Alexander Goehr
1932 – 2024
It is with deepest sadness that we announce the death of Alexander Goehr.
‘Sandy’ leaves us an unique catalogue of beautifully crafted and deeply wrought works that will stand the test of time … each work thought-provoking to the end, continually searching for an authentic musical expression that has given us one of the most distinctive, distinguished, unique and endlessly evolving and rewarding voices of the past 70 years.
A man of utter integrity, wisdom, charm and wit … the best one could ever hope to meet.
About us
We offer unique services tailored to the needs of our clients, who range from composers and artists to large ensembles and orchestras.
In the pursuit of excellence, from experience and knowledge of the music sector, we provide a dedicated and holistic approach to artistic management services, nurturing the artist and seeking creative and innovative solutions and opportunities with a wide range of artistic and cultural partners worldwide.
Other services include project & tour management, consultancy and strategic planning.
There are endless possibilities to unlock creative excellence and, with passion and dedication, we hope to make a positive contribution to the musical and wider artistic culture in today’s society, championing and advocating for its far reaching and enriching value and benefit for us all.
Taking the music beyond the score.
Portfolio
here are just a few of our clients
Jonathan Berman
Conductor
On 20 October 2024, Jonathan Berman will conduct London Sinfonietta’s tribute to Arnold Schoenberg at the Southbank Centre to mark the composer’s 150th anniversary.
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This spectacular concert promises to be a musical experience of unrivalled intensity … one for all Schoenberg fans – and an excellent way to introduce new listeners to the continuing genius of this music.
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Berman, steeped in early 20th C Viennese music (see his ‘Universally Acclaimed’ Schmidt recordings for Accentus) is our perfect guide to the world of Arnold Schoenberg!
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Arnold Schoenberg Serenade Op. 24
Anton Webern Symphony Op. 21
Arnold Schoenberg Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte Op. 41
Arnold Schoenberg Piano Pieces Op.19
Elisabeth Lutyens Six Tempi for 10 Instruments
Arnold Schoenberg Chamber Symphony Op. 9
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Conductor, Jonathan Berman
London Sinfonietta
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Jonathan Berman
Conductor
Jonathan Berman’s open-minded approach to music making is reflected in his impressively broad repertoire. Whether on stage, in front of cameras, writing a script or curating a concert programme, Jonathan derives his energy from his ability to engage with audiences. For him, unlocking the imagination is the key.
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“Berman’s commitment and enthusiasm, delivering playing of sensitivity and technical brilliance …”
5 Star
BBC Music Magazine
Erik Levi, Feb 2024
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“perhaps the most convincing approach to the composer’s musical universe.”
Scherzo
Pablo L. Rodríguez, Nov 2023
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Alexander Goehr
(1932-2024)
Composer
Alexander Goehr, composer and teacher, was born in Berlin on 10 August 1932, son of the conductor Walter Goehr, and was brought to England in 1933.
Goehr is a towering cultural figure of the 20th and 21st centuries. His influence is far reaching from the early days in Manchester where, together with Harrison Birtwistle, Peter Maxwell Davies and John Ogdon he formed the New Music Manchester Group, studied with Messiaen, formed the Music Theatre Ensemble, taught at the New England Conservatory Boston, Yale, Leeds and Cambridge. His influence on countless artists and composers across the world is unique and his music is beautifully crafted, deeply wrought, endlessly thought-provoking and a profound reflection on the modern psyche.
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“The combination of mystery and transparent musical language compels attention—as did the edgy, controlled performance—even as the core meaning remained a puzzle. This was one of the best kinds of musical experiences, where one wants to hear the music repeated and get closer to the mystery at the center.
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George Grella, New York Classical Review on
Verschwindendes Wort
(Vanishing Word)
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Amatis trio
Piano Trio
The Amatis Trio was founded in 2014 and is based in Salzburg, Austria. The violinist Lea Hausmann, cellist Samuel Shepherd, and pianist Mengjie Han are celebrated for their energy, insight, creativity, communication and passion. The trio is regarded as one of the leading ensembles of its generation.
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“What a joy it is to play music! We feel lucky every day to be in a profession in which no finishing line exists. It allows us to continually push and explore until a new horizon appears. It’s our responsibility to convey the love we have for music to our audiences. When this music then touches our listeners we know we are travelling along the right path.”
Lea, Sam & Mengjie
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Thomas Kemp
Conductor
Thomas Kemp is an acclaimed conductor and artistic director renowned for his passionate advocacy and ground breaking programming that places contemporary music into its historical context. The Guardian recently commented “…an extraordinary performance… with a fluency that came over brilliantly under the baton of Thomas Kemp.”
Thomas is regularly in demand as a guest conductor in the UK and Europe.
