- David Charles Abell
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David Charles Abell Birth name David Charles Abell Born 1958
Jacksonville, North CarolinaGenres Symphonic music, opera, musical theatre Occupations Conductor, musicologist Years active 1982–present Website davidcharlesabell.com David Charles Abell (born 1958) is a British American orchestral conductor active in symphonic music, opera and musical theatre. Known for his television appearances worldwide as conductor of the Les Misérables 10th[1] and 25th[2] Anniversary concerts, he is recognised as an authoritative interpreter of the musicals of Stephen Sondheim.[3][4]
Contents
Early years and education
Born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Abell was raised in the Philadelphia and Chicago areas, studying viola, piano, organ, trumpet and voice. A member of the Berkshire Boy Choir, he sang in the 1971 world premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The experience sparked his interest in theatrical compositions and fuelled a lasting passion for dramatic music.[5]
In 1976, Abell enrolled at Yale University, where his teachers included John Mauceri. He studied with Nadia Boulanger and Robert D. Levin at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau before returning to Yale to complete his B.A. in 1981. The following year, Abell participated in the inaugural Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute summer school, studying with Bernstein and Daniel Lewis. He continued his postgraduate training from 1983 to 1985 at the Juilliard School, under Jorge Mester and Sixten Ehrling.
One of Leonard Bernstein’s last protégés, he assisted the composer-conductor on many projects during the 1980s and helped prepare definitive editions of Bernstein’s musical theatre scores.[5]
Early professional life
Abell made his professional debut conducting Bernstein’s Mass at Berlin’s Deutschlandhalle in 1982. The following year he deputised at short notice for John Mauceri conducting Britten’s The Turn of the Screw at Washington National Opera. In 1985 he made his New York City Opera debut conducting The Mikado. Abell led San Francisco Opera’s 1989 national tour of Carmen and was conductor for City Opera’s national tour of The Barber of Seville in 1994.
Concerts
Since moving to London in 1996, Abell has conducted orchestras in the UK and around the world, including The Hallé, City of Birmingham Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Seattle Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic and Iceland Symphony. He is a regular guest conductor with the BBC Concert Orchestra, with whom he has appeared three times at the The Proms.[6][7]
Recent career
The driving force behind Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday celebration at the 2010 BBC Proms,[6] Abell subsequently conducted the 25th anniversary concert of Les Misérables at the O2 Arena, which has been seen worldwide on television and released on DVD. Both the 25th and 10th Anniversary concerts have been extensively broadcast by PBS to boost fund-raising efforts.[8][9]
Abell was Music Director of the West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies from its opening in March 2010 until March 2011.[10][11] He conducted the the 2011 Olivier Awards ceremony followed by the French premiere of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris[12][13] and Pacific Overtures at the Kanagawa Arts Theatre in Yokohama, Japan.
Music scholarship
As a musicologist, Abell has helped restore clarity to musical theatre scores affected by accretions of revival productions and poorly preserved source materials, notably West Side Story.[5] Along with pianist and musicologist Seann Alderking, he is currently preparing a complete edition of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate. It will be one of the first American musicals to be published in a critical edition.[6]
Career Highlights
Year Organization Title Notes 2011 Kanagawa Arts Theatre Pacific Overtures dir. Amon Miyamoto Théâtre du Châtelet Sweeney Todd French premiere 2010 O2 Arena Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert BBC Proms Sondheim at 80 with Judi Dench, Bryn Terfel Adelphi Theatre Love Never Dies World Premiere 2009 Cape Town Opera Porgy and Bess UK Tour 2008 Théâtre du Châtelet On the Town dir. Jude Kelly Glimmerglass Opera Kiss Me, Kate dir. Diane Paulus 2007 Tokyo International Forum Take Flight Asian Premiere Festival dei Due Mondi Maria Golovin dir. Vincent Boussard The New York Pops Gala concert Carnegie Hall debut 2006 Young Vic Tobias and the Angel dir. John Fulljames Royal Albert Hall Show Boat dir. Francesca Zambello 2004 Wales