Darknesse Visible

solo piano

Year

1992

Duration

00:07:00

Category

Piano

Programme notes

This piece is an explosion of John Dowland’s lute song 'In Darknesse Let Mee Dwell' (1610). No notes have been added; indeed, some have been removed. Patterns latent in the original have been isolated and regrouped, with the aim of illuminating the song from within, as if during the course of a performance.

In darknesse let mee dwell,

the ground shall sorrow be,

The roofe Dispaire to barre

all cheerful light from mee,

The wals of marble blacke

that moistned still shall weepe,

My musicke hellish jarring sounds

to banish friendly sleepe.

Thus wedded to my woes,

and bedded to my Tombe,

O let me living die

till death doe come.

Dowland ends the song with a restatement of the opening line.

Thomas Adès

Reviews

'Amid the starkly beautiful single notes of Darkness Visible – mainly high, glistening tinkles and somber, booming bass – hints of Dowland's original theme floated in and out, like a fugitive hymn tune.'

Chicago Sun Times (Wynne Delacoma), 15 November 1999

Availability

Score 0571518044 on sale

Scores and publication

Upcoming performances

7 November 2026 — Church of the Redeemer (Toronto, ON, Canada) — Canada — Composer
8 November 2026 — Landestheater Linz (Linz, Oberösterreich, Austria) — Austria — Composer
14 November 2026 — Landestheater Linz (Linz, Oberösterreich, Austria) — Austria — Composer
21 November 2026 — Landestheater Linz (Linz, Oberösterreich, Austria) — Austria — Composer
17 January 2027 — Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti (Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy) — Italy — Composer

