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The story of SLEEP

In September 2015, the composer Max Richter was joined by a group of musicians to perform the world premiere of a new work. But this was a concert with a difference. For a start, the show began at midnight – and it lasted for eight hours.

This was the premiere of SLEEP, a monumental experimental work designed to accompany listeners on a journey through different states of consciousness. The entire thing was performed for a live audience of sleeping listeners and broadcast on Radio 3, in what is still the longest single continuous music broadcast the 大象传媒 has ever made.

This is how the night unfolded...

SLEEP

  • Listen live from 11pm on Saturday 11 April and for 30 days on 大象传媒 Sounds.

Image: Mike Terry

The composition

I... feel that there is an intuitive connection between sleeping and music... and this connection is summed up by the tradition of the lullaby

Ahead of the event, Max described the ideas that informed and inspired his work:

I’ve always been interested in sleeping. In common with a lot of people who do creative work, I have an instinct that this state is where a lot of important things happen, both to do with my work, and also more generally. This is one reason why sleeping is one of my very favourite things to do. I also feel that there is an intuitive connection between sleeping and music beyond this - and this connection is summed up by the tradition of the lullaby, which seems to be a universal in human culture. Sleeping and music seem to be related altered states in some way.

SLEEP preview: Max Richter talks to Late Junction live

As he prepares to perform his 8-hour work SLEEP, Max Richter explains the ideas behind it

The preparation

On Friday night, Max and his fellow performers set up in what would become their concert hall - the Reading Room at Wellcome Collection in London to rehearse into the early hours of Saturday morning.

Rehearsals underway the night before in the Wellcome Collection Reading Room. Image: Mike Terry

The SLEEPing arrangements

The performance

At midnight, Max struck up the first chords of his epic work. He was joined by five instrumentalists and a soprano, to perform SLEEP live for the very first time. Speaking to Radio 3's Tom Service immediately before the performance, Max explained: "...every premiere is a voyage of discovery."

Image: Mike Terry

The reaction

Almost straight away listeners, wherever they were, began to share their emotions, their thoughts and their experiences of the work.

...and carried on, right through the night.

The morning

"...probably the richest musical experience I've had."

Members of the SLEEP audience at Wellcome Collection reflect on their experience

Beginning to stir

"...it's amazing how being focused, playing keeps you awake"

Max Richter speaks to Breakfast, fresh from completing the world premiere of SLEEP.

Eight months later, Sleep's a winner

Max Richter's eight-hour live lullaby scooped up Most Distinctive Moment of the Year at the 大象传媒 Radio Awards 2016

SLEEP was originally part of - a weekend of public events and one-off broadcasts from Radio 3 live from Wellcome Collection, London.

Listen to Radio 3's broadcast of the premiere in its entirety from 11pm on Saturday 11 April 2020.

SLEEP

  • Listen live from 11pm on Saturday 11 April and for 30 days on 大象传媒 Sounds.