Nicholas Maw

Full biography Nicholas Maw

Nicholas Maw was a British composer who was born on November 5, 1935, in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. He is best known for his symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and opera works. Maw began his musical studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he showed great promise as a composer. He later studied at the University of Oxford with the renowned composer Egon Wellesz.

Maw's compositions are noted for their lyrical quality, grandeur, and emotional intensity, drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical traditions, including Romanticism, modernism, and even popular music. His music often deals with themes of love, loss, and redemption and is characterized by lush orchestrations and memorable melodies.

One of Maw's most famous works is his opera, "Sophie's Choice," which premiered in 2002 to great critical acclaim. This opera, based on William Styron's novel of the same name, tells the story of a Polish immigrant's struggle with the horrors of the Holocaust and the weighty choices she must make in order to survive.

Throughout his career, Maw received numerous honors and awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a British Composer Award, and an Ivor Novello Award. He also held teaching positions at several prominent universities, including the New England Conservatory of Music and Queen's University in Belfast.

Nicholas Maw passed away at the age of 73 on May 19, 2009, leaving behind a rich legacy of powerful and moving musical works that continue to inspire and captivate audiences around the world.