Informative and engaging films for performing artists, ensembles, and other members of the creative industries.
Shostakovich’s Opera: Orango
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Producer, director, editor
An extended documentary about the recently-discovered opera by Shostakovich, ‘Orango’. It features interviews with Esa-Pekka Salonen, who premièred the work, Gerard McBurney, who orchestrated the work, and Irina Brown, who is directing the Philharmonia Orchestra’s semi-staged production and European Première taking place at the Royal Festival Hall in London in May 2013.
As well as learning about how the work surfaced, and its orchestration, we also delve into some of the musical influences surrounding Shostakovich when he wrote the piece. Set against the historical context of the early 1930s, this film lifts the lid on a fascinating period in not only musical history, but the history of the Soviet Union.
Adrián Varela and Kirpal Singh Panesar in conversation
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Producer, director, editor
Philharmonia Orchestra violinist Adrián Varela and Tar Shehnai player Kirpal Singh Panesar came together to learn about each other’s instrument, techniques, and ensemble playing.
Orchestra Unwrapped
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Director, camera
Orchestra Unwrapped is a major education initiative led by the Philharmonia Orchestra for Leicester and Basingstoke schoolchildren. Thousands of children aged 7-11 are given the opportunity to see a symphony orchestra and learn more about classical music in an engaging, funny and age-appropriate show. philharmonia.co.uk/orchestra_unwrapped/
Witold Lutosławski Biography (four parts)
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Director, second camera
Early Life (Part 1)
A series of four biographical films on the Polish composer, Witold Lutosławski. Series Advisor, Steven Stucky and Philharmonia Orchestra Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Esa-Pekka Salonen traveled to Poland to discover how personal tragedy and traumatic world events shaped Lutosławski’s personality and his music.
Part of the Philharmonia Orchestra’s series Woven Words: “Music begins where words end”. Explore the series’ digital resources at philharmonia.co.uk/lutoslawski
World War II (Part 2)
Stalinist Years (Part 3)
Maturity (Part 4)
Mendelssohn Elijah 1846
Rite Digital for Winged Lion
My role: Director, camera, editor
Paul McCreesh’s latest recording release on his own label, Winged Lion. Filmed at Watford Coliseum during recording sessions last year, this features an ensemble of over 400 artists. For more on Winged Lion see www.wingedlionrecords.com
Vilde Frang in Conversation
Rite Digital for Askonas Holt
My role: Director, second camera, editor
I interviewed the violinist Vilde Frang during rehearsals with the Philharmonia Orchestra & Jakub Hrůša. For more on Vilde see askonasholt.co.uk
Joseph Phibbs: Rivers to the Sea (New Commission)
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Director, editor
I interviewed the composer Joseph Phibbs about his new work, Rivers to the Sea. Commissioned by the Philharmonia Orchestra and Anvil Arts, it will première in June 2012.
Luigi Dallapiccola: Il Prigioniero
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Self-shooting director, editor, translations, research
I flew to Florence, Italy to make a film on the composer Luigi Dallapiccola to help promote a concert of his opera Il Prigioniero.
Esa-Pekka Salonen Conducts Sibelius’s Kullervo
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Editor
A behind-the-scenes film featuring interviews and footage of Esa-Pekka Salonen rehearsing with the Swedish male choir Orphei Drängar in anticipation of a performance of Sibelius’s Kullervo in London.
Berlioz Grande Messe des Morts
Winged Lion
My role: Editor
A film about a large-scale recording project in Poland.
New Canterbury Residency
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Director, editor
The Philharmonia Orchestra and The Marlowe Theatre are launching a new residency in Nov 2011. We went to Canterbury to make a little film about it.
RE-RITE Launch Party
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Editor
RE-RITE, the Philharmonia Orchestra’s digital residency, traveled to Lisbon, Portugal in January 2011 and was launched with a party featuring DJ Gabriel Prokofiev, known for his innovative classical music remixes.
RE-RITE is an immersive/interactive installation featuring Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring that lets you experience what it’s like to be in the midst of an orchestra playing live.
Carl Davis on Phantom of the Opera
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Editor
Composer and conductor Carl Davis gives insight into the process of writing his soundtrack for Rupert Julian’s 1925 silent film, The Phantom of the Opera. The podcast features short clips from the film and a preview of Carl Davis’s vivid score.
Gabrieli Young Singers’ Scheme
Gabrieli Consort & Players (London, UK)
My role: Self-shooting director, sound, editor
In October 2010 Gabrieli Consort & Players and Paul McCreesh launched at their London home Christ Church, Spitalfields the Gabrieli Young Singers’ Scheme. Working with Chetham’s School of Music, the North East Youth Chorale, Taplow Youth Choir and Ulster Youth Choir, the scheme aims to get young people not only to sing, but to engage with choral repertoire and to perform it to the highest possible standard.
Paul McCreesh (Gabrieli director) and the choir directors and singers tell us more about the scheme, with footage from the performance and rehearsals of Handel’s Solomon (choruses), filmed at the Gabrieli Young Singers’ Scheme launch event.
Profile of Zsolt-Tihamér Visontay, Concertmaster
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Director, editor, some camera work
Zsolt-Tihamér Visontay was appointed Joint Concert Master of the Philharmonia Orchestra in 2007. At only 24, he had already been Germany’s youngest Concert Master and leader of the European Union Youth Orchestra. In this film Zsolt talks about learning the violin, his decision to become a professional player and his feelings about living in London.
Hear & Now 2010 (Bedford)
Philharmonia Orchestra
My role: Director, editor
Based in the Queen’s Park neighborhood of Bedford, Hear & Now is a community-based music project now in its second year.
In July 2010, the Philharmonia Orchestra, in partnership and with the support of Orchestras Live, brought together Fusion Youth Singing and the Alzheimers Society’s (Bedford branch) ‘Music for Memory’ group for a series of creative music workshops. Exploring improvisation and developing leadership skills, the groups collaborated to produce original compositions. The project culminated in a free, community concert at All Saints Church, Bedford. The concert also featured performances from Indian singer, Pooja, and the local Islamic choir, Huda.