Previous performances

31 October 2026 — Landestheater Linz (Linz, Oberösterreich, Austria) — Austria — Composer
26 July 2026 — Carlton Dominion-Chalmers Centre (Ottawa, Canada) — Canada — Composer
25 March 2026 — The Hopkins Bloomberg Center Theater (Washington, DC, USA) — USA — Composer
19 March 2026 — Maison de la Musique (Nanterre, Île-de-France, France) — France — Composer
15 March 2026 — Opéra de Massy (Massy, Île-de-France, France) — France — Composer
13 March 2026 — Opéra de Massy (Massy, Île-de-France, France) — France — Composer
28 February 2026 — Arraymusic (Toronto, Canada) — Canada — Composer
20 February 2026 — Arraymusic (Toronto, Canada) — Canada — Composer
11 February 2026 — Barts Hospital, Great Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
12 October 2025 — Hall 1, Kings Place (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
16 June 2025 — Britten Studio (Snape, Suffolk, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
15 June 2025 — St John sub Castro (Lewes, East Sussex, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
11 May 2025 — Frick Collection (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
9 May 2025 — Millbrook Music Salon (Millbrook, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
21 June 2024 — Cleveland Institute of Music (Cleveland, OH, USA) — USA — Composer
21 June 2024 — Cleveland Institute of Music (Cleveland, OH, USA) — USA — Composer
31 May 2024 — Merton College (Oxford, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
22 May 2024 — Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
17 May 2024 — Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
17 May 2024 — Cedars Hall (Wells, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
11 May 2024 — Milton Court, Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
10 May 2024 — Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
10 May 2024 — Mayfield Festival (Mayfield, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
5 May 2024 — Macalester College (St Paul, MN, USA) — USA — Composer
3 May 2024 — 92nd Street Y (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
3 May 2024 — 92nd Street Y (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
2 May 2024 — Pembroke College (Cambridge, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
28 April 2024 — Phillips Collection (Washington, DC, USA) — USA — Composer
14 April 2024 — The Henrietta Barnett School, Hampstead Garden Suburb (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
16 March 2024 — Druckerei Baden (Baden, Switzerland) — Switzerland — Composer
10 March 2024 — Wathen Hall, St Paul's School (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
1 December 2023 — Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
15 July 2023 — Pittville Pump Room (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
9 July 2023 — The Crown (Harrogate, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
10 June 2023 — Snape Maltings Concert Hall (Snape, Suffolk, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
24 May 2023 — Park Avenue Armory (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
21 April 2023 — Melbourne Recital Centre (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) — Australia — Composer
26 February 2023 — St. George's Campden Hill (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
22 February 2023 — Town Hall (Rhyl, Wales, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
27 January 2023 — St Paul's Clapham (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
22 December 2022 — Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
22 July 2022 — Centre Marcel Pagnol (La Roque-d'Anthéron, France) — France — Composer
22 November 2021 — 22 Mansfield Street (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
22 September 2020 — Oratorio di San Filippo Neri (Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy) — Italy — Composer
5 December 2019 — Fondation Louis Vuitton (Paris, France) — France — Composer
22 November 2019 — 92nd Street Y (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
16 November 2019 — Bethel United Methodist Church Hall (Lewes, DE, USA) — USA — Composer
1 August 2019 — Civic Theatre (Townsville, QLD, Australia) — Australia — Composer
27 February 2019 — Stapleford Granary (Stapleford, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
26 February 2019 — St Margaret's Roman Catholic Church, Twickenham (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
27 January 2019 — The Appel Room, Jazz at Lincoln Center (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
28 November 2018 — St John's Theatre, Listowel, County Kerry (Listowel, Co. Kerry, Ireland) — Ireland — Composer
27 November 2018 — All Saints Church, Castleconnell (Castleconnell, Co. Limerick, Ireland) — Ireland — Composer
21 November 2018 — Ardhowen Theatre (Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
18 November 2018 — St Brendan's Church (Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland) — Ireland — Composer
16 November 2018 — Market Place Theatre (Armagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
15 November 2018 — Ballina Arts Centre (Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland) — Ireland — Composer
14 November 2018 — Station House (Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland) — Ireland — Composer
13 November 2018 — Roscommon Arts Centre (Ardsallagh More, Co. Roscommon, Ireland) — Ireland — Composer
11 November 2018 — Russborough House, Blessington, West Wicklow (Blessington, Co. Wicklow, Ireland) — Ireland — Composer
11 November 2018 — Baltimore Hebrew Congregation (Baltimore, MD, USA) — USA — Composer
9 November 2018 — St Peter's Church of Ireland (Drogheda, Co. Louth, Ireland) — Ireland — Composer
8 November 2018 — Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center (Philadelphia, PA, USA) — USA — Composer
4 November 2018 — MAC Theatre (Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
1 November 2018 — CIT Cork School of Music (Cork, Ireland) — Ireland — Composer
28 October 2018 — Hall 1, Kings Place (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
17 June 2018 — No Venue (Tours, Centre, France) — France — Composer
18 May 2018 — Elma Centre (Ya'akov, Israel) — Israel — Composer
22 October 2017 — St Saviour's Church, Warwick Avenue (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
15 October 2017 — Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
21 August 2017 — City Recital Hall, Angel Place (Sydney, NSW, Australia) — Australia — Composer
19 July 2017 — The Octagon, Pavilion Gardens (Buxton, Derbyshire, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
