass Cl, Alto Sax, Bsn/Cbsn
Hn, 2Tpt, Tbn – Perc. Angklung – Hp – Er-hu (Chinese Vln), 2Vln. 3Vc
Duration: 18′
Commissioned by ELISION and Ensemble Modern
Premiere: 30 October 1996 Melbourne, Melbourne International Festival
Elision Ensemble and Ensemble Modern, conductor Dominique My
Score (137517), Ricordi Milano

City of Falling Angels (2007)
For 12 percussionists
I. Miranda Visione, (10′), II. The Winged One (8′)
Duration: 18′
Commissioned by Lucerne Festival
Premiere: 5 September 2007, Lucerne Festival Percussion Group
conductor, Michel Cerutti
Score (RICL083), Ricordi London

Garden of Earthly Desire (1988-89)
For 11 musicians
Fl/picc, Ob, Cl, Mand, Elec Guitar, Harp, Perc, Vln, Vla, Vc, D Bass
Duration: 26′
Commissioned by ELISION and Handspan Theatre
Premiere: 6 October 1989, Melbourne, Montsalvat Great Hall,
Elision Ensemble, conductor, Christopher Lyndon-Gee
with puppet theatre by Handspan Theatre
Score (135541), Ricordi Milano

Li Shang yin (1993)
For Coloratura Soprano and 15 instruments
Text by Li Shang yin (in Chinese)
Ob, Cor Ang, Bsn, Cbsn, Sop Sax, Hn, slide Tpt, Tbn, Tuba, Harp, Vln, 2 Vla, 2 Vc
Duration: 15′
Commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain
Premiere: 25 February 1994, Paris, Centre G. Pompidou
Ensemble Intercontemporain, soprano Françoise Kubler, conductor James Wood
Score (136298), Ricordi Milano

Machine for Contacting the Dead (1999-2000)
For 27 musicians including 2 soloists (Bass Cl/Cbass Cl & Vc)
Bass Fl/picc, Fl/picc, 2 Ob (2. Cor Ang), 2 Cl in A, Bass Cl/Cbass (soloist), Bsn, Cbsn – Hn, 2 Tpt, Alto Tbn, Trbn, Tuba – 3 Perc – Harp, Piano – 2 Vln, 2 Vla, 2 Vc (1. soloist),
D bass, Duration: 38′
Commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain
Premiere: 20 February 2000, Paris, Cité de la Musique,
Ensemble Intercontemporain, Alain Billard (Bass Cl/Cbass Cl),
Pierre Strauch (Violoncello), conductor Jonathan Nott
Score (138702), Ricordi Milano

Mother Tongue (2005)
For Soprano & 15 instruments
Text by Patricia Sykes
Sop, 2 Fl (2nd picc), Ob, Cl, Bass Cl, Alto/Bar Sax, Bsn/C Bsn,
Tpt, Tbn, 1 Perc, 2 Vln, Vla, Vc, D Bass
Duration: 36′
Jointly commissioned by Ensemble Intercontemporain, Festival d’Automne à Paris & ELISION. Poems commissioned by Liza Lim
Premiere 30 November 2005, Paris, Cité de la Musique
Ensemble Intercontemporain, soprano Piia Komsi, conductor Jonathan Nott
Score (RICL055), Ricordi London

Tongue of the Invisible (2010/11)
A work for improvising pianist, baritone and 16 musicians
1 (Afl. Picc). 1 (Lupophon). 1 (Bkl. Kbkl). Asax (Barsax). 1 (Contraforte). / 1. 1 (Doppeltrtr. Flhr). Tbps. 0. Eu. / Schlzg. Cim. / 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Text by Jonathan Holmes after Hafez
(in English)
Commissioned by the Holland Festival, musikFabrik and Kunststiftung NRW
Premiere: 8 June 2011,Bimhuis / Duration: 60′
Sy. 4063, Ricordi Munich

