9 7 6 ▁he ▁was ▁composer - in - res idence ▁to ▁the ▁Southern ▁Arts ▁Association . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁he ▁was ▁invited ▁by ▁B irt w ist le ▁to ▁become ▁Ass istant ▁Music ▁Director ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁National ▁Theatre ▁in ▁London . ▁He ▁succeeded ▁B irt w ist le ▁as ▁Music ▁Director ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁remaining ▁in ▁that ▁post ▁until ▁ 1 9 9 7 . ▁ ▁M uld ow ney ' s ▁orch est ral ▁music ▁includes ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁concert i ▁( for ▁piano , ▁sa x oph one , ▁ob oe , ▁viol in , ▁per cussion , ▁tr ump et ▁and ▁trom bone ), ▁many ▁of ▁which ▁explore ▁his ▁fasc ination ▁with ▁pol yr h yth ms . ▁Other ▁works ▁include ▁Three ▁Pie ces ▁for ▁Orchestra ▁( 1 9 9 1 ), ▁the ▁song ▁cycle ▁L on ely ▁He arts ▁( 1 9 8 8 ) ▁and ▁three ▁full - length ▁bal lets , ▁including ▁The ▁Br ont ë s ▁( 1 9 9 4 ). ▁M uld ow ney ’ s ▁radio ▁opera ▁The ▁Vol upt uous ▁T ango ▁( 1 9 9 6 ) ▁won ▁the ▁Prix ▁Italia ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁and ▁the ▁Gold ▁Award ▁for ▁Best ▁Radio ▁D rama ▁at ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁Sony ▁D rama ▁Awards , ▁and ▁received ▁its ▁stage ▁premi ere ▁in ▁Ho xt on ▁New ▁Music ▁Days , ▁London ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 0 . ▁ ▁M