Composer Philip Venables is described as “an arrestingly original musical personality” by Alex Ross in The New Yorker and as “one of the finest composers around” by The Guardian. Philip’s work covers opera, music theatre and multimedia concert works, with a focus on storytelling.  

Philip's previous music-theatre works, 4.48 Psychosis (2016, text: Kane), Denis & Katya (2019, text: Huffman), The Faggots and their Friends Between Revolutions (2023, text: Huffman after Mitchell) and We Are The Lucky Ones (2025, text: Segal & Huffman), have been performed by leading companies in London, New York City, Paris, Amsterdam, Strasbourg, Manchester, Aix-en-Provence, Dresden, Philadelphia, Hannover and Montpellier. The operas have won the Fedora Prize, an RPS Award, and an Ivor Novello Award, as well as shortlisted nominations for an Olivier Award and South Bank Award. The Times branded 4.48 Psychosis “a new brand of opera” and The New York Times Denis & Katya as “an intimate, haunting triumph.” 

Concert works include Answer Machine Tape, 1987; My Favourite Piece is the Goldberg Variations (Text: Huffman); a series of pieces based on Numbers by poet Simon Howard; Illusions and Canal Street with drag/performance artist David Hoyle; and Venables plays Bartók with violinist Pekka Kuusisto for the BBC Proms. Philip’s debut album Below the Belt was released on NMC in 2018: “music of forensic clarity and visceral force — but also great tenderness and generosity” (BBC Music Magazine).

Philip studied at Cambridge University and the Royal Academy of Music London, who elected him Associate in 2016.  He has been a fellow at Yaddo and MacDowell, and was Doctoral Composer in Residence with the Royal Opera Covent Garden and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2014–2016.  He lives and works in Berlin.  His works are published by Opera Edition and Ricordi.  www.philipvenables.com