The names of all 96 Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough will be sung as part of a new symphony commemorating the disaster by avant-garde composer Michael Nyman.
The work will be performed in Liverpool’s Church of England cathedral by the city’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and local singers, including mezzo-soprano Kathryn Rudge, at the start of its biennial arts festival.
The work, called Symphony No. 11: Hillsborough Memorial, is based on a work written in 1985 which was subsequently used in the film The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, starring Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren.
Fresh inquests into the tragedy, in which 96 Liverpool fans died after going to the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest in April 1989, are currently going on.
Nyman’s specially-commissioned piece of music will be a moving and unforgettable tribute
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “We will never forget those who lost their lives at Hillsborough, or the impact it had on their bereaved families. The anger, pain and sorrow they have felt for the past 25 years is shared by everyone in Liverpool, and by thousands of others across Merseyside, across the country and around the world.
“Memorials are a symbol of our solidarity and support for the families, and Nyman’s specially-commissioned piece of music will be a moving and unforgettable tribute. It is certain to be a highlight of this year’s biennial and a fantastic example of art being used to help shine a light on the dignity and bravery of those who have strived for justice for the 96.”
Nyman, whose work includes film scores for The Piano and the science-fiction drama Gattaca, is also working on a separate project for the festival – a video installation called Aztecs in Liverpool that includes footage collected over two decades in his adopted home in Mexico.
Dean of Liverpool Rev. Pete Wilcox said: “I was proud that our cathedral was able to provide a place of comfort and support on that difficult day and I believe that our building will be an equally fitting venue for Michael’s symphony. My hope is that the magnificent acoustic and a sense of God’s presence will enable this world-renowned composer’s piece to offer us all space to reflect and find a further measure of healing, as the 96, the survivors and their families, are remembered.”
The biennial, which runs from July 5 to October 26, also includes work by artists from around the world including Germany, the US and Lebanon.
Director Sally Tallant said: “Liverpool Biennial 2014 will activate and highlight our city’s diverse cultural ecology and host exciting artists and thinkers, connecting the community with international fields.
“It’s been very exciting and thought-provoking to initiate a conversation across the city on what a model for our biennial can be and work together towards it. The richness of this city and its history make it an important focal point for presenting the UK biennial.”