Russell Keable
Encyclopedia
Russell Keable is a British educator, composer and conductor. Keable studied conducting at the Royal College of Music
with Norman Del Mar
and later with George Hurst
. Since 1983, he has been the principal conductor of London’s Kensington Symphony Orchestra
, since 2004, the principal conductor of the City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra and since 2006, the principal conductor of the University of Surrey’s University Symphony Orchestra and Choir. Since 2006, Keable has taught conducting at the University of Surrey
.
Keable is a champion of rarely heard 20th Century works. A supporter of music of Erich Korngold, he gave the British premiere of Die tote Stadt
in a concert performance. His research in LA led to the first live performance of Korngold's film score The Sea Hawk
. He is a noted advocate for British composers. With the Kensington Symphony Orchestra, he has led first performances of works by many British composers, including Maxwell Davies, John Woolrich
, Robin Holloway
, David Matthews
and John McCabe
. He has also made recordings of two symphonies by Robert Simpson
. His 2004 performance of the premiere of Errollyn Wallen
’s Spirit Symphony won the British Composers award in the BBC Radio 3 Listeners’ category in 2005.
Keable has written works for many British ensembles. His opera, Burning Waters, was commissioned by the Buxton Festival and premiered in 2000.
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
with Norman Del Mar
Norman Del Mar
Norman Del Mar CBE was a British conductor, horn player, and biographer. As a conductor, he specialized in the music of late romantic composers; including Edward Elgar, Gustav Mahler, and Richard Strauss. He left a great legacy of recordings of British music, in particular Elgar, Vaughan Williams,...
and later with George Hurst
George Hurst
George Hurst is a British conductor.-Biography:Born in Edinburgh in 1926, Hurst studied at Bishops College School in Lennoxville, Quebec and the Royal Conservatory in Toronto Canada....
. Since 1983, he has been the principal conductor of London’s Kensington Symphony Orchestra
Kensington Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1956, London's Kensington Symphony Orchestra is one of the best known non-professional orchestras in Britain. It regularly attracts the best non-professional players from around London for its concerts at St John's, Smith Square and other venues in London...
, since 2004, the principal conductor of the City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra and since 2006, the principal conductor of the University of Surrey’s University Symphony Orchestra and Choir. Since 2006, Keable has taught conducting at the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
.
Keable is a champion of rarely heard 20th Century works. A supporter of music of Erich Korngold, he gave the British premiere of Die tote Stadt
Die tote Stadt
Die tote Stadt is an opera in three acts by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The libretto is by the composer and Paul Schott , and is based on Bruges-la-Morte, a short novel by Georges Rodenbach.-Performance history:When Die tote Stadt had its premiere on December 4, 1920, Korngold was just 23...
in a concert performance. His research in LA led to the first live performance of Korngold's film score The Sea Hawk
The Sea Hawk
The Sea Hawk is a novel by Rafael Sabatini, originally published in 1915. The story is set over the years 1588–1593, and concerns a retired Cornish sea-faring gentleman, Sir Oliver Tressilian, who is villainously betrayed by a jealous half-brother. After being forced to serve as a slave on a ...
. He is a noted advocate for British composers. With the Kensington Symphony Orchestra, he has led first performances of works by many British composers, including Maxwell Davies, John Woolrich
John Woolrich
John Woolrich is a British composer. He was BBC Radio 3 'Composer of the Week' in March 2008, involving the broadcast of over 4 hours of his music in one week.-External links:**...
, Robin Holloway
Robin Holloway
Robin Greville Holloway is an English composer.-Early life:From 1952 to 1957, he was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral...
, David Matthews
David Matthews (composer)
David Matthews is an English composer of mainly orchestral, chamber, vocal and piano works.- Life :He was born in London into a family that was 'not especially' musical; the desire to compose did not manifest itself until he was sixteen, and for a time he and his younger brother Colin Matthews,...
and John McCabe
John McCabe (composer)
John McCabe CBE is an English composer and pianist.- Biography :John McCabe was born in Huyton, Liverpool, Merseyside. A prolific composer from an early age, he had written thirteen symphonies by the time he was eleven...
. He has also made recordings of two symphonies by Robert Simpson
Robert Simpson (composer)
Robert Simpson was an English composer and long-serving BBC producer and broadcaster.He is best known for his orchestral and chamber music , and for his writings on the music of Beethoven, Bruckner, Nielsen and Sibelius. He studied composition under Herbert Howells...
. His 2004 performance of the premiere of Errollyn Wallen
Errollyn Wallen
Errollyn Wallen is a Belize born, British composer. She was the first black woman to have a work performed at The Proms She studied composition at Goldsmith's College and at Kings College, London University...
’s Spirit Symphony won the British Composers award in the BBC Radio 3 Listeners’ category in 2005.
Keable has written works for many British ensembles. His opera, Burning Waters, was commissioned by the Buxton Festival and premiered in 2000.