I am the Senior Producer (leading on video content) for the Philharmonia Orchestra in London. Below are a selection of films I have worked on.
Composer Gabriela Ortiz feature (2025) – Producer
DOP and edit: Zac Nicholson
Mexican composer, Gabriela Ortiz, is the featured composer in the 25/26 season at the Philharmonia Orchestra. A powerful force in music at the moment, and a GRAMMY winner, Gabriela’s compositions and approach to music making are exciting and deeply personal.
Philharmonia Orchestra 80th birthday season brand trailer (2025) – Producer
Production company: We are North South
Nordic Soundscapes concert series (2024) – Producer
In the summer of 2024 I traveled to Finland to produce interviews with Finnish conductors Esa-Pekka Salonen, Santtu-Mattias Rouvali and Emilia Hoving, and the composer Outi Tarkiainen, for content to support the Philharmonia Orchestra’s concert series, Nordic Soundscapes (Autumn 2024). I also produced a documentary with journalist Andrew Mellor, introducing topics within the series. This was shot on location in Helsinki.
Some content for this series was also made in London, such as this interview with rising star violinist María Dueñas.
Click for full series playlist on YouTube
Inside the Music with Bruce Liu, piano – Producer
I met with one of the biggest names in classical music ahead of his 2024 appearance with the Philharmonia Orchestra. The film was turned around in 48 hours.
Maintaining Music (pilot series) – Producer
As a spin-off from the Philharmonia Orchestra’s wildly popular instrument films, shot in the studio, I thought it would be interesting to learn more about the relationship that musicians have with the people who maintain and build their instruments.
Christmas Cards – Producer
Annual release by the Philharmonia Orchestra at Christmas. Here are just a few of my favourites.
Marin Alsop on being Principal Guest Conductor with the Philharmonia – Producer
I interviewed legendary conductor Marin Alsop as she began her tenure as Principal Guest Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra.
The Philharmonia Sessions (2020-2021) – Producer
During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, orchestras had to reinvent themselves for digital platforms. I worked closely with the production company, Wash, Eastwood Records, and Philharmonia Orchestra staff and players to create exceptional music videos in extreme conditions.
The Vaughan Williams video (above) is now one of the top performing pieces of content on the Philharmonia’s YouTube channel and was given a 5-star review in The Times: “I was completely unprepared for the emotional impact this short streamed concert had on me.”
We produced sessions every 2-4 weeks from the summer of 2020 through the summer of 2021. I worked closely with our external production teams to ensure the smooth running of the sessions and then managed the edit process following the filming.
The first sessions were in the stunning Battersea Arts Centre, one of the first venues to re-open during the pandemic. Beethoven’s Prometheus (above) also included an animated element. We then moved over to Southbank Centre for the rest of the season. (see extract from a session, below, with conductor Ryan Bancroft)
Nemanja Radulović on Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 – Producer
“The stage is like a second home. I see it like a magical box – inside you have all the emotions you can share with the audience”. A wonderful experience interviewing Serbian-French violinist Nemanja Radulović in Paris.
Weimar Berlin: Bittersweet Metropolis – 6 films (2019) – Producer, director, editor
In 2019 I created a series of films to introduce audiences to the art and culture of Weimar Germany (1919-1933), giving essential context to a series of concerts in June and September 2019. Written and presented by Gavin Plumley, I took a small team to Germany and shot on location in Berlin, Weimar, Dessau and Buchenwald. Additional interviews were done in period locations in London.
Meet the composer: Gabriel Yared on scoring The English Patient – Producer
I had the privilege of interviewing Oscar-winning composer, Gabriel Yared, in his flat in Paris, about how he devised the score for The English Patient.
Strauss Oboe Concerto with Tom Blomfield, Principal Oboe, Philharmonia Orchestra – Producer, editor
Former Principal Oboe of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Tom Blomfield, introduces audiences to the Strauss Oboe Concerto before he performed it with the orchestra. He also delves into the life of an oboist and the history behind the concerto.
Beethoven: 1808 Reconstructed (animated film) – Producer
Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen wanted to re-create one of the most famous concerts of all time – Beethoven’s 4-hour extravaganza in Vienna, on 22 December 1808. We produced an animated film to give audiences an idea of what happened that night and what they might be in for in London. Poignantly, this concert was the last Philharmonia concert before the Covid-19 Lockdown in 2020.
