News 2010

July 2010 / Richard Morrison picks Nicholas Collon as his Classical choice in The Times Arts Agenda 'Five to watch';

'Clear-headed, fresh-thinking and a born leader, Collon should soon be casting his own aura over Britain’s major orchestras.'

Read the full text here.

June 2010 / Autumn concerts announced, including a combined performance with London Sinfonietta and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

Aurora Orchestra announces its Royal Albert Hall debut at the BBC Proms on August 30th. Nicholas will conduct the combined forces of Aurora and players from the National Youth Chamber Orchestra in a diverse programme, including Bernstein's 'Candide' Overture, the 2nd movement from Shostakovich's 10th Symphony, and excerpts from Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet.'

Nicholas will appear in 'Gareth goes to Glyndebourne' on BBC 2. The programme follows the chorus as it undertakes the performances of 'Knight Crew' which Nicholas conducted at Glyndebourne earlier in 2010. The first episode is due to be aired on June 17th.

May 2010 / Nicholas conducts performances of 'The Lion's Face' with the Opera Group, receiving a 4-star review in The Times. Read the full review here.

April 2010 / Aurora Orchestra is nominated for the Royal Philharmonic Society Ensemble Award, alongside BBC Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Group and London Sinfonietta.

March 2010 / Aurora Orchestra gave its 5th birthday concert at LSO St Luke's on March 19th, the inaugural performance in a new residency for the group at this venue. Read the Times review here ('fiery and pungent') and the Sunday Times here ('high points that will make you mad with joy'). Aurora's new website goes live on April 6th.

March 2010 / Nicholas conducted Mahler's 10th Symphony in the Deryck Cooke version; Classical Source called it 'A concert to remember.' Read the full review here.

March 2010 / Nicholas' debut at Glyndebourne receives 4-star reviews from the Independent, Guardian and Gramophone Magazine; The Guardian said; 'Add to the mix…Nicholas Collon's excellent, transparent conducting and the overall effect was exhilarating, and not a little humbling.' Read the full review here.

February 2010 / Nicholas is in rehearsals for the 'Knight Crew' at Glyndebourne. Read an article in the Spectator here about the rehearsal process.

January 2010 / Nicholas has been featured in a profile in Time Out magazine - http://bit.ly/8tNsPQ - and can be heard in an interview on Classic FM here.

January 2010 / BBC 2 have announced that the next installment of the hit series 'The Choir' will focus on Julian Philips' new opera 'The Knight Crew,' which Nicholas conducts in March 2010 at Glyndebourne. Gareth Malone will be Chorus Master for the youth chorus - find out more.

January 2010 / Later this month, Nicholas will conduct the Britten Sinfonia in music by young American composer Nