Premièred at the Bridgewater Hall on 23 May, Near Midnight, by the Hallé's new Associate Composer Helen Grime (born 1981) is scored for large orchestra including celeste and five percussionists. The work opened in the lowest registers for harp and double basses, with quiet undulations including trills, and bells. These dark and deep sounds formed the background to a crescendo built out of accumulating upward scales. The opening patterns developed a swirling motion that gave rise, after about two minutes, to vaguely mechanistic ostinato-like figurations underpinned by deep pedals – providing the backdrop to various intermittent solos, including flute.