Esa-Pekka Salonen on Italian and French Masterpieces (2019) – Producer, director
“I think that for most artists, or for many artists, there has been a defining moment and that’s contact with the otherness. All of a sudden you’re facing something that is totally alien to you and that energy usually gets things to move along.” – Esa-Pekka Salonen
I caught Esa-Pekka in Verona, while on tour with the Philharmonia, and interviewed him about his programme of French and Italian works, performed by the Philharmonia in 2019.
Tamás Sándor Meets Composer Péter Eötvös in Budapest (2019) –Producer, director, editor
We took Philharmonia Principal Second Violin Tamás Sándor to Budapest to meet an icon of Hungarian music, composer Peter Eötvös. An intimate introduction to a culture of music.
The Next Generation: Claire Chase (flute) & Dai Fujikura (composer) (2019) – Producer, director, 2nd camera
“It needs to groove”… what happens when you put two of the brightest voices in new music together in a room? I got these two friends and artists together to for a rapid-fire chat about how a new piece of music comes together.
Instrument films – Producer
The Philharmonia Orchestra’s instrument videos are hugely popular and were originally created for the iPad app, The Orchestra. I’ve been working on updating the films and releasing new videos such as the films below – on the cello and the euphonium – filmed with members of the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Esa-Pekka Salonen remembers his Philharmonia Orchestra debut with Mahler’s 3rd Symphony – Producer, editor
I interviewed Esa-Pekka Salonen in Finland about his legendary debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra in 1983.
Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, VI. Langsam—Ruhevoll—Empfunden – Live Broadcast – Philharmonia Orchestra – Producer
The Philharmonia Orchestra received funding from The Space to do a live broadcast of Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting Mahler’s 3rd Symphony at Royal Festival Hall, London. I was the producer for the live broadcast, working efficiently with a large team to make the broadcast happen in a very short time-scale. The live broadcast received over 120,000 views on Facebook and YouTube. You can watch the whole performance on YouTube: [click here]
Finland at 100: Esa-Pekka Salonen Reflects – Producer, director, 2nd camera, editor
Esa-Pekka Salonen on Sibelius & Finland’s Independence Movement – Producer, director, camera (Finland GVs), editor
Two films – Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen reflects on Finland’s centenary and composer Jean Sibelius’s role in the formation of Finnish identity. Shot on location in Finland and in partnership with Finland 100.
Finnish Runo-Song: Pekka Kuusisto (violin) & Ilona Korhonen (voice) – Producer, director, editor
Violinist Pekka Kuusisto and vocalist Ilona Korhonen gave me an introduction to a special performance they gave at Southbank Centre, giving a new perspective on Finnish runo-song. I travelled to Finland to film this preview. You can watch the full performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EerHGf1DjzQ
Philharmonia Orchestra at Garsington Opera (2017) – Self-shooting director/producer, editor
An atmospheric introduction to the Philharmonia Orchestra’s residency at Garsington Opera. Principal Harp, Heidi Krutzen, introduces the residency.
Lawrence Power Performs Salonen’s Pentatonic Étude for solo viola – Producer, director, editor
I worked with Guy Wigmore of Wash Media and Myles Eastwood of Eastwood Records to create the first recording of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Pentatonic Étude, which he wrote for British violist Lawrence Power. Watch my interview with Lawrence Power here. The interview was featured in The Strad.
Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Principal Guest Conductor – Producer, editor
I travelled to Finland to meet one of the Philharmonia’s new Principal Guest Conductors, Santtu-Matias Rouvali.
Symphonize: Leicester – Self-shooting director, producer, editor
Symphonize – a pioneering creative partnership between Leicester-based Soft Touch Arts and the Philharmonia Orchestra aiming to empower young people through intensive, collaborative working which taps into their passion for popular music and technology whilst offering an opportunity to explore different musical styles and approaches. Longer term, it was hoped that participation would contribute to equipping young people with practical, creative and social skills that are transferable to everyday life, and boost self-esteem and ambition.
Discover Carl Nielsen with Paavo Järvi and Andrew Mellor – Self-shooting director, producer, editor
“It might be Scandinavian, but his music is altogether hotter, more volatile and certainly more of a rollercoaster ride.” Take a closer look at the life and music of Danish composer Carl Nielsen with journalist Andrew Mellor and conductor Paavo Järvi. Filmed behind the scenes at the Royal Festival Hall in London for a series of concerts featuring the music of Carl Nielsen.
