Orkney has missed my partnership party, says Sir Peter

Published on Tuesday 7 July 2009 22:04

THE leading British composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies unveiled his plans for a quiet civil partnership ceremony in his home town of Salford yesterday – and told "stupid" Orkney Council it had missed the party.

Eighteen months ago, the Master of the Queen's Music was embroiled in a bitter row with Orkney over the stalled union with his long-time lover David Parkinson.

Local officials raised a series of hurdles to a celebration at a restored railway station, it was claimed.

"We were going to have people from the classical musical world, from the pop and folk musical world," he said. "It was going to be a great musical celebration, and a bit of light-heartedness too."

Council officials insisted they were not homophobic, and the ceremony could be carried out on licensed premises, but the composer said he would go elsewhere.

"We have thought about Salford, but doing it very quietly, without any fuss at all," said Sir Peter, who has been granted the freedom of the city.

One of his most popular works, Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise, is being performed in the Edinburgh International Festival this August.

For nearly 20 years his work has been left out of the festival line-up, puzzling many in the music world. Festival director and composer Jonathan Mills appears to have brought him back in to the fold.

"I was very surprised when this piece appeared on their programming," said Davies. "I didn't know anything about it."

There could still be a celebration waiting in the wings on Orkney. The composer, now 74, said he might plan a wonderful party "perhaps when I'm 80".