Music
At The Arts Institute
Beethoven's sketch for the third movement of Piano Sonata Op. 109, Artaria 195 sketchbook, p.53
From commissioning new music to cutting edge research, from open rehearsals and informal pre-concert talks to magnificent live performances, there are musical experiences for everyone at The Arts Institute.
By supporting new talent and bringing world-class musicians to Plymouth, and through our programmes of participatory community music partnership and educational activities, The Arts Institute is pivotal to the music scene across the South West.
The Arts Institute is pleased to also support musical talents of the student population by playing an active role in the University’s Music Week and other university/community musical organisations, as well as leading workshops and informal lectures for Children’s University.
Dr Robert Taub, Music Director, The Arts Institute
An acclaimed pianist known for his interpretations of Beethoven and new music, Bob has performed as guest soloist with many of the world’s foremost orchestras and conductors.
Bob oversees our music strand and using his expertise to contribute to Plymouth’s ever-evolving vibrant music scene.
Hear more from Bob in this short film as he discusses his illustrious career as an acclaimed concert pianist and his role here at the University.
The Arts Institute Music Director – Dr Robert Taub
The Musica Viva Concert Series brings internationally acclaimed performers to our Plymouth community to inspire, educate, challenge, and unite audiences by presenting world-class musicians in public concert performances, open rehearsals, and informal talks.
Musica Viva sets the highest standards of artistic excellence with compelling performances that enrich the lives of the widest possible audience – including students – and provide a contextual, comprehensive approach to programming that enables greater musical understanding and appreciation.
Upcoming performances
Beethoven: Innovator - a 250th celebration
4-6 March 2021
Join us for an inspiring three-day festival dedicated to some of Beethoven’s most innovative works, with Dr Robert Taub, acclaimed pianist and Music Director, The Arts Institute. Our celebration of Beethoven's 250th birthday will feature a series of concerts, fascinating informal lectures, and the world premiere of a new commission from leading international composer, Jonathan Dawe, based on Beethoven's sketches and performed by the Ruisi String Quartet.
Music Forums with Dr Robert Taub
Join us for a series of interesting live-streamed musical evenings featuring performances and informal conversations with Dr Robert Taub, Music Director at The Arts Institute and guests.
Coming soon:
19 February 2021
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Oboist Katherine Bryer will perform solo works from a repertoire which spans several centuries.
4 March 2021 | A special Music Forum with internationally acclaimed
composer Jonathan Dawe as part of our Beethoven: Innovator festival.
9 April 2021 | James Barron, New York Times reporter and author of Piano: The Making of a Steinway Concert Grand, shows us how a Steinway piano is made, live from New York.
Dr Robert Taub at Steinway piano. Image credit: John Allen
Some Call It Home (Trailer)
Some Call It Home
Theatre Royal Plymouth | 4 and 5 May 2021
A provocative multi-media music drama, bringing to life conflicting perspectives of our uneasy relationship with the land - our home, our planet. A world premiere performed by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra ensemble with leading international soloists.
Tracing a narrative through-line from the colonisation of North America to the current climate-change and geopolitics induced mass migration, Some Call It Home combines imagery, video, narration, song and a string orchestra over the course of its 75-minute runtime. Created, produced, and directed by Robert Taub, Music Director at The Arts Institute, as part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations.
What's on this season
- Music Forum: A live-streamed musical evening with Dr Robert Taub and London oboist Katherine Bryer 19 February 2021 19:30 - 20:45
- Music Forum: Beethoven and his sketchbooks an informal lecture and music demonstration with Dr Robert Taub and composer Jonathan Dawe 4 March 2021 19:30 - 20:45
- Concert: Beethoven Piano Sonatas, performed by pianist Dr Robert Taub 5 March 2021 19:30 - 20:30
- Concert: Ruisi Quartet 6 March 2021 19:30 - 20:30
- Music Forum: A live-streamed musical evening with Dr Robert Taub and American journalist James Barron 9 April 2021 19:30 - 20:45
Highlights from the archive
Contemporary Music Festival 2019: MULTIVERSE
MULTIVERSE is the theme of University of Plymouth Contemporary Music Festival (CMF) 2019, which celebrates the internationally renowned research combining music, engineering and the life sciences developed at the University of Plymouth’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research (ICCMR).
MULTIVERSE proposes a weekend of musical interpretations of the quantum world.The London Mozart Players
The first event in Musica Viva, a new concert programme bringing internationally acclaimed performers to Plymouth, was performed by The London Mozart Players, the UK’s longest-established chamber orchestra.
“The London Mozart Players are in a class of the very best London ensembles. Although there are about 25 musicians for this concert, they play without a conductor. That’s very unusual, but because they are so coherent and so cohesive in their approach, they can do it.”
Dr Robert Taub
Previously performed on Saturday 9 March 2019 at Minster Church of St Andrew.
London Mozart Players – © Sim Canetty-Clarke 2017
More from The Arts Institute
Contact The Arts Institute
The Arts Institute, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth, PL4 8AA
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