23 June 2017 — St John's Smith Square (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
29 April 2017 — Shalin Liu Performance Center (Rockport, MA, USA) — USA — Composer
22 January 2017 — Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
12 November 2016 — Schneebeck Concert Hall, University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA, USA) — USA — Composer
11 November 2016 — 415 Westlake (Seattle, WA, USA) — USA — Composer
1 November 2016 — Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
16 September 2016 — St Lawrence's Church (West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
11 June 2016 — Royal Northern College of Music Concert Hall (Manchester, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
11 June 2016 — Royal Northern College of Music Concert Hall (Manchester, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
8 May 2016 — St Mary's Church (Iffley, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
13 April 2016 — Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ (Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands) — Netherlands — Composer
10 April 2016 — Jurriaanse Zaal, De Doelen (Rotterdam, Netherlands) — Netherlands — Composer
19 February 2016 — Nasher Sculpture Center (Dallas, TX, USA) — USA — Composer
8 December 2015 — Salle Cortot (Paris, France) — France — Composer
24 July 2015 — St John the Baptist Church (Plush, Dorset, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
8 May 2015 — Redutowe Rooms, Teatr Wielki Opera Naradowa (Warsaw, Poland) — Poland — Composer
14 April 2015 — St Anne's Church (Manchester, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
6 January 2015 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
6 December 2014 — Cité de la musique (Paris, France) — France — Composer
8 November 2014 — City Halls (Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
16 October 2014 — David Josefowitz Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
17 June 2014 — Village Underground (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
17 June 2014 — Village Underground (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
20 March 2014 — David Josefowitz Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
14 June 2013 — Aldeburgh Parish Church (Aldeburgh, Suffolk, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
6 June 2013 — Hakuju Hall (Tokyo, Japan) — Japan — Composer
23 May 2013 — The Atkinson (Southport, Merseyside, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
14 May 2013 — Cambridge Arts Theatre (Cambridge, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
13 May 2013 — Cambridge Arts Theatre (Cambridge, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
9 May 2013 — Theatre Severn (Shrewsbury, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
8 May 2013 — Theatre Severn (Shrewsbury, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
19 April 2013 — Auditorio de la Diputación de Alicante (Alicante, Spain) — Spain — Composer
6 October 2012 — The Place (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
5 October 2012 — The Place (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
4 October 2012 — The Place (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
3 October 2012 — The Place (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
10 July 2012 — Royal Albert Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
1 February 2012 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
28 November 2011 — Carnegie Hall (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
20 March 2011 — No Venue (Nürnberg, Bavaria, Germany) — Germany — Composer
26 February 2011 — Washington Irving High School (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
23 October 2010 — Sydney Opera House (Sydney, NSW, Australia) — Australia — Composer
10 October 2010 — No Venue (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) — Australia — Composer
14 July 2010 — Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
26 February 2010 — Washington Irving High School (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
3 November 2009 — Konserthuset (Stockholm, Sweden) — Sweden — Composer
6 February 2009 — Purcell Room, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
5 February 2009 — Purcell Room, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
23 November 2008 — No Venue (Lille, Pas-de-Calais, France) — France — Composer
18 June 2008 — Schubertiade Schwarzenberg (Hohenems, Vorarlberg, Austria) — Austria — Composer
14 June 2008 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
9 June 2008 — Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
6 May 2008 — Carnegie Hall (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
10 January 2008 — Purcell Room, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
19 November 2007 — Carnegie Hall (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
8 September 2007 — de Doelen (Rotterdam, Netherlands) — Netherlands — Composer
21 June 2007 — Snape Maltings Concert Hall (Snape, Suffolk, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
24 March 2007 — Carnegie Hall (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
25 February 2007 — Salle Olivier Messiaen, Maison de Radio France (Paris, France) — France — Composer
19 July 2006 — No Venue (Cordes-sur-Ciel, Midi-Pyrénées , France) — France — Composer
1 June 2006 — Picture Gallery, Royal Holloway, University of London (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
27 May 2006 — No Venue (Beijing, China) — China — Composer
20 May 2005 — La Colegiata (Gijon, Spain) — Spain — Composer
13 May 2005 — Schubertiade Schwarzenberg (Hohenems, Vorarlberg, Austria) — Austria — Composer
23 March 2005 — Maison Folie Wazemmes (Lille, Pas-de-Calais, France) — France — Composer
22 March 2005 — Théâtre de l’Agora (Évry, Essonne, Île-de-France, France) — France — Composer
6 February 2005 — Sala Mirador, Centro de Nuevos Creadores (Madrid, Spain) — Spain — Composer
5 February 2005 — Sala Mirador, Centro de Nuevos Creadores (Madrid, Spain) — Spain — Composer
4 February 2005 — Sala Mirador, Centro de Nuevos Creadores (Madrid, Spain) — Spain — Composer
3 February 2005 — Sala Mirador, Centro de Nuevos Creadores (Madrid, Spain) — Spain — Composer
16 December 2004 — Institut del Theatre (Barcelona, Spain) — Spain — Composer
11 December 2004 — Centre Cívic Sant Jordi- Ribera Baixa (Barcelona, Spain) — Spain — Composer
8 November 2004 — No Venue (Barcelona, Spain) — Spain — Composer
7 November 2004 — No Venue (Barcelona, Spain) — Spain — Composer