Tongue of the Invisible, Holland Festival
1. At dawn I heard the tongue of the invisible
2. Between the pages of the world (i) 3. This door is the mouth of love 4. Between the pages of the world (ii)
5. The roots of the world are entwined in the wind 6. Between the pages of the world (iii) 7. Encircling its towers with a silver coronet of song 8. Our embraces are a banquet of revolving time

SMALL ENSEMBLE WORKS

3 Angels + an enigma (2011), 4 intertwining songs
1/ An Enigma, for coloratura soprano
2/ The Angel of Wounds and Blessings, for soprano
3/ The Angel of Otherness, for mezzo soprano
4/ The Angel of Lamentation, for bass-baritone
Duration: 15′
Commissioned for Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart as part of Escalier du Chant
Premiere of 3 Angels: 25 September 2011, Pinakothek der Moderne Munich
Premiere of 3 Angels + an elegy: 3 December 2011, Theatrehaus Stuttgart
[Score is a 1m x 16 metre scroll, currently in production]

Anactoria (1998)
For six percussionists
Duration: 15′
Commissioned by Synergy Percussion
Premiere: 19 September 1999, Sydney Opera House, Synergy Percussion
Score (138071), Ricordi Milano

Chang-O (1998)
For baritone and percussion
Text by Li Shang yin (in Chinese)
Duration: 8′
Commissioned by Darmstardt Ferienkurse 1998
Premiere: 22 July 1998, Darmstadt, Orangerie
Kurt Widmer, baritone, Mircea Ardeleanu, percussion
Score (138286), Ricordi Milano

Ehwaz (journeying) (2010)
trumpet and percussion
Duration: 15′, Commissioned by the International Trumpet Guild
Premiere: 10 July 2010, Sydney, Tristram Williams and Peter Neville
Sy. 4042, Ricordi Munich

Gothic (1995-96)
For 8 solo strings (3Vln, 2Vla, 2Vc, D bass)
Duration: 10′
Commissioned by Australian Chamber Orchestra/ANZ Bank
Premiere: 20 June 1996, Sydney, SCEGGS Hall
Australian Chamber Orchestra, conductor John Harding
Score (137405), Ricordi Milano

The Heart’s Ear (1997)
For flute, clarinet, string quartet (2Vln, Vla, Vc)
Duration: 12′
Commissioned by the Australia Ensemble
Premiere: 11 October 1997, Sydney, Clancy Auditorium
Australia Ensemble, conductor Dean Olding
Score (137810), Ricordi Milano

Hell (1992)
For string quartet (2Vln, Vla, Vc)
Duration:10′
Commissioned by Milano Musica
Premiere: 9 June 1992, Milan, Arditti String Quartet
Score (135889), Ricordi Milano

Inguz (Fertility) (1996)
For clarinet in A and violoncello
Duration: 6′
Premiere: 25 November 1996, Bremen, Bremer Podium Concert
Carl Rosman, clarinet, Rosanne Hunt, violoncello
Score (137626), Ricordi Milano

In the Shadow’s Light (2004)
For string quartet (2 Vln, Vla, Vc)
Duration: 26′
Commissioned by Festival d’Automne à Paris
Premiere 29 November 2005, Paris, Cité de la Musique, Kairos Quartett
Score(RICL053), Ricordi London

Koto (1993)
For 8 musicians
Fl/picc, Ob.d’amore, Flugel horn, Koto, Vla, 2Vc, Perc
Duration: 12′
Premiere: 29 July 1994, Lismore, Churchill Auditorium,
Elision Ensemble, Satsuki Odamura koto, conductor Sandro Gorli
Score (136557), Ricordi Milano

Ming Qi (Bright Vessel) (2000)
Ming Qi (Peter Veale, Peter Neville)
For oboe and percussion
Duration: 3.5′, Commissioned by the Divertimento Ensemble
Premiere: 1 October 2000, Venice Biennale, Teatro Arsenale
Luca Avanzi oboe, Riccardo Balbinutti percussion
Score (138636), Ricordi Milano

