David Firman

David Firman 046

David Firman is a British orchestral conductor, musical director, composer and arranger.[1]

Early life and education

Firman was born in London and educated at Trinity College of Music and Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he was Organ Scholar. He graduated in English and Music. Whilst at Cambridge he was musical director of Footlights Dramatic Club.

Work

Firman conducted the original West End productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, Chicago, Singing in the Rain, Dancin', The Pirates of Penzance, Children of Eden, Phantom of the Opera, Enter the Guardsman, Metropolis.[2][3] The reviewer for The Independent called Firman's orchestrations for Enter the Guardsman, "superb", noting that they "add(ed) colour to an elegant score in Jeremy Sams's neat production."[4] As a keyboardist he played on the recording sessions for Return of the Jedi, Superman, Supergirl, Medicine Man, First Blood, Rambo ll, Basic Instinct, Tombstone, DARRYL, and Total Recall. He conducted the soundtracks of Savage Islands, The Tall Guy, Rambo 3 (final reel), A Long Day Closes, and The Tie That Binds.

For television he acted as musical director and arranger for Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, Dinnerladies, Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings, Bryn Terfel at Christmas, The Mike Doyle Show (3 series), Parkinson with Victoria Wood, and Victoria Wood BAFTA tribute. Firman was Principal Guest Conductor for the Danish Sinfonietta from 1990 until their dissolution in December 2014. He arranged and conducted many of their concerts and broadcasts, including performances with Tommy Körberg, Simply Red, Ray Davies, Katie Melua, Westlife, Shu-bi-dua, Stig Rossen, Inger dam Jensen, Jerry Hadley, Harolyn Blackwell, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Robin Gibb, Paddy Moloney, Sissel Kyrkjebo, Sir Christopher Lee, The Bootleg Beatles, Lars Lillholt, Jean-Michel Jarre and Elaine Paige. In London Firman conducted the annual concert series Night of a 1000 Voices at the Royal Albert Hall (director Hugh Wooldridge), and Chess in Concert with Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, Marti Pellow, Kerry Ellis, and Clarke Peters. Firman also conducts the Best of Broadway series at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducts the orchestra frequently in other venues.[3][5]

He conducted the world premiere performances of Frozen - Live in Concert,[6] and the British premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean - Live in Concert, both at the Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,[7] and has also conducted Disney's Fantasia with the same orchestra, along with the European premiere of Beauty and the Beast - Live in Concert. He has conducted orchestras in Hanover, Singapore, Bangkok, Beijing, Ottawa, Sydney, Tokyo, Odense, Aalborg, Antwerp,[8] Aarhus, Stockholm, Rome, Barcelona, and Copenhagen. Firman composed the orchestral score for the ballet Kom Bamse, nu balletter vi! which is part of the repertoire for the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen.

References

  1. ^ Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic (5 February 2014). "An Interview with David Firman". Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  2. ^ Bruce, Keith (24 December 2013). "Mickey Mouse job on a musical is no mean feat". The Herald. Scotland.
  3. ^ a b Jenkinson, Caroline (4 September 2013). "Orchestra will return 'home' to town theatre". Eastern Daily Press.
  4. ^ "Playhouse Creatures". The Independent. 4 October 1997.
  5. ^ "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Symphonic Rock show heads to Derngate". Evening Telegraph. 23 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Frozen". Royal Albert Hall. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Best of Broadway 2016". Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  8. ^ "Antwerp Symphony Orchestra". Retrieved 17 June 2019.