David Coleman

Conductor, Composer, Musician

Biography

David Coleman conducts worldwide on the concert platform and in the theatre. He has appeared with nearly all of the major British orchestras and around the world with leading opera house and concert orchestras. He performs in an extensive repertoire of opera, symphonic, chamber and choral concerts and in classical and modern ballet productions. He passionately promotes new music, winning prestigious awards for innovative programming and performance. His recorded work reflects this range. He regularly appears on radio and television discussing music, dance and their performance.

Having begun his career as repetiteur and conductor at the London Opera Centre, David Coleman went on to conduct opera galas and concerts in the major British venues and to appear in international music festivals. His appointment as Principal Guest Conductor of London Festival Ballet (now the English National Ballet) marked the beginning of his great appreciation of this art form, in which his work is so celebrated.

Rudolf Nureyev appointed David Coleman as Musical Director of his own company Rudolf Nureyev and Friends. They had a long and close association and he is a renowned exponent of Nureyev’s productions. He travelled widely with him, conducted most of the London Nureyev Festivals, premiered several of his major choreographies and recorded the music for several Nureyev films.

From these engagements and subsequently at the Opera de Paris, where he worked with a number of celebrated artists from this period, David Coleman gained extensive experience in the performance of the entire canon of the Ballet Russes.

Among the many principal European Houses he works with, there have been special associations with Opera de ParisDeutsche Oper BerlinOpera National de BordeauxTheatre du Capitole ToulouseTeatro San Carlo Napoli and Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. In particular , there is a very close relation over many years with Semperoper Dresden and La Scala Milan.

In recent years he toured extensively in China, the Far East, the Middle East and Australia. It was on tour to Kuwait with La Scala in January 2020, that David Coleman enjoyed his first collaboration with the orchestra of the Hungarian State Opera. He is now a regular guest conductor at Budapest and is composing and recording with them.

Maestro Coleman’s musical life continues as composer and he writes for the concert platform, theatre and TV.

Major works in the Ballet repertoire include:

Paris Opera Paquita (2000) : new score created from Delvedez original writings.

Semperoper Dresden Sleeping Beauty (2007)

Giselle – David Dawson (2008) : arranged and re-orchestrated after Adam

La Bayadere (2008) : after Minkus with new writing.

Swan Lake (2009) : after Tchaikovsky

Theatre du Capitole Toulouse La Sylphide (2011) : arranged and re-written

Le Corsaire (2013) : reconstruction.

The French publisher BMB Paris (Marios Bois Editions) holds a catalogue of a number of David Coleman’s works.

In addition he has a collection of solo and ensemble dance pieces and also works for solo instruments, chamber ensembles and orchestra, for concert performance.

 
Most recently he completed two string quartets – the first of these, Giorno e Notte, premiered in Switzerland August 2020 and recorded in 2022 by Accademia Quartet alla Scala – a piano trio and A Fantasy for Solo Viola – Flowers, was premiered in Budapest in March and recorded in Autumn 2022. A violin solo was commissioned by the International Prosecco Violin Competition in Vittoria Veneto Italy, October 2021.
 
Kaleidoscope was composed for and dedicated to the Brass Ensemble of the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra and was recorded in 2023. A video of this recording will be released shortly. Dancing Percussion – A Suite for Percussion Ensemble, will receive its premiere in June.

Upcoming performances

GOLDEN AGE: ENGLISH ELEGANCE - A Symphonic Concert

Conductor: David Coleman

PROGRAMME:

(Translated from Hungarian)
The English 100 thematic season of the Hungarian State Opera is strengthened by two thematic concerts, the earlier one, Télvíz, is the English bouquet, which looks at three centuries of England.

Britten’s tribute immediately before Purcell creates the bridge that can span over a really relatively uneventful two hundred and fifty years in British music. Edward Elgar‘s Cello Concerto is a late work and was created during Benjamin Britten’s lifetime.

Gustav Holst‘s orchestral suite entitled Planets was created around the time of Britten’s birth, but like Elgar’s concerto, it also has its roots in the 19th century.

The soloist of the latter is the multiple competition-winning Colombian horn player, Santiago Cañón-Valencia, who is praised by international critics for his flawless technique and perfect interpretation of the composer’s intention.

The three iconic British pieces are conducted by English conductor David Coleman, who is also a well-recognized conductor in OPERA’s ballet ensemble and orchestra following his productions in recent years.


