| Price Band: | B-C | ||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeremy Filsell |
| Piano |
"Technically he is outstanding, but what impresses me most is his uncanny musical insight and the sheer persuasive power of his performances."
Gramophone
"Jeremy Filsell's performance was of world-class standard."
Choir and Organ
Jeremy Filsell is one of only a few virtuoso performers on both the Piano and the Organ and enjoys an extensive concert and recording career on both instruments. He has performed as a solo pianist in Russia, the USA and across the UK, appearing regularly at St John's Smith Square and the Wigmore Hall in London. His Concerto repertoire encompasses Mozart and Beethoven through to Rachmaninov, Shostakovich and John Ireland and in such a capacity he has appeared in both the UK and USA. His compelling advocacy of early twentieth century British repertoire has led to particular renown as an interpreter of the piano music of Ireland, Moeran and York Bowen. In recent years, he has recorded (for the Guild label [www.guildmusic.com]) the solo piano music of Eugene Goossens, Herbert Howells and Bernard Stevens and the two mammoth Sonatas of Liszt's pupil Julius Reubke. Classic CD magazine commented that in his pianism "he does not attract for his virtuosity but for his ability to make the music unfold with irresistible logic and clarity: music-making of the highest calibre."
As an organist, his nine weekly recitals comprising the complete organ works of Marcel Dupré in 1998 brought great critical acclaim and the recording of the entire oeuvre for Guild in the USA, released throughout 1999 and 2000, prompted Classic CD to feature Volumes 1 & 2 as Discs of the Month in June 1999: ".....a definitive series - superbly insightful playing and outstanding recording" (Classic CD) "...truly distinguished, compelling and unquestionably authoritative performances. This sets the standard for Dupré interpreters of the future and is a landmark in the history of organ recordings" (Gramophone). He has recorded extensively for BBC Radio 3 in solo, concerto and accompanimental roles and has championed the music of Dupré and Grunenwald on CD and in concert in the UK, France (recent recitals of Dupré's music have been given in St Sulpice Paris and Chartres Cathedral), Germany and the USA (touring under the auspices of Philip Truckenbrod Concert Artists [www.concertartists.com]). In 1992 a disc of Vierne and Widor Symphonies (Herald) was a Gramophone Critic's Choice that year and more recently the same accolade was awarded the Dupré Intégrale Volume 7 (Guild) in 2000.
A Limpus prize winner for FRCO as a teenager, his formative teachers included Nicolas Kynaston and Daniel Roth. An Oxford Graduate (Organ Scholar at Keble College), he subsequently studied Piano Performance under David Parkhouse and Hilary McNamara at the Royal College of Music. He has held posts at Cranleigh School, Ely Cathedral, Royal Holloway College University of London, St Luke's Chelsea and St Peter's Eaton Square London. He currently teaches at the London Oratory School, is an Academic Studies Lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music, London and a Lay Clerk at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
".. I must register a certain shock at the sheer brilliance of his playing. Technically he is outstanding, but what impresses me most is his uncanny musical insight and the sheer persuasive power of his performances He clearly possesses exceptional musicianship and considerable technical virtuosity."
(GRAMOPHONE)
"Jeremy Filsell's performance was of world-class standard; his communicative power was enhanced by his visible position at the console above the audience. This could so easily have been an opportuniy for Filsell merely to stun the audience with his virtuosity; it is further to his credit that above the huge mental and physical demands a live performance of this work (Francis Pott's 2½ hour Organ Symphony 'Christus') provides, his understanding of this music, and his success in communicating it with integrity and sensitivity shone through."
(CHOIR & ORGAN)
VIERNE:Troisième Symphonie WIDOR / TOURNEMIRE [HERALD HAVPCD 145]
'I must register a certain shock at the sheer brilliance of Jeremy Filsell's playing. Technically, he is outstanding but what impresses me most is his uncanny musical insight and the sheer persuasive power of his performances … Here is playing of the very first order an a disc which no lover of French organ music should be without.'
(GRAMOPHONE)
'The Vierne will make your hair stand on end, and yet nothing is vulgar or rushed. The sometimes elusive logic of Widor's outer movements is traced with extraordinary inevitability and even urgency.'
(THE AMERICAN ORGANIST)
DUPRÉ Organ Works (various) [GAMUT GAMCD 530] '..,it is clear that the benefits of a fine Piano technique are absolutely essential for the performance of this music ..... Jeremy Filsell shows just those qualities coupled with a flair for building a distinctive and unusual programme which displays so many of the poetic aspects of Dupré as well as some of the more extrovert…'
(ORGANISTS' REVIEW)
'Dupré's music is not only technically very demanding but is musically complex and consequently particularly difficult to bring off in performance. The challenge inspires Filsell to uniformly outstanding performances, which by their persuasive power can only come from someone who not only can play the music, but positively enjoys it too.'
