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Colin Matthews

Composer

Matthews invests much of his music with enormous energy and momentum …

— Stephen Pettitt, artspages.com
  • Colin Matthews, photographed by Fiona Garden
    Colin Matthews, photographed by Fiona Garden
  • Colin Matthews, photographed by Fiona Garden
    Colin Matthews, photographed by Fiona Garden
  • Colin Matthews, photographed by Fiona Garden
    Colin Matthews, photographed by Fiona Garden

COLIN MATTHEWS was born in London in 1946. He studied with Arnold Whittall and Nicholas Maw; in the 1970s he was assistant to Benjamin Britten, and worked for many years with Imogen Holst. His collaboration with Deryck Cooke on the performing version of Mahler’s Tenth Symphony lasted from 1963 until its publication in 1975. Over four decades his music has ranged from solo piano music through five string quartets and many ensemble and orchestral works. He was Associate Composer with the London Symphony Orchestra between 1992 and 1999, and Composer-in-Association with the Hallé from 2001-10, now their Composer Emeritus.

Read complete biography about Biography

Featured Recording

The Great Journey, Night’s Mask, Fuga

CD cover for the great journey, nights mask, fuga

Performers: The Nash Ensemble; David Wilson-Johnson (Baritone), Patrizia Kwella (Soprano); Lionel Friend (conductor)

Colin Matthews’ The Great Journey, a forceful and panoramic narrative of a 16th-century Spanish expedition to America, is complemented by the scherzo Fuga and Night’s Mask, a darkly atmospheric setting of Fernando Pessoa’s brooding sonnet.

More about this recording

Gallery

A selection of images spanning Colin Matthews’ career in music.

  • Colin Matthews sitting at his desk
    Colin Matthews at his desk, photographed by Fiona Garden
  • Lukas Foss & CM sittign on the stage at Snape Maltings during a break in rehearsal
    Lukas Foss & CM - Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh Festival (Photo: Nigel Luckhurst; copyright Britten-Pears Foundation)
  • Aldeburgh Festival (Photo: Nigel Luckhurst; copyright Britten-Pears Foundation)
    Donald Mitchell, Paul Daniel, Colin Matthews, Michael Berkeley, Aldeburgh Festival (Photo: Nigel Luckhurst; copyright Britten-Pears Foundation)
  • CM in conversation with Sally Groves & Hans Werner Henze
    CM, Sally Groves, Hans Werner Henze - Aldeburgh Festival (Photo: Nigel Luckhurst; copyright Britten-Pears Foundation)
  • CM, Janet Baker, Benjamin Britten, Rita Thomson in conversation while looking at a music score together
    CM, Janet Baker, Benjamin Britten, Rita Thomson - Aldeburgh Festival 1976 (Photo: Nigel Luckhurst; copyright Britten-Pears Foundation)
  • Group photo standing outside Snape Maltings concert hall
    Robin Holloway, CM, Oliver Knussen, Toru Takemitsu, Howard Skempton - Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh Festival (Photo: Nigel Luckhurst; copyright Britten-Pears Foundation)
  • Elliott Carter & CM in conversation in Snape Maltings concert hall
    Elliott Carter & CM - Aldeburgh Festival (Photo: Nigel Luckhurst; copyright Britten-Pears Foundation)

Colin Matthews sitting at his deskLukas Foss & CM sittign on the stage at Snape Maltings during a break in rehearsalAldeburgh Festival (Photo: Nigel Luckhurst; copyright Britten-Pears Foundation)CM in conversation with Sally Groves & Hans Werner HenzeCM, Janet Baker, Benjamin Britten, Rita Thomson in conversation while looking at a music score togetherGroup photo standing outside Snape Maltings concert hallElliott Carter & CM in conversation in Snape Maltings concert hall

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Latest News & Views

An ensemble of 6 (socially distanced) musicans plus conductor performing together; this is a screenshot on zoom and you can see Colin Matthews dialling in top left.

Recording the Panufnik composers

30 January, 2021

Nottingham University Challenge team - Roy, Hopkins, Wood, Matthews

Christmas University Challenge

19 December, 2020

Gurrelieder poster for first perfomance in 1913

Gurrelieder

7 April, 2020

Upcoming Performances

Click on the date and title of the performance to view venue and booking details in a new window.

27 April, 2021 - Seascapes (World Premiere)
Nash Ensemble
Wigmore Hall, London

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Useful Links

Faber Music
NMC Recordings
The Holst Foundation

© 2021 Colin Matthews · Website by Bookswarm

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