Millennium Centre Grand Opening Concert dir. Ken Caswell Tokyo International Forum Candide dir. Amon Miyamoto 2003 Bregenz Festival West Side Story Floating Stage production Luglio Musicale Trapanese Manon Lescaut dir. Mario Corradi 2002 BBC Proms Richard Rodgers Centenary Concert dir. Kenneth Richardson 2000 Stadttheater St. Gallen The Three Musketeers World Premiere 1999 Opera North The Thieving Magpie dir. Martin Duncan 1998 Royal Albert Hall Madama Butterfly dir. David Freeman 1997 Royal Albert Hall Carmen dir. Frank Dunlop 1996 Prince Edward Theatre Martin Guerre World Premiere 1995 Royal Albert Hall Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert 1991 Théâtre Mogador Les Misérables dir. Trevor Nunn & John Caird 1985 New York City Opera The Mikado dir. Lotfi Mansouri 1983 Washington Opera The Turn of the Screw U. S. conducting debut 1982 Deutschlandhalle Mass Conducting debut Selected Discography
Year Title Label Notes 2010 Les Misérables DVD: Universal Studios 25th Anniversary Concert
Alfie Boe, Nick Jonas, Ramin Karimloo, Lea SalongaTobias and the Angel CD: Chandos Records World Premiere Recording
James Laing2005 Strauss: Dance and Dream DVD: Euroarts Concert and Docudrama
Wiener Akademie
Lesley Garrett2004 The Little Prince CD, DVD: Sony Music World Premiere Recording
BBC Concert Orchestra
Joseph McManners, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Lesley Garrett, Willard White, Aled Jones2002 Richard Rodgers:
An Enchanted EveningDVD: Image Entertainment Drury Lane Centennial Concert
Judi Dench, Lesley Garrett, Kim Criswell2000 Man of La Mancha CD: Jay Records First Complete Recording
BBC Concert Orchestra
Ron Raines, Kim Criswell1996 Martin Guerre CD: First Night Records World Premiere Recording Les Misérables CD: First Night Records
DVD: BBC Video10th Anniversary Concert
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Colm Wilkinson, Philip Quast, Michael Ball, Alun Armstrong, Ruthie HenshallLa bohème (selections)
Madama Butterfly (selections)CD: Tring Records Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Claire Rutter, Paul Charles Clarke, Stephen Gadd1994 Miss Saigon CD: First Night Records Complete International Symphonic Cast Recording
Joanna Ampil, Peter Cousens, Kevin Gray, Hinton Battle, Ruthie Henshall1992 Les Misérables CD: Disques Tréma Paris Cast Recording
Robert Marien, Louise Pitre, Jérôme PradonReferences
- ^ E[dwards], A[drian]. "Schönberg Les Misérables", Gramophone magazine, August, 1996. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
- ^ Staff. "Cast and Creatives", 25.lesmis.com, No date. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
- ^ Nice, David. "Stephen Sondheim At 80, Royal Albert Hall", The Arts Desk, August 1, 2010. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
- ^ Millington, Barry. "Masters and servants at the Proms", The Evening Standard, August 2, 2010. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
- ^ a b c Ford, Piers. "Interview with David Charles Abell, Conductor of the 2010 Sondheim Prom", The Art of the Torch Singer, January 6, 2011. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
- ^ a b c Staff. "Conductor David Charles Abell Prepares For A Season of Sondheim", Broadwayworld.com, June 11, 2010. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
- ^ Billington, Michael. "The Water Diviner's Tale", The Guardian, August 28, 2007. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
- ^ Staff. "Les Miserables - The Dream Cast in Concert (1998)", "rottentomatoes.com", No date. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
- ^ Jensen, Elizabeth. "In Tight Times, PBS Leans on Pledge Drives", "The New York Times", March, 13, 2010. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
- ^ Benedict, David. "Love Never Dies", "Variety", March, 10, 2010. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
- ^ Seckerson, Edward. "Love Never Dies…twice", "The Independent", Jan, 16, 2011. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
- ^ Loomis, George. "Châtelet's 'Sweeney Todd' Stays True to Detailed Musical Roots", The New York Times, May 3, 2011. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
- ^ Staff. "David Charles Abell: ‘The Châtelet production of SWEENEY TODD is allowing me to fulfil a long-held dream", Todomusicales, April 1, 2011. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
External links
Categories:- 1958 births
- Living people
- American conductors (music)
- American musicologists
- People from Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Yale University alumni
- Juilliard School alumni
- Musicians from North Carolina
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