(GRAMOPHONE)
ORGAN & CHORAL MUSIC of PHILIP MOORE [GMCD 7129]
'Filsell is a skilful and musical player who is fully in command of the organ of St John's Duncan Terrace.'
(ORGANISTS' REVIEW)
FRENCH MASTERWORKS for ORGAN & ORCHESTRA
with BBC Concert Orchestra / Barry Wordsworth [GMCD 7136]
'...... a BBC Concert Orchestra on world-class form and Jeremy Filsell who handles the hugely demanding organ part with dazzling virtuosity…'
(GRAMOPHONE)
ORGAN & CHORAL MUSIC of DANIEL-LESUR [ASV CDDCA 900]
'La Vie Interieure is a 16 minute post-Franckian Symphonic Poem, seriously argued, structurally impressive and powerfully played by Jeremy Filsell.'
(GRAMOPHONE)
20th CENTURY ORGAN MUSIC from ELY CATHEDRAL [GAMUT GAMCD 524]
'Jeremy Filsell plays the magnificent and impassioned Gowers Toccata dazzlingly ... all the performances flow naturally and display considerable energy and dexterity.'
(ORGANISTS' REVIEW)
ORGAN MUSIC of BASIL HARWOOD [HERALD HAVPCD 162]
'... performances of fire and energy and a pianist's technique to go with it. Thus the Allegro appassionato of the Sonata really lives up to its name .... playing of excitement and real clarity ......'
(ORGANISTS' REVIEW)
JEREMY FILSELL plays VIRTUOSO ORGAN WORKS [GMCD 7144]
'Jeremy Filsell is a technically scintillating player whose dexterity, rhythmic vitality and driving energy through this rich and generous programme invite the highest admiration. The disc includes Filsell's own brilliant transcription from a 1974 recording of Pierre Cochereau's improvised Scherzo Symphonique -'What lambent fire (sheet-and other lightnings!) of all commendable kinds!' said Carlyle, putting down a volume of Ruskin: the same might be said of this electrifying CD.'
(ORGANISTS' REVIEW
PIANO MUSIC of HERBERT HOWELLS & BERNARD STEVENS [GMCD 7119]
"Filsell ... technically extremely accomplished nonetheless does not attract attention for his virtuosity but for his ability to make the music unfold with irresistible logic and clarity: music-making of the highest calibre."
(CLASSIC CD)
ENGLISH ROMANTICISM III: PIANO MUSIC of EUGENE GOOSSENS [GMCD 7133]
"…a very well played and recorded disc of interesting rarities."
(CLASSIC CD)
" ...a gifted performer as a pianist and also as an organist, he is a most convincing and persuasive guide to this repertoire. He has an especially pleasing colour at softer dynamics; the calm of the final piece of Kaleidoscope is beautifully judged … it may be interesting to note that Guild plan a release of Filsell playing the two Reubke (for organ & piano) Sonatas. Now that is something to look forward to!"
(GRAMOPHONE)
MASTERWORKS (Sonatas) for PIANO & ORGAN by JULIUS REUBKE [GMCD 7137]
"... the two Sonatas here impose Herculean technical and imaginative demands - demands which Filsell meets most impressively .... he draws an arresting range of colour and dynamics in the organ work in response to the music's eerie disquiet, and despatches its tumultuous eruptions with all the necessary urgency and might … Filsell responds to the Piano Sonata's strength and breadth without overt technical strain and again, there is no doubting his warmth of feeling"
(GRAMOPHONE)
"… to hear Filsell play the Piano Sonata is to experience one of
those thrills which come but rarely …
buy this record you certainly must!"
(ORGANISTS' REVIEW)
with OLIVER LEWIS (Violin) and OLIVER GLEDHILL ('Cello)
ENGLISH ROMANTICISM I: Violin Sonatas by IRELAND, FERGUSON, GOOSSENS
[GMCD 7120]
ENGLISH ROMANTICISM II: Violin Sonatas by ELGAR & GOOSSENS GMCD 7124 " … try the last movement of the Ireland Sonata for unbridled confidence and verve… the Elgar Sonata can rarely have received a more spirited, euphonious reading …the Goossens works receive their first commercial recordings - the second Sonata is technically demanding but try the Old Chinese Folk Song for 1:17 of pure delight!"
(CLASSIC CD)
FRENCH ROMANTICISM I: Works by BOELLMANN for Cello & Piano GMCD 7135
" …it is difficult not to feel the piano straining to make itself into an orchestra. Jeremy Filsell's experience as an organist of distinction is in a way a help here, but paradoxically, his very gift for keyboard colour serves to draw attention to the problem! However he supports Oliver Gledhill admirably in what is a splendidly eloquent performance of the Sonata, a fine and enjoyable work."
(GRAMOPHONE)