Eleanor Alberga’s story as a composer is as rich and captivating as her music. Born in Jamaica and relocating to the United Kingdom to pursue her musical studies in earnest, Eleanor has risen to the fore of contemporary composers and boasts of a rich catalog spanning all genres. Her latest album, STRING QUARTETS 1, 2, & 3 on Navona Records, has been met with critical acclaim, described as having “convincing and spirited performances” with “carefully constructed writing” (I CARE IF YOU LISTEN).
But don’t let us tell you about it. Listen to Eleanor’s recent conversation with PARMA, where she delves into the story of her background, how music brought her to the UK, what this album means to her, and more.
Thank you Eleanor for taking the time to speak with PARMA! Discover her new album below:
STRING QUARTETS 1, 2 & 3 is now available for streaming or purchase through Navona Records. Click here to explore this new album.
Born 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica, Alberga decided at the age of five to be a concert pianist. Five years later she was composing works for the piano. In 1968 she won the biennial Royal Schools of Music Scholarship for the West Indies, which she took up in 1970 at the Royal Academy of Music in London, studying piano and singing. But a budding career as a solo pianist — she was one of three finalists in the International Piano Concerto Competition in Dudley, UK in 1974 — was further augmented by composition with her arrival at The London Contemporary Dance Theatre in 1978. Under the inspirational leadership of its Artistic Director, Robert Cohan, she became one of the very few pianists with the deepest understanding of modern dance and her company class improvisations became the stuff of legend.
