Internationally renowned orchestral, chamber and theatre music composer Adrian Sutton very sadly passed away much too soon in October 2025.
His scores for National Theatre successes include Coram Boy (2005), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (2012, for which Adrian received an Olivier award), Tony Kushner’s Aids-era epic Angels in America (2017, nominated for a Tony award), and most notably War Horse. Following its initial 2007 National Theatre production War Horse became a record-breaking phenomenon, referred to by the Times as “the theatrical event of the decade”, and then went on to became an international success winning five Tony awards for its Broadway production.
War Horse returns to the National Theatre May – July 2026.
His extensive classical commissions included the BBC Proms and working with the UK's leading orchestras including the BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic and BBC Concert Orchestras, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Opera North. His Violin Concerto, was premiered by the RPO at London Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall in June 2023.
In 2024, Chandos released an album of Adrian’s orchestral works, including the Violin Concerto, the War Horse Suite and A Fistful Of Fives. The album won the BBC Music Magazine's 2025 Premiere award.
His chamber music continues to be performed regularly, notably by the concert violinist Fenella Humphreys, the six-piano group Piano Circus, Blaze Ensemble, Ensemble Perpetuo and others. His last works are the two-piano version of Aerobatics over Lake Wanaka and the remaining two movements of the Double Piano Triptych, scheduled for recording during 2026 and for release in 2027.
Adrian’s accessible musical style is rooted in various influences including 20th-century English and American music, focussed strongly on lyricism, rich harmony and strong melody. Adrian was a strong advocate of live music and its performance being as much for the enjoyment of the performers as the audience.