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“Committed performances from Chamber Domaine, definitely an ensemble from whom much can be
expected, under the incisive leadership of Thomas Kemp.” The Gramophone
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Stevie Wishart
Composer | Improviser
Stevie Wishart is unique amongst today’s truly creative artists.
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Stevie is a composer with her roots in improvisation and early music. She is also a performer on the violin, and on the hurdy-gurdy, an instrument which gives a unique “old-and-new” sound, which resonates in Stevie’s compositions.
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Her 2019 BBC Proms commission was described as:
“The most flamboyant and mood-breaking of the pieces was Stevie Wishart’s “The Last Dance?” She juxtaposed string writing with the punch and heft of the “Glorification” scene from Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring with field recordings of the song of the endangered hooded grebe.”
TheArtsDesk, BBC Proms
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Andrew Zolinsky
Piano
Andrew Zolinsky’s unique style of programming and his individual interpretations have secured worldwide performances at many prestigious venues and festivals. His work with living composers brings a vivid freshness, energy and passion to his interpretations of music from previous eras, performing at the major venues across the globe from New York to the Wigmore Hall and to the Venice Biennale, and from the BBC Symphony Orchestra to the London Sinfonietta.
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“Andrew Zolinsky brilliantly dispatched [Unsuk Chin’s études] … had one marvelling at miracles of high-speed articulation.”
The Sunday Times, Paul Driver
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“Andrew Zolinsky … simply, he is a musician with a great gift. … his rendering [Feldman] holds up robustly and adds it’s own special slowness and gentleness … Zolinsky had made it clear in his other recital earlier that day what he was made of.”
Venice Biennale
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“Zolinsky’s virtuosity was at times incredible”
The Sunday Times
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Jonathan Berman
Conductor
Jonathan Berman is an internationally renowned conductor working with orchestras such as The Cleveland Orchestra and The London Philharmonic Orchestra and has conducted at the Tanglewood Festival and at the BBC Proms.
His live performances receive the highest acclaim and his recordings have been praised for his deep understanding for the repertoire. Jonathan’s performances are regularly broadcast on national radio stations from the BBC to MDR Klassik and Radiotelevisione Svizzera.
Jonathan’s open-minded approach to music making is reflected in his impressively broad repertoire, including over 40 operas. He is recognised for his thoughtfulness and insight. feeding into the unique and creative ways in which he connects to his audiences, such as, the 9 award winning films he made on Bach, Satie, Stravinsky, Ravel and a documentary series called “Postcards From Vienna”.
A fearless advocate of contemporary music (with over 75 World Premieres), Jonathan is equally well versed in the music of the classical and Romantic periods, specialising in music from Vienna. His recently released box set, “Franz Schmidt: The Symphonies” (BBC National Orchestra of Wales on the label Accentus Music celebrating the composer’s 150th anniversary) has won international universal acclaim.
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moments musicaux
Dive Deeper into Franz Schmidt – The Symphonies
in December 2023, came the release of Jonathan Berman’s debut recording of Franz Schmidt – The Symphonies with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for the Leipzig based record label Accentus.
This has been universally praised and is, arguably, the best cycle of these Symphonies available on disc, all credit to Jonathan Berman for his deep understanding of the music and his technical skills on the podium, his exuberant & enthusiastic musicianship, and his passion for the music.
From the extensive interview in the cd booklet with MDR’s Martin Hoffmeister, Jonathan concludes :
“My great friend and mentor, Oliver Knussen, once said to me after we had been listening to Bernstein’s Schumann Symphonies recordings that these performances really made it sound like the music was being composed as it went along. I still to this day find this such an important idea, and I have tried above all else to create performances of these symphonies by Franz Schmidt which sound and feel as though the music is creating itself note by note, bar by bar.“
Beyond the score
Alexander Goehr, Composing a Life
Alexander Goehr, Composing a Life
Teachers, Mentors, and Models
Alexander ‘Sandy’ Goehr and Jack Van Zandt
Foreword by Sally Groves
In the late 1950s and early ’60s Alexander Goehr became known as a radical exponent of serial music. Since then, he has composed more than one hundred major works, including operas, orchestral and chamber pieces, and music for film, television, dance and theatre. He is Emeritus Professor of Music at Cambridge University and one of Europe’s most important music educators. He has written and lectured extensively and his music is performed all over the world.
Jack Van Zandt (b. 1954), an American composer and Goehr’s former pupil and assistant, has co-written this first comprehensive account of the life, creative foundations, and teachings of this great composer.
“… a fascinating study of musical transmission… a serious dialogue about musical influence, that mystery driving even a creative radical such as Goehr. Read this book if you care at all about how culture is transmitted and transformed.”
Fiona Sampson, The Spectator
Published by Carcanet Press
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