Ochred String (2008)
for oboe, viola, ‘cello, double bass
Duration: 14′,
Commissioned by Musica Viva Festival 2008 with the support of the Ian Potter Foundation. Premiere 10 February 2008, Villa Stuck, Munich
Score (RICL110), Ricordi London

The Quickening (2004-05)
Soprano and qin (Chinese zither)
Text by Yang Lian
Duration: 22′
Commissioned by Festival d’Automne à Paris
Premiere: 29 November 2005, Paris, Cité de la Musique
Deborah Kayser, Yang Chunwei
Score (RICL054), Ricordi London

Shimmer Songs (2006)
‘double quartet’
For string quartet (2 Vln, Vla, Vc), harp, 3 perc
Duration: 15′
Commissioned by the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players
through the Fromm Foundation
Premiere 2007, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players
Score (RICL059), Ricordi London

Songs found in dream (2005)
For 8 musicians
Ob, Bass Cl, Alto Sax, Trumpet, 2 Perc, Vc, D Bass
Duration: 16′
Commissioned by Salzburger Festspiele
Premiere: 20 August 2005, Mozarteum Salzburg,
Klangforum Wien conducted by Stefan Asbury
Score (RICL052), Ricordi London

Spirit Weapons (1999)
Part I for violoncello solo
Part II for contrabass clarinet and 3 percussion
The two parts may be performed separately
Duration: 17′ (Part I: 6’5″; Part II: 9′)
Commissioned by Ensemble Intercontemporain
Premiere: 4 November 1999, Paris, Centre G. Pompidou
violoncello Pierre Strauch, clarinets Alain Billard,
percussion: Vincent Bauer, Daniel Ciampolini and Michel Cerutti
Score (138579), Ricordi Milano

Street of Crocodiles (1995)
For 9 musicians
Fl, Ob, Alto Sax, Alto Tbn, Cimbalom/Perc, Vln, Vla, Vc Baroque Vc
Duration: 14′
Commissioned by Ensemble Modern
Premiere: 3 November 1995, Frankfurt, Alte Oper
Ensemble Modern, conductor Ingo Metzmacher
Score (137227), Ricordi Milano

Veil (1999)
For 7 Musicians
Fl/Bass Fl, Bass Cl, Tpt in C, Perc, Piano, Vln, Vc
Duration 10′
Commissioned by Ensemble für neue musik zürich
Premiere: 23 February 2000, Cologne, WDR Composer Portrait
Ensemble für neue musik zürich, conductor Jürg Henneberger
Score (138547), Ricordi Milano

Voodoo Child (1989)
For soprano and 7 musicians
Soprano, Fl/picc, Cl, Tbn, Perc, Piano, Vln, Vc
Text by Sappho (in Ancient Greek)
Duration: 11′
Commissioned by Radio Bremen
Premiere: 12 May 1990, Bremen, Festival Pro Musica Nova
Ensemble Avance, soprano Ingrid Schmithüsen, conductor Andras Hamary
Score (135688), Ricordi Milano




OPERA 

The Oresteia, Moon Spirit Feasting, The Navigator

The Oresteia (1991-93)
Memory theatre (opera) in 7 parts after Aeschylus
For 6 voices, 11 instruments and dancer
Libretto by Liza Lim and Barrie Kosky after Aeschylus, Sappho and Tony Harrison
(in English). For soprano, 2 mezzo soprano (mezzo soprano 2 also plays stage ‘cello), counter tenor, tenor, baritone & dancer (also vocalising)
Fl/Picc, Ob/Cor Ang, Cl/Bass Cl, Tpt/Picc Tpt, Tbn. Turkish Baglama Saz
(played by mandolinist) Electric Guitar, Perc, Vla/Vla d’amore, Vc, D bass
Duration: 75′, Score (136022), Ricordi Milano

Commissioned by ELISION; Premiere: 16 May 1993, Theatreworks, Melbourne 



The Oresteia (Melbourne, 1993)

