Music heard on journeys to Albania decades ago will find a new audience in London when composer Dave Smith and saxophonist Naomi Sullivan perform Albanian Summer at Goldsmiths this Thursday.
Written in 1980 for alto saxophone and piano, the work grew from Smith’s encounters with music during visits to Albania in the 1970s and 1980s. Smith will play the piano, with Sullivan on saxophone.
A musical connection across borders
The programme also includes On the virtues of flowers and a new arrangement of Highland Pastures by Tish Daija, whom Smith identifies as the first Albanian composer he met.
For British Albanian listeners, the evening offers an intriguing perspective: hearing how a visitor’s memories of Albania became music of his own. It is also an accessible introduction for friends discovering Albanian cultural connections in Britain.
When and where
- Date: Thursday 12 November 2026
- Time: 6.30–8pm
- Venue: Council Chamber, Deptford Town Hall, New Cross Road, London SE14 6NW
- Admission: £5 on the door; free for Goldsmiths staff and students
See Goldsmiths’ official concert listing for the programme and accessibility contact.
Source: Goldsmiths, University of London. Details checked on 9 November 2026.