Michael Collins
Born (1962-01-27) 27 January 1962
Isleworth, West London, United Kingdom
EducationRoyal College of Music
Occupations
  • Classical clarinetist
  • Conductor
Websitewww.michaelcollinsmusic.com

Michael Collins (born 27 January 1962) is a British clarinetist and conductor. One of the foremost clarinetists of his generation,[1][2][3] he has served as the principal of the Philharmonia Orchestra and London Sinfonietta. Collins has performed widely as a soloist and played on over 35 recordings on several record labels. He has also served as the conductor of several orchestras and was the principal conductor of the City of London Sinfonia from 2010 to 2018.

Early life

Collins was born on 27 January 1962 in Isleworth, West London. He began playing the clarinet aged seven after attending a London Symphony Orchestra performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade suite, which inspired him to take up the instrument.[4][1] He went on to study clarinet at the Royal College of Music as a youth under David Hamilton and Thea King. Collins had previously attempted to learn the cello and violin but did not fit the instruments well.[4] At the age of 16, he won the 1978 BBC Young Musician woodwind prize and performed at the competition's inaugural grand finale.[5][6] Aged 18, he briefly studied at the Juilliard in New York City with Stanley Drucker before deciding to return to studying under King.[7][1] After his return, Collins was invited to join the Nash Ensemble and the London Sinfonietta in 1981.[1][8]

Career

Collins has served as the principal clarinet of several orchestras, including the Philharmonia Orchestra (1987–1995)[8] and London Sinfonietta. He also performs as a soloist and as part of chamber ensembles. Solo performances have included work with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra.[9] He has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Proms, having made his debuts in 1982 and 1984 respectively.[8] Collins has a large repertoire which includes several works by British composers, like Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Britten. He has also commissioned and performed various works by modern composers; pieces premiered by Collins include Adams' Gnarly Buttons, Turnage's Riffs and Refrains, Dean's Ariel's Music and Elliott Carter's Clarinet Concerto.[5][10] Collins plays on Yamaha clarinets[10] and has advised the company on their designs.[11] He has been described as "one of the best clarinettists walking the planet" by The Times[12] and a "virtuoso" by The Sydney Morning Herald.[11] In 2019, he appeared in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Legends series, where he was described as "one of the top clarinettists on the world stage at th[at] moment".[7]

Collins taught at the Royal College of Music from 1985 to 1995.[8] He has served as the principal conductor of the City of London Sinfonia (2010–2018) and has guest conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra,[13] Zurich Chamber Orchestra and London Mozart Players, of which he was the artistic director from 2021 to 2023.[10] Collins is the founder of the London Winds, a chamber ensemble which he toured with around Europe and North America.[5]

Personal life

Collins was once married to Isabelle van Keulen; they had two children.[3] In 2017, Collins underwent a successful surgery to treat bowel cancer.[14] His favourite piece to perform is the Mozart Clarinet Concerto.[14]

