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Alexander Levine (
Russian Russian(s) refers to anything related to Russia, including: *Russians (, ''russkiye''), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *Rossiyane (), Russian language term for all citizens and peo ...
: Александр Левин; born 17 November 1955), is a Russian-born British composer. He writes choral, chamber and orchestral music, publishing through
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
.


Background

Alexander Levine was born in
Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...
in 1955. As a child he attended the
Gnessin State Musical College The Gnessin State Musical College (russian: link=no, Государственный музыкальный колледж имени Гнесиных) and Gnesins Russian Academy of Music (russian: Российская академия музык ...
(Gnessin School of Music) and then studied at the Gnessin Academy (1976-1980). In 1992 he relocated to the U.K. where he lives and works at present. After winning the Wingate Foundation scholarship he studied on the Advanced Postgraduate Composition Course at the
Guildhall School of Music and Drama The Guildhall School of Music and Drama is a conservatoire and drama school located in the City of London, United Kingdom. Established in 1880, the school offers undergraduate and postgraduate training in all aspects of classical music and jazz ...
( Master of Music in Composition, 1995). He started his UK career working on a number of theatre projects. In 1994 he received a commission to write music for a theatre production of “War and Peace” staged at the GSMD (Director Peter Clough). The music was performed live by symphony orchestra.
The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...
observed in its review: "It is not often you go to the theatre and get an orchestra thrown in: not providing cues for numbers but underscoring dialogue with a grand swell, like a soundtrack for the big screen" (
Kate Bassett Kate Bassett (born 11 February 1967) is a British journalist who writes for ''The Times'' newspaper as a theatre critic. She was educated at the Hertfordshire and Essex High School, won a Bernard Sunley Scholarship to Westminster School in Lond ...
,
The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...
, October 29, 1994) Other theatre works of that period: “The Beggar's Opera” and “Love's Labour's Lost” (Director
Di Trevis Diane "Di" Trevis (born 8 November 1947) is an English theatre director and actress. Early life and education Trevis was born in Birmingham and educated at Sussex University. Career After eight years as an actress, which included appearances in ...
) Further collaborations include various artists from a wide range of genres:
Maria Friedman Maria Friedman ( Freedman; born 19 March 1960) is a British actress and director of stage and screen, best known for her work in musical theatre. She is an eight-time Olivier Award nominee, winning three. Her first win was for her 1994 one-w ...
, Christian Forshaw, Stanzeleit/Jacobson Duo, Darragh Morgan, Mary Dullea, Fidelio Trio, Konstantin Boyarsky, Andrew McNeill, Bozidar Vukovic, Tippett Quartet,
Orlando Consort The Orlando Consort is a British vocal consort which is best known for performing Renaissance choral music one voice to a part. The Consort was founded in 1988 as part of the activities of the Early Music Network of Great Britain, a forerunner of th ...
,
BBC Singers The BBC Singers are a British chamber choir, and the professional chamber choir of the BBC. One of the six BBC Performing Groups, the BBC Singers are based at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios in London. The only full-time professional British ...
, 21st Century Choir,
Tenebrae Tenebrae (—Latin for "darkness") is a religious service of Western Christianity held during the three days preceding Easter Day, and characterized by gradual extinguishing of candles, and by a "strepitus" or "loud noise" taking place in total ...
, Mariinsky Opera Choir, Russia State Orchestra “Novaia Rossia”,
Bel Canto Chorus The Bel Canto Chorus is a Milwaukee-area community chorus, and one of the oldest musical organizations in Wisconsin. History The choir was first founded in 1931 as the Festival Singers of Milwaukee. The group first consisted of four women and fou ...
,
Voces8 Voces8, styled VOCES8, is an a cappella octet from England. They have appeared internationally and made recordings of classical music, jazz, pop, and their own arrangements. Recent recordings are for Decca Classics and under their own label, Voc ...
, Paul Phoenix & Apollo5.


Selected works from Edition Peters catalogue

Prayers for Mankind. A Symphony of Prayers of Father Alexander Men’ * US Premiere: October 12, 2012, Milwaukee,
Bel Canto Chorus The Bel Canto Chorus is a Milwaukee-area community chorus, and one of the oldest musical organizations in Wisconsin. History The choir was first founded in 1931 as the Festival Singers of Milwaukee. The group first consisted of four women and fou ...
, director Richard Hynson * Recording:
Tenebrae Tenebrae (—Latin for "darkness") is a religious service of Western Christianity held during the three days preceding Easter Day, and characterized by gradual extinguishing of candles, and by a "strepitus" or "loud noise" taking place in total ...
, director
Nigel Short Nigel David Short (born 1 June 1965) is an English chess grandmaster, columnist, coach, and commentator, who is the vice-president of FIDE since October 2018. Short earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 19, and was ranked third in the ...
,
Signum Records Signum Records, also known as Signum Classics, is a classical musical record label in the UK founded in 1997. The label began with a project to make the first recording of the complete works of Thomas Tallis. The artists for the Tallis recordin ...
. London, 2010. * Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom * World Premiere: St. Petersburg, 2009, Mariinsky Opera Choir, conductor Andrey Petrenko. * UK premiere: March 7, 2013, London.
Tenebrae Tenebrae (—Latin for "darkness") is a religious service of Western Christianity held during the three days preceding Easter Day, and characterized by gradual extinguishing of candles, and by a "strepitus" or "loud noise" taking place in total ...
Choir, director
Nigel Short Nigel David Short (born 1 June 1965) is an English chess grandmaster, columnist, coach, and commentator, who is the vice-president of FIDE since October 2018. Short earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 19, and was ranked third in the ...
. * Australian Premiere: Aug. 2014, St George's Cathedral, Perth, St George's Cathedral Consort, Director Joseph Nolan (organist) * Recording: Tenebrae Choir, director
Nigel Short Nigel David Short (born 1 June 1965) is an English chess grandmaster, columnist, coach, and commentator, who is the vice-president of FIDE since October 2018. Short earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 19, and was ranked third in the ...
,
Signum Records Signum Records, also known as Signum Classics, is a classical musical record label in the UK founded in 1997. The label began with a project to make the first recording of the complete works of Thomas Tallis. The artists for the Tallis recordin ...
, London, 2013. * Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
Canti Augustini * World Premiere: December 21, 2013, St. Petersburg,
Mariinsky Theatre The Mariinsky Theatre ( rus, Мариинский театр, Mariinskiy teatr, also transcribed as Maryinsky or Mariyinsky) is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music th ...
by
Voces8 Voces8, styled VOCES8, is an a cappella octet from England. They have appeared internationally and made recordings of classical music, jazz, pop, and their own arrangements. Recent recordings are for Decca Classics and under their own label, Voc ...
* Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
Oh, You Wide Steppe * Recording: Paul Phoenix & Apollo5, Edition Peters Sounds * Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
Natasha's Waltz * Recording: State Symphony Orchestra “Novaya Rossiya”, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor
Yuri Bashmet Yuri Abramovich Bashmet (russian: link=no, Юрий Абрамович Башмет; born 24 January 1953) is a Russian conductor, violinist, and violist. Biography Yuri Bashmet was born on 24 January 1953 in Rostov-on-Don in the family of A ...
. * Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
The True Light * Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
Thy Will Be Done * World Premiere: 2014, by Suzi Digby and the Voce Chamber Choir * Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
Tibi Solus * Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
I Am All Along on the Road * Commissioned by the King’s Singers,  UK premiere May 6, 2019,
Wigmore Hall Wigmore Hall is a concert hall located at 36 Wigmore Street, London. Originally called Bechstein Hall, it specialises in performances of chamber music, early music, vocal music and song recitals. It is widely regarded as one of the world's leadi ...
* Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...
Our Father (Thy Will Be Done) * Commissioned by VOCES 8, World Premiere February 8, 2020, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Moscow. * Publisher:
Edition Peters Edition Peters is a classical music publisher founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1800. History The company came into being on 1 December 1800 when the Viennese composer Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754–1812) and the local organist Ambrosius Kühnel ...


Discography

''Oh,You Wide Steppe'', arr. Paul Phoenix & Apollo5, "Journey", Edition Peters Sounds, 2015, EPS002 ''The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom'' Tenebrae, conductor Nigel Short, Signum Classics, 2013, SIGCD316 ''Prayers for Mankind (A Symphony of Prayers)'' Tenebrae, conductor Nigel Short, Signum Classics, 2010, SIGCD212 ''Kolokolá'' The BBC Singers, cond. James Morgan, Albany Records, 2005, TROY 736 ''Faces (prelude & fugue for saxophone quartet)'' Quartz Saxophone Quartet, Black Box, 2000, BBM1024


References


External links

*
Alexander Levine on Edition Peters

Alexander Levine on Hyperion

Alexander Levine: "Prayers for Mankind"

A. Levine: "Prayers for Mankind" on Gramophone

Alexander Levine: The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

A. Levine: “The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom” on Gramophone
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levine, Alexander 1955 births Living people Russian male classical composers British male classical composers British classical composers 21st-century classical composers Russian Orthodox Christians from Russia 21st-century British male musicians