To celebrate her seventieth birthday, composer Sally Beamish returns to the viola, the instrument central to her musical life, with House of Wonder. This deeply personal recording features recent works written by Beamish for herself to perform, alongside new commissions from her three accomplished musician children and other close collaborators.

• Features recent works by Sally Beamish for viola, alongside new commissions from her children and collaborators.
• Explores autobiographical themes, including childhood memories surfacing in the piece Crescent.
• Includes the intimate cycle Night Songs, shaped by poetry and jazz inflections.
• Highlights the expressive world of the viola, including a piece inspired by the 2014 viola made by Stephanie Irvine.
• Features contributions from Ryan Corbett, Joseph Havlat, Rosalind Ventris, Imogen Whitehead, Stephanie Irvine, and the spoken voice of Peter Thomson.

The program offers a circle of musical friendships around Beamish’s playing, expanding the viola’s expressive capabilities. The recording marks Beamish's return to the instrument that launched her performing career in the 1980s.

• Format: audioCD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Origin: United Kingdom

This eclectic and personal album showcases Sally Beamish as a musical shapeshifter, comfortable across classical, jazz, and folk fiddle styles, centered on her performance on the viola.