B. Britten: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Henry Purcell
E. Elgar: Cello Concerto
G. Holst: The Planets

Featuring: Santiago Cañón-Valencia (cello) and the Orchestra and Choir of the Hungarian State Opera

Conductor: David Coleman

2nd February 2025 - Sunday 7pm
GOLDEN AGE: ENGLISH ELEGANCE
Benjamin Britten / Edward Elgar / Gustav Holst
Conductor: David Coleman
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Recently Completed Performances

COPPELIA

Conductor: David Coleman

E. T. A.Hoffmann is widely associated with The Nutcracker while fewer know that the story of Coppelia is based on his short story, The Sandman (Der Sandmann). The author, known to be a polymath himself, also designed various machines and automatons, and he was perfectly aware how easy it is to fall in love with your own creation. A ballet version of Coppelia was first premiered in Hungary in 1877, later it was adapted by Gyula Harangozó, in 1953. More than seventy years afterwards, on the fiftieth anniversary of the choreographer’s death, the production returns to the Hungarian National Ballet’s repertoire to prove that classical ballet, pantomime, and magic tricks can co-exist just as perfectly as Léo Delibes’ late romantic music and the Hungarian czardas.

10th October 2024 - Thursday 6pm
COPPELIA
Gyula Harangozó / Léo Delibes
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
12th October 2024 - Saturday 11am
COPPELIA
Gyula Harangozó / Léo Delibes
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
12th October 2024 - Saturday 6pm
COPPELIA
Gyula Harangozó / Léo Delibes
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
13th October 2024 - Sunday 11am
COPPELIA
Gyula Harangozó / Léo Delibes
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
18th October 2024 - Friday 6.30pm
COPPELIA
Gyula Harangozó / Léo Delibes
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
20th October 2024 - Sunday 11am
COPPELIA
Gyula Harangozó / Léo Delibes
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
28th June 2024
DANCING PERCUSSION - ORIGINAL COMPOSITION PREMIERE

Composer: David Coleman

Performed By: Percussion Ensemble of the Hungarian State Opera orchestra, to whom this work is dedicated.

Photo Credit: Valter Berecz

Dancing Percussion is an extravaganza for percussion ensemble created by conductor composer David Coleman.

Seven elite percussionists will be on stage with an eclectic array of well known and more unusual instruments.

The snare drum leads out and is quickly joined by bass and tenor drums, the majestic congas, and diminutive bongos.  Glockenspiel and Xylophone dance with big brother Vibraphone which is played with beaters and also exotically with the bow of the double bass.

Hear the contributions from the triangle, tubular bells, Indian bells and wind chimes, maracas , castanets, temple blocks, even a whistle stars and of course the cymbals, all reaching a glorious climax with a jazzer’s full drum kit.

Dancing Percussion is a composition in five movements :

Procession – From quiet taps on the snare drum, the big drums gradually join the procession.

Bells – An ethereal soundscape.

Rumba – A full-blooded dance with the spotlight on Vibraphone and Xylophone.

Scherzo – A playful skittish fast moving ’joke’.

Uneven Dance – In 5 time, both composed and improvised. The driving jazz rhythms from the drum kit and finally the full ensemble piling in to make a joyous conclusion.

Dancing Percussion has its first performance and recording on stage at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest on Friday 28th June 2024 performed by The Percussion Ensemble of the Hungarian State Opera orchestra, to whom this work is dedicated.

Currently it is also in rehearsal at the Accademia of La Scala in Milan.

28th June 2024
PERFORMANCE OF FLOWERS AT INVITATION ONLY EVENT IN BUDAPEST

Composer: David Coleman

Performed By: Veronika Botos

Photo Credit: Boglárka Nagy

In addition to the premier and recording of Dancing Percussion at the Hungarian State Opera today, Maestro Coleman’s viola fantasy Flowers will be played at an invitation only concert in Budapest, by the artist to whom it is dedicated, Veronika Botos.

18th May 2024 - Saturday 8pm
La Scala Academy's Ballet School Evening
Conductor: David Coleman
Students of the Teatro alla Scala Academy's Ballet School
Teatro alla Scala Academy's Orchestra

Once again this year the young Ballet School students become acquainted with the great masters of the classical, modern and contemporary repertoires. To these aspiring young artists, dancing at the Teatro alla Scala means something more than simply putting their technical and interpretive skills to the test: it means having an educational and professional experience of the highest level on a much dreamed-of stage.

SOLD OUT
Gala Fracci - Teatro Alla Scala, Milan, Italy
19th April 2024 - Friday 8pm
BALLETTO GALA PER CARLA FRACCI

Conductor: David Coleman

The tribute by La Scala and its artists to Carla Fracci, who was and remains a cardinal figure in the history of dance, continues in the 2023-2024 Season. Hers is a story of talent, perseverance, and work that has inspired and continues to inspire generations of young people, and not only in the world of ballet.

To honour this legendary étoile, the Ballet Director Manuel Legris has instituted a seasonal gala to celebrate international dance and ballet in her name, and to look beyond the milestones in the repertoire to new and contemporary creativity.

SOLD OUT
11th January 2024 - Thursday 6pm
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
REHEARSAL
12th January 2024 - Friday 7pm
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
13th January 2024 - Saturday 11am
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
13th January 2024 - Saturday 7pm
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
16th January 2024 - Tuesday 7pm
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
17th January 2024 - Wednesday 4pm - 6pm
Flowers - A Fantasy for Solo Viola
Composer: David Coleman

A performance of the piece "Flowers", composed by David Coleman. This work was dedicated to Violist Veronika Botos, who will be performing the piece.

4-6 pm for the guided tour.
Finishing session to be held in the Kodály hall, where you can see the exhibition of painter Imre Szakács Led by art philosopher Endre Sipos.

Contributor: Violist Veronika Botos

Address:
Hungarian Scientic Academy
Budapest 1051
Széchenyi tér 9.
“Kodály”-room

This free event requires registration. We will accept your application until January 12, 2024

You can also register your participation at [email protected]

Szilvia Bíró
ACADEMIC CLUB ASSOCIATION
1051 Budapest, Nádor utca 7.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (+36-30) 861 0341
EVENT COMPLETE
17th January 2024 - Wednesday 7pm
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
18th January 2024 - Thursday 7pm
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
19th January 2024 - Friday 7pm
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
20th January 2024 - Saturday 11am
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
21st January 2024 - Sunday 11am
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT
24th January 2024 - Wednesday 7pm
ONEGIN
John Cranko / Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Kurt-Heinz Stolze
Conductor: David Coleman
SOLD OUT

Flowers

A Fantasy for viola

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Composer:

Solo Viola:

Photography:

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Kaleidoscope

A Rhapsody for 14 Brass

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The Academy presents the ADA – ACCADEMIA DIGIT-ART project “A Digital Archive for Culture and School,” which involves the recovery and archiving of the Scala school’s rich multimedia heritage.

Each week on the Academy’s YouTube channel it will be possible to enjoy some unreleased content spanning ballet, symphony, opera.

We are now at the fifth episode: starring the students of the Academy’s Orchestra, who we see perform an unpublished piece by David Coleman, “Giorno e Notte” for string quartet.

View more on the Accademia Teatro all Scala YouTube channel.

The project is co-funded by Fondazione Cariplo.

Published May 2024

Recent releases


Recent Media

January 2024

Hungarian State Opera, (Budapest, Hungary)
Anyegin orchestra rehearsal

“The music and the joint work with the OPERA Orchestra is analysed by David Coleman, the ballet’s world-renowned conductor from the UK, who also talks about how the conducting allows for a unique approach, and in his opinion, the underlining of the work, which is rich in dance and acting, is not just a ballet, but it also evokes the feeling of a concert, all at the same time.” (Translated)


August 2023

33rd International Violin Competition “Città di Vittorio Veneto”, (Vittorio Veneto, Italy)

The Vittorio Veneto Violin Competition “City of Vittorio Veneto” International Prosecco DOC Prize concluded with the final concert at the Lorenzo Da Ponte Theater on Sunday, August 27th.

It was held in the presence of the orchestra formed by “Gli Archi della Scala” and musicians from the RAI Symphony Orchestra, conducted for this special occasion by Maestro David Coleman from London.

The event was attended in person and streamed live on Facebook and Youtube, where it is also possible to rewatch the competition stages.


June 2023

Hungarian State Opera, (Budapest, Hungary)
Custom Composition: Kaleidoscope

“Let’s continue with a world-famous conductor, the Englishman David Coleman, who invited members of the OPERA Orchestra to play a piece written by him.

We show how the recording took place in the Ferenc Fricsay Studio of the Eiffel Workshop, while the maestro and the artists of the orchestra talk about the piece. (Translated


December 2020

Teatro alla Scala, (Milan, Italy)
Le Spectre de la rose.

“A young girl dreams of dancing with the spirit of a souvenir rose from her first ball.

Rudolf Nureyev / Mikhail Fokine / Carl Maria von Weber, Le Spectre de la rose.

Manuel Legris: Ballet master
Orchestra del Teatro Alla Scala
David Coleman: Conductor

Ballet recorded at Teatro alla Scala (Milan, Italy), on December 25, 2020.”


May 2019

Semperoper Dresden, (Dresden, Germany)
Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden
Swan Lake

“World premiere in 1877 in Moscow Created for the Semperoper Ballett in 2009”