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Colin Matthews

Composer

His work has its own dynamic originality.

— Geoffrey Norris, The Daily Telegraph
  • 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

Sonata No.5 ‘Landscape’, Cello Concerto No.1, Hidden Variables, Memorial, Quatrain, Machines and Dreams

Colin Matthews: Cello Concerto and others

Performers: London Sinfonietta, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra; Alexander Baillie (cello); John Carewe (conductor), Michael Tilson Thomas (conductor)

This 2-disc Ancora reissue brings together Alexander Baillie’s impassioned recording of Matthews’ Cello Concerto No.1, the expansive Landscape, and four works commissioned by the LSO – including the riotous Machines and Dreams, an updated ‘toy symphony’ which includes bird calls, football rattles and video-game sound effects.

Recordings originally released on Collins Classics and Unicorn-Kanchana.

Reissued with funding from Arts Council England.

More about this recording

Gallery

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

  • 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)
  • Colin Matthews sitting at his desk
    Colin Matthews at his desk, photographed by Fiona Garden
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • CM in conversation with Sally Groves & Hans Werner Henze
    CM, Sally Groves, Hans Werner Henze - 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)

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

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Latest News & Views

Group of performers posing for a photo together in front of the piano, with Colin Matthews and William Boyd

A Visit to Friends

27 March, 2022

CD cover of Beethoven for Three, Symphonies Nos.2 and 5 - image of Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos and Yo-Yo Ma

Beethoven for Three

1 March, 2022

Line up of the panufnik composers with Colin Matthews. One composer is on a video screen, the rest are there in person.

Latest Panufnik Composers

15 February, 2022

Upcoming Performances

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Useful Links

Faber Music
NMC Recordings
The Holst Foundation

© 2022 Colin Matthews · Website by Bookswarm

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