Elision Ensemble and Treason of Images, conductor Sandro Gorli.
singers: Jeannie van de Velde, Julie Edwardson, Deborah Kayser, Andrew Muscat Clark, Tyrone Landau, Grant Smith, dancer, Shelley Lasica
directed by Barry Kosky, stage designer Peter Corrigan, choreographer Shelley Lasica 

Yuè Lìng Jié (Moon Spirit Feasting) (1997-99) 

Chinese ritual street opera in 7 parts For 3 singers, 9 instruments and live electronics. Fl/Picc/Bass Fl, Cl/Bass Cl, Alto Sax/Bar Sax, Tpt/Flugel Hn, 2 Perc, Koto, Er-hu, Vc
Libretto by Beth Yahp (in English and Chinese). Characters: Chang-O, soprano Queen Mother of the West, mezzo soprano, Hou Yi/Monkey King, baritone
Duration: 75′, Score (138448) Ricordi Milano
Jointly Commissioned by the Adelaide and Melbourne Festivals with support
from the Major Festivals Initiative, the Australia Council and Arts Queensland
Premiere: 15 March 2000, Adelaide Festival, Torrens River barge
ELISION Ensemble, conductor Simon Hewett
Singers: Deborah Kayser, Melissa Madden Gray, Orren Tanabe,
Directed by Michael Kantor, stage designer Dorotka Sapinska,
choreographer Melissa Madden Gray
Opera Seasons:
Adelaide Festival, 2000
Melbourne Festival, 2002
Hebbel Theatre Berlin, 2002
Zurich Theatre Spektakel, 2002
Saitama Arts Centre, Tokyo, 2002
Brisbane Festival, 2006 

The Navigator (2007-08) 

Opera in six scenes and a prelude. Libretto by Patricia Sykes
For 5 singers, 16 instrumentalists and electronics
Duration: c 90′, Ricordi London
Commissioned by Brisbane Festival, Melbourne International Festival of the Arts and ELISION with funding from the Major Festivals Initiative
Premiere: 29 July 2008, Brisbane Festival, Judith Wright Centre
Singers: Deborah Kayser (Angel of History), Talise Trevigne (The Beloved),
Andrew Watts (The Navigator), Omar Ebrahim (The Fool), Philip Larsen (The Crone)
ELISION Ensemble, conductor Manuel Nawri
Directed by Barrie Kosky, stage designer Alice Babidge
Video Link: Angel of History (end of Scene 1)
Opera Seasons:
Brisbane Festival, 2008
Melbourne Festival, 2008
Moscow Chekhov International
Theatre Festival, 2009
Festival d´Automne à Paris (in concert), 2009 

ORCHESTRAL WORKS

(also with instrumental soloists)

The Alchemical Wedding (1996)
For chamber orchestra (22 musicians)
2Fl/Picc, 2Ob (2. Cor Ang), Cl eflat, Cl bflat, Bass Cl, Bsn/Cbsn, Alto Sax -
Hn, 2Tpt, Tbn – Perc. Angklung – Hp – Er-hu (Chinese Vln), 2Vln. 3Vc
Duration: 18′
Commissioned by ELISION and Ensemble Modern
Premiere: 30 October 1996 Melbourne, Melbourne International Festival
Elision Ensemble and Ensemble Modern, conductor Dominique My
Score (137517), Ricordi Milano

The Compass (2005-06)
For large orchestra with solo flute & didgeridoo
Flute solo (Picc/Bass Fl); didgeridoo solo (both soloists are amplified)
4Fl (3.4.picc) 3Ob, Cor Ang, Cl eflat, 2 Cl b flat, Bass Cl, 3Bsn, Cbsn-
4Hn, 4Tpt, 4Tbn (4.tenor-bass), Tuba – 3Perc – Piano – Strings
Duration: 25′
Jointly commissioned by Sydney Symphony and Bayerischer Rundfunk
Premiere: 17 May 2006, Sydney Opera House
Sydney Symphony, didgeridoo, William Barton, flute, Rosamund Plummer
conducted by Alexander Briger
Score (RICL058), Ricordi London

Ecstatic Architecture (2004)
For large orchestra
Picc. 3Fl (1.Picc, 2.3. Bass Fl), 3 Ob, Cor Ang, 2Cl, 2Bass Cl, 2Bsn, 2 Cbsn –
4 Hn, 3 Tpt, 3 Tbn (1. Alto Tbn), Bass Tbn, Bass Tuba, 3Perc, Harp, Strings.
Duration: 25′
Commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Premiere: 28 May 2004, Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen
Score (139202), Ricordi Milano

Flying Banner (after Wang To) (2005)
Fanfare for orchestra
2Picc, 1Fl, 2Ob, Cor Ang, Cl eflat, Cl b flat, Bass Cl, 2Bsn, Cbsn-2Hn, Picc Tpt, Tpt,
2Tbn, Bass Tbn – Timp – 1Perc (5 Chinese gongs, 3 wood blocks, 2 temple blocks,
high tom-tom)-Strings
Duration: 9′
Commissioned by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Premiere: 8 March 2006, Sydney Opera House
Sydney Symphony conducted by Gianluigi Gelmetti
Score (RICL057), Ricordi London

The Guest (2010)
for Orchestra with solo recorder solo
Solo: Baroque alto, Tenor Ganassi, Bassett recorders
2 (2 Picc. Afl). 2 (Eh). 1. Bkl (Kbkl). 1. Kfg. / 2 . 2. Picctr. 2 (Aps). Eu. 0. / 3 Schlzg Cimbalom. / 6. 6. 6. 6. 3.
Commissioned by Donaueschinger Musiktage. Premiere: 15.Oct. 2010, SWR Orchester cond. Rupert Huber, Jeremias Schwarzer, recorders
Duration: ca. 20′
Sy. 4062, Ricordi Munich

Immer fliessender (2004)
For large orchestra
Picc, 3Fl, 3Ob, Cor Ang, Cl eflat, 3Cl in A, Bass Cl, 3Bsn, Cbsn-
4Hn, 3Tpt, 3Tbn, Bass Tuba – 2Timp, 2Perc – 2Harp – Strings
Duration: 8½’
Commissioned by the Sydney Symphony as a companion piece to Mahler’s Ninth Symphony. A project of the orchestra’s composer-in-residence programme supported
by Symphony Australia with funding from the Australia Council.
Premiere: 18 May 2005, Sydney Opera House
Sydney Symphony conducted by Gianluigi Gelmetti.
Score (RICL051), Ricordi London

Machine for Contacting the Dead (1999-2000)
For 27 musicians including 2 soloists (Bass Cl/Cbass Cl & Vc)
Bass Fl/picc, Fl/picc, 2 Ob (2. Cor Ang), 2 Cl in A, Bass Cl/Cbass (soloist), Bsn, Cbsn – Hn, 2 Tpt, Alto Tbn, Trbn, Tuba – 3 Perc – Harp, Piano – 2 Vln, 2 Vla, 2 Vc (1. soloist),
D bass
Duration: 38′
Commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain
Premiere: 20 February 2000, Paris, Cité de la Musique,
Ensemble Intercontemporain, Alain Billard (Bass Cl/Cbass Cl),
Pierre Strauch (Violoncello), conductor Jonathan Nott
Score (138702), Ricordi Milano

Pearl, Ochre, Hair String (2010)
for orchestra
2, Picc., 2, Engl. Horn, 1, Bass Cl., 2, Contrabass Cl. / 4, 3, 2, Bass Tromb., 1 (Btb.) / Timp., 2, Perc. / Strings
Commissioned by the BRF and West Australian Symphony Orchestra with the support of the Ian Potter Foundation. Premiere: München, 9.7.2010, Sinfonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks cond. Lothar Zagrosek, Musica Viva season / Duration: 18′
Sy. 4041, Ricordi Munich