Universal Notes: A Musical Collaboration Between India and the UK – Self-shooting director, editor
The Philharmonia Orchestra and Darbar collaborated on an exciting cross-cultural music project called Universal Notes in 2016. A new piece of music was created over a year of workshops in India and the UK and premiered at Darbar Festival in Sept 2016. Taking inspiration from India’s raga mode of melody, the project moves away from jamming and ‘fusion’ styles, with an ambition to create music that brings two great classical traditions together equally. This film, which I shot on location in Bangalore and Mumbai, introduces the project and its participants.
Stravinsky’s Journeys – Producer, director of photography, editor
Journey from the glamour of Paris to the sun-kissed hills of Hollywood and discover how Igor Stravinsky was able to transform his art throughout his extraordinary life. One the greatest icons of the 20th century, Stravinsky’s legacy continues to inspire creatives today and we met London-based artists to find out how his work has influenced theirs. Featuring high-quality BBC archive footage of Stravinsky conducting the New Philharmonia Orchestra in 1965, this film is a chance to fully immerse yourself in Stravinsky’s incredible journey.
Presented by Esa-Pekka Salonen, Sara Mohr-Pietsch and Jonathan Cross (series advisor), with contributions from Robin O’Neill (Principal Bassoon, Philharmonia Orchestra), Peter Sellars (director), Anna Meredith (composer), Akram Khan and Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker (choreographers), Samuel West (actor), Mark Swed (LA Times) and Jonathan Hepfer (artistic director, Monday Evening Concerts).
Vladimir Ashkenazy on the Path of Sibelius – Producer, director, main camera, co-editor, research
We took the great pianist and conductor, Vladimir Ashkenazy, to Finland to delve into his relationship with Jean Sibelius’s music. Shot on location in Helsinki, Ainola and Hämeenlinna, Finland. In partnership with Sibelius 150.
The Tabla Lesson – Producer, director, editor
Philharmonia Orchestra violist, Gijs Kramers, gets a special one-to-one lesson with master tabla player, Sanju Sahai. Learn all about the basics of tabla in this film, and find out what Bach sounds like when accompanied by tabla.
City of Light: Paris, 1900-1950: Uncover the history of the French flute with Sam Coles – Producer, director, editor
Philharmonia Orchestra Principal Flutist Sam Coles brings the history of the flute to life in the beautiful surroundings of the Théâtre des Champs-Elysèes, Paris. Find out how the flute we know and love today developed over time and was perfected by makers and performers based in Paris, culminating in Debussy’s groundbreaking work for solo flute, Syrinx (1913).
The Philharmonia Orchestra celebrates 70 years: Pierrette Galeone (violin) and Emily Davis (violin) – Producer, camera
During the 70th anniversary season of the Philharmonia Orchestra, we decided to chat with former members to find out what their lives were like and how playing for the orchestra had an impact for their professional and personal lives. This interview was especially interesting to hear about what it was like to be a woman in the orchestra in the 1950s.
Witold Lutosławski Biography (four parts) – Director, second camera
A biographical film on the Polish composer, Witold Lutosławski made by the Philharmonia Orchestra for his centenary in partnership with the Polish centenary celebrations and Poland’s Adam Mickiewicz Institute. I worked with the late composer Steven Stucky and Philharmonia Orchestra Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Esa-Pekka Salonen traveled in Poland to discover how personal tragedy and traumatic world events shaped Lutosławski’s personality and his music. In London, editor Guy Wigmore pieced together the footage from Poland into a cohesive narrative.
Mendelssohn Elijah 1846 (made by Rite Digital for the recording label Winged Lion) – Director, camera, editor
A film documenting the recording sessions for Mendelssohn’s Elijah, conducted by Paul McCreesh for his own recording label, Winged Lion. Filmed at Watford Coliseum during recording sessions last year, this features an ensemble of over 400 artists.
Luigi Dallapiccola: Il Prigioniero – 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. This involved research in Italian libraries, conducting interviews in Italian, self-shooting on location, translating interviews and doing the edit.
Gabrieli Young Singers’ Scheme – 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.
I shot this on my own, and did the edit. This was the first piece of freelance work I did after my traineeship at the Philharmonia Orchestra.