6 November 2004 — No Venue (Barcelona, Spain) — Spain — Composer
5 November 2004 — No Venue (Barcelona, Spain) — Spain — Composer
4 November 2004 — No Venue (Barcelona, Spain) — Spain — Composer
27 October 2004 — St James Cavalier (Valletta, Malta) — Malta — Composer
24 January 2004 — Slee Hall, State University of New York at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
1 November 2003 — No Venue (Los Angeles, CA, USA) — USA — Composer
23 September 2003 — de Doelen (Rotterdam, Netherlands) — Netherlands — Composer
9 August 2003 — No Venue (Santa Cruz, CA, USA) — USA — Composer
3 August 2003 — No Venue (Delft, Netherlands) — Netherlands — Composer
19 May 2003 — RNE Radio Clásica (Spain) — Spain — Composer
6 May 2003 — WDR 3 (Germany) — Germany — Composer
4 May 2003 — Wiener Konzerthaus (Vienna, Austria) — Austria — Composer
30 April 2003 — No Venue (Kempen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
28 April 2003 — Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian (Lisbon, Portugal) — Portugal — Composer
12 April 2003 — Wigmore Hall (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
8 April 2003 — Philharmonie (Berlin, Germany) — Germany — Composer
4 April 2003 — Abbotsholme School (Lichfield, Staffordshire, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
7 March 2003 — Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland, OH, USA) — USA — Composer
10 January 2003 — Purcell Room, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
5 December 2002 — Conservatoire de Musique du Québec à Montréal (Montréal, QC, Canada) — Canada — Composer
29 November 2002 — No Venue (Ghent, Belgium) — Belgium — Composer
27 November 2002 — No Venue (Antwerp, Belgium) — Belgium — Composer
30 May 2002 — Teatro Talia (Valencia, Spain) — Spain — Composer
14 May 2002 — Turner Sims Concert Hall, University of Southampton (Southampton, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
13 April 2002 — No Venue (Tampere, Finland) — Finland — Composer
24 March 2002 — Frick Collection (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
15 March 2002 — No Venue (Greenwich, CT, USA) — USA — Composer
13 March 2002 — Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
10 February 2002 — No Venue (Paris, France) — France — Composer
12 July 2001 — The Warehouse, Waterloo (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
28 April 2001 — Gateway Education and Arts Centre (Shrewsbury, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
21 April 2001 — Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
31 March 2001 — Snape Maltings Concert Hall (Snape, Suffolk, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
23 December 2000 — Kloveniersdoelen (Middelburg, Netherlands) — Netherlands — Composer
11 November 2000 — Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
10 November 2000 — No Venue (Odense, Denmark) — Denmark — Composer
1 November 2000 — Danish Radio (Denmark) — Denmark — Composer
24 October 2000 — St John's Smith Square (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
19 September 2000 — Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church of Pasadena (Pasadena, CA, USA) — USA — Composer
10 July 2000 — No Venue (Moers, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany) — Germany — Composer
3 June 2000 — No Venue (Ojai, CA, USA) — USA — Composer
13 January 2000 — Purcell Room, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
11 December 1999 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
30 November 1999 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
24 October 1999 — St John's Smith Square (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
24 October 1999 — Blackheath Halls (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
2 October 1999 — Miller Theater, Columbia University (New York City, NY, USA) — USA — Composer
25 August 1999 — University of Western Australia (Perth, WA, Australia) — Australia — Composer
29 March 1999 — Finnish Radio (Finland) — Finland — Composer
7 March 1999 — Sibelius Academy (Helsinki, Finland) — Finland — Composer
11 February 1999 — Lighthouse (Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
6 February 1999 — Queen's Hall (Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
14 November 1998 — Merlin Theatre (Frome, Somerset, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
11 November 1998 — Stantonbury Campus (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
7 November 1998 — Music Hall (Shrewsbury, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
4 November 1998 — The Lights (Andover, Hampshire, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
28 October 1998 — Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
24 October 1998 — Harlequin Theatre (Redhill, Surrey, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
22 October 1998 — The Gulbenkian, University of Kent (Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
16 October 1998 — The Point Theatre (Eastleigh, Hampshire, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
13 October 1998 — Studio 1, BBC Broadcasting House (Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
13 October 1998 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
13 October 1998 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
9 September 1998 — No Venue (Brisbane, QLD, Australia) — Australia — Composer
12 June 1998 — Casals Hall (Tokyo, Japan) — Japan — Composer
4 June 1998 — No Venue (Yokohama, Japan) — Japan — Composer
18 July 1997 — BBC Radio 3 (United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
15 June 1997 — St Peter's Church (Staines, Surrey, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
15 February 1997 — Purcell Room, Southbank Centre (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
24 August 1995 — Berkeley Piano Club (Berkeley, CA, USA) — USA — Composer
13 August 1995 — No Venue (Dartington, Devon, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
1 March 1995 — Sutton House (London, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
2 November 1994 — University of Bath (Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
21 April 1994 — No Venue (Bristol, United Kingdom) — United Kingdom — Composer
1 October 1992 — No Venue (Budapest, Hungary) — Hungary — Composer

Recordings

2025 Cliburn Competition: Yangrui Cai – Semifinal Round (Live) — 2025 — Platoon
Darknesse Visible — 2025 — Pentatone (PTC 5187235)
Thomas Adès: Piano Solo Works — 2020 — Naxos (8.574109)
Lux — 2018 — Mirare (MIR 400)
Illuminating from Within — 2015 — La Buissonne (005)

All recordings of this composition