All of us in the Divine Art family were sad to hear the news yesterday (16 February 2026) that composer Robin Stevens had died after a battle against cancer.
Beginning in 2020, Divine Art Records released five albums devoted to his chamber music compositions, as well as his work, “Men improve with the years” for soprano, recorder, oboe, violin and cello, on our tribute album to Sir John Manduell.
His final album on Divine Art, A Questing Soul, released in January 2025, was aptly reviewed by the British Music Society with this quote, “The only fault one might find is that it leaves the listener wanting more.” It was also selected as a 2025 American Record Guide Critic’s Choice.
Over these five albums, and nearly 60 works, listeners were able to witness Robin’s progression from lush Late Romanticism to the more dissonant and experimental idioms of his later compositions. At the end of his life, Robin was also able to be in attendance for the recordings of his complete orchestral music, currently being released on the Toccata Classics label with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under the direction of Paul Mann. He leaves behind a remarkable recorded legacy that we hope will enable performers to discover the depth of his compositional voice and person, and inspire them to perform and champion his music for generations to come.
Knowing he was nearing the end of his life, and at the request of recorderist John Turner, Robin Stevens penned an autobiography, that has now been published on his website. We encourage you to read it.
Robin Stevens Music on Divine Art Records
Robin Stevens Orchestral Music on Toccata Classics
