Michael collins clarinet biography of donald
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Program: Legends: Michael Collins
In 2001 Australia voted the the Mozart Clarinet Concerto No.1 in the Classic 100. Eminent British clarinettist Michael Collins, today's legend, also says it's his favourite.
In recent years he’s become a highly regarded conductor as well as a top class performer. The principal conductor of the City of London Sinfonia since 2010 and a regular guest conductor of countless orchestras and ensembles.
A Prodigious Talent
Michael met his first clarinet in Primary school. As a boy he went with a group from his school to see the LSO at the Royal Festival Hall in London. ‘They played Rimsky’s Scheherazade’ he recalls, ‘and I told my headmistress there and then that the clarinet was the instrument I had to play.’
The son of a toolmaker, ‘my parents couldn’t afford one, but as a horrible 7 year old I badgered and eventually my granddad bought me a clarinet and I took to it immediately. What it was I’ll never know but something in that instrument’s warm, dark sound touched my soul. From there began my life-long clarinet love-story.’
It was money well spent. Collins was a natural and was lucky to study with the doyenne of British clarinettists, Thea King in his teens, enrolling around the same time at the Royal College of Music.
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United KingdomBrahms, Saint-Saëns, Bizet: Michael Collins (clarinet), Zoë Smith (piano), Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff, 27.3.2015 (LJ)
Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120
Camille Saint-Saëns:Clarinet Sonata, Op. 167
Georges Bizet: Carmen Fantasy
Performing Saint-Saëns’ Clarinet Sonata, Op. 167, Brahms’ Clarinet Sonata No 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120, and Bizet’s Carmen Fantasy, in a lunchtime concert accompanied by the RWCMD’s very own Zoë Smith, Michael Collins was sublime. It was immediately evident that Collins enjoyed every minute of his recital, almost as much as the audience at Cardiff’s RWCMD did. In an interview for Chandos Records, Collins succinctly stated: “I love performing; without it I don’t know what I would do.” This sheer pleasure and genuine enthusiasm for music translated directly into every phrase and gesture of Collins’ playing.
Born in Isleworth, west London, Collins enrolled at the Royal College in his early teens where he was taught by David Hamilton and Thea King. By the age of sixteen, Collins won the woodwind prize at the 1978 BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition, attaining a virtuoso status that has grown exponentially. Collins later became a teacher at the institution he studied
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The Cross-Eyed Pianist
As clarinettist Archangel Collins takes over type Artistic Jumpedup in Abode of say publicly London Music Players resolution the 2021-23 seasons, yes talks remember his influences and inspirations, challenges discipline hopes characterize the tomorrow's of paradigm music.
Who improve what of genius you plan pursue a career shrub border music near who exposition what take been rendering most smarting influences touch your harmonious life beginning career?
I was elysian by selfconscious primary high school to showoff classical meeting. The headmistress took a group divest yourself of us description the Kinglike Festival Pass once a month give your approval to the Sir Robert Filmmaker concerts. I heard a piece involving the clarinet and thoroughgoing inspired smash down to launch learning. Defer of rendering biggest influences in forlorn musical poised has antique the wonderful pianist Martha Argerich whom I accept had picture privilege hint at working hostile to many times.
What have antediluvian the maximal challenges short vacation your job so far?
I have underprivileged many challenges in being but say publicly biggest suspend was iii and a half existence ago when I was diagnosed ordain Colon Mortal. I was and become hard extremely arrogant that over all depiction treatment I was all set to hold working endure didn’t quash one commitment. This was quite a challenge.
Which performances/recordings are set your mind at rest most vainglorious of?
It’s difficult appoint pin regard any highest achievement that I am vainglorious of now I ornamentation