Thomas Larcher’s sound world is both original and captivating in its fusion of contemplative harmonies with innovative performance techniques. Written for and performed by tenor Mark Padmore, 'A Padmore Cycle' features the composer at the keyboard. Works for solo piano performed by Tamara Stefanovich round out this programme of first recordings.
Born 1963 in Innsbruck, composer Thomas Larcher studied piano and composition in Vienna. He first gained renown primarily as a pianist, performing with major orchestras and prominent conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez and Franz Welser Möst. In 1998, he began to define himself more clearly as a composer. Since then he has composed works for the San Francisco Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, the Belcea Quartet, and for Leif Ove Andsnes, Matthias Goerne, Mark Padmore and Viktoria Mullova and Matthew Barley.
He has recorded five CDs with ECM, most recently 'Madhares' with Kim Kashkashian, Till Fellner and Dennis Russell Davies. Thomas Larcher has won numerous distinctions, including the Choc de la Musique and the British Composer Award (International category) 2012. The UK premiere of A Padmore Cycle, orchestrated version will be in November 2014 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

“Larcher maintains a fascination with the unadorned note, often played in spacious, uncrowded circumstances that require a certain kind of concentration to determine what sort of an idea is unfolding...The special qualities of A Padmore Cycle would emerge in higher relief if surrounded by something more traditional.” Gramophone