Awards and honours

Recordings

Title Other performers Label Year Ref(s)
Bartok: Sonata for unaccompanied violin / Two Rhapsodies / Romanian Folk Dances / Contrasts Krysia Osostowicz, Susan Tomes Hyperion 1993 [18]
Edward German: Merrie England The Williams Singers, and His Orchestra EMI 1995 [19]
Virtuosi: Michael Collins Michael Collins and Kathryn Stott 1997 [20]
Elliott Carter: Symphonia "Sum fluxae pretium spei" / Clarinet Concerto Oliver Knussen and BBC Symphony Orchestra Deutsche Grammophon 1999 [21]
Chamber Music Trios Stephen Hough and Steven Isserlis RCA [22]
Schubert: Octet Collins and friends BBC Music Magazine [23]
Copland: Sextet / Piano Quartet; Vitebsk: 3 String Quartet Pieces Vanbrugh Quartet and Martin Roscoe ASV 2000 [24]
Mozart and Beethoven: Clarinet Concertos Mikhail Pletnev and Russian National Orchestra Deutsche Grammophon [25]
Edward German: Merrie England The Williams Singers, and His Orchestra EMI 2002 [26]
Gregson: Blazon / Violin Concerto / Clarinet Concerto / Stepping Out Martyn Brabbins, Olivier Charlier and Michael Collins Chandos 2003 [27]
Spohr: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 Robin O'Neill and Swedish Chamber Orchestra Hyperion 2005 [28]
Mozart: Serenades London Winds Onyx 2006 [29]
Schubert: Octet / Shepherd on the Rock Collins and friends Wigmore Hall Live 2007 [30]
Herbert Howells: To Chosen Hill... Andrew West and Lyric Quartet Métier [31]
Spohr: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 3 & 4 Robin O'Neill and Swedish Chamber Orchestra Hyperion 2008 [32]
The Virtuoso Clarinet Piers Lane Chandos 2010 [2][33]
The Lyrical Clarinet Michael McHale 2011 [34]
Weber: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Clarinet Concertino / Horn Concertino Stephen Stirling and City of London Sinfonia 2012 [35]
British Clarinet Sonatas, Vol. 1 Michael McHale [36]
British Clarinet Concertos, Vol. 1 BBC Symphony Orchestra [37]
Mozart, Copland, Kats-Chernin: Works for Clarinet and Orchestra Swedish Chamber Orchestra 2013 [38]
British Clarinet Sonatas, Vol. 2 Michael McHale [39]
The Virtuoso Clarinet, Vol. 2 2014 [40]
Brahms: Clarinet Trio / Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2 Ian Brown and Paul Watkins [41]
Brahms, Reinecke: Clarinet Sonatas Michael McHale 2015 [42]
British Clarinet Concertos, Vol. 2 BBC Symphony Orchestra 2016 [43]
The Lyrical Clarinet, Vol. 2 Michael McHale [44]
Hana wa Saku (Flowers will Bloom) Charlotte de Rothschild and City of London Sinfonia Nimbus [45]
Reger: Clarinet Sonatas Michael McHale Chandos 2017 [46]
Piccolo Concerto Grosso: Matthias Mueller, Wolfgang Amadé Mozart Matthias Müller and Zurich Chamber Orchestra Neos [47]
Crusell: The Three Clarinet Concertos / Introduction et air suédois Swedish Chamber Orchestra Chandos 2018 [48]
Richard Strauss: Burleske / Romanze / Duett-Concertino / Violin Concerto Tasmin Little, Michael McHale and Julie Price 2019 [49]
The Lyrical Clarinet, Vol. 3 Michael McHale 2020 [50]
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5; Finzi: Clarinet Concerto Philharmonia Orchestra BIS [51]
La Clarinette Parisienne Noriko Ogawa 2021 [52]
Brahms: 3 Sonatas Stephen Hough [53]
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto / Quintet; Birchall: Concerto Robin O'Neill, Philharmonia Orchestra and Wigmore Soloists 2022 [3][54]
Clarinet Trios: Mozart, Schumann, Bruch, Stravinsky Isabelle van Keulen and Michael McHale [55]
Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 / Philharmonic Concerto / Divertimento No. 2 / Etc. Rumon Gamba and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra Chandos 2023 [56]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Pullinger, Mark (15 May 2018). "Mozart, Finzi and fine wine: Michael Collins on a passion for the clarinet". Bachtrack. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  2. 1 2 Kaplan, Richard A. (1 March 2011). "The Virtuoso Clarinet". Fanfare. 34 (4): 507.
  3. 1 2 3 Dubins, Jerry (1 September 2022). "Seeking Synergy—An Interview With Michael Collins". Fanfare. 46 (1): 51–64.
  4. 1 2 "Meet Michael Collins". Philharmonia Orchestra. 6 December 2022. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Cummings, Robert. "Michael Collins". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Winners of BBC Young Musician". BBC Music Magazine. 1 April 2021. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Legends: Michael Collins". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 April 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Weston, Pamela (2001). "Collins, Michael". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.43975. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
  9. ↑ "Michael Collins". Yamaha Corporation. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Michael Collins". Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Archived from the original on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  11. 1 2 Zwartz, Barney (16 September 2013). "Concerto a fine blow for clarinet virtuoso". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Brown, Geoff (1 February 2011). "Michael Collins at the Wigmore Hall". The Times. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ↑ Thow, Penny (27 September 2012). "King of the clarinet". The Mercury.
  14. 1 2 Paget, Clive (September 2017). "Michael Collins". Limelight: 28–29.
  15. ↑ "Nominations In Classical Music Announced For 43rd Grammys". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 3. 20 January 2001.
  16. ↑ "Classical music recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours". Gramophone. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Favourite Classical Instrumental Albums". AllMusic. 2020. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "Bartok: Sonata for unaccompanied violin; Two Rhapsodies; etc". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Edward German: Merrie England". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Virtuosi: Michael Collins". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  21. ↑ "Elliott Carter: Symphonia "Sum fluxae pretium spei"; Clarinet Concerto". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "Chamber Music Trios". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Schubert: Octet". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  24. ↑ "Copland: Sextet; Piano Quartet; Vitebsk; 3 String Quartet Pieces". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  25. ↑ "Mozart and Beethoven: Clarinet Concertos". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  26. ↑ "Edward German: Merrie England". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "Gregson: Blazon; Violin Concerto; Clarinet Concerto; Stepping Out". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  28. ↑ "Spohr: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 & 2". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  29. ↑ "Mozart: Serenades". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  30. ↑ "Schubert: Octet; Shepherd on the Rock". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "Herbert Howells: To Chosen Hill..." AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  32. ↑ "Spohr: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 3 & 4". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  33. ↑ "The Virtuoso Clarinet". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  34. ↑ "The Lyrical Clarinet". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  35. ↑ "Weber: Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 & 2; Clarinet Concertino; Horn Concertino". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  36. ↑ "British Clarinet Sonatas, Vol. 1". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  37. ↑ "British Clarinet Concertos: Stanford, Finzi, Arnold". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  38. ↑ "Mozart, Copland, Kats-Chernin: Works for Clarinet and Orchestra". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  39. ↑ "British Clarinet Sonatas, Vol. 2: Benjamin, Cooke, Arnold, Horovitz, Gregson". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  40. ↑ "The Virtuoso Clarinet, Vol. 2". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  41. ↑ "Brahms: Clarinet Trio; Cello Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  42. ↑ "Brahms, Reinecke: Clarinet Sonatas". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  43. ↑ "British Clarinet Concertos, Vol. 2: Britten, Mathias, Finzi, Cooke". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  44. ↑ "The Lyrical Clarinet, Vol. 2". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  45. ↑ "Hana wa Saku (Flowers will Bloom)". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  46. ↑ "Reger: Clarinet Sonatas". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  47. ↑ "Piccolo Concerto Grosso: Matthias Mueller, Wolfgang Amadé Mozart". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  48. ↑ "Crusell: The Three Clarinet Concertos; Introduction et air suédois". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  49. ↑ "Richard Strauss: Burleske; Romanze; Duett-Concertino; Violin Concerto". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  50. ↑ "The Lyrical Clarinet, Vol. 3". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  51. ↑ "Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5; Finzi: Clarinet Concerto". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  52. ↑ "La Clarinette Parisienne". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  53. ↑ "Brahms: 3 Sonatas". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  54. ↑ "Mozart: Clarinet Concerto & Quintet; Birchall: Concerto". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  55. ↑ "Clarinet Trios: Mozart, Schumann, Bruch, Stravinsky". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  56. ↑ "Arnold: Clarinet Concerto No. 1; Philharmonic Concerto; Divertimento No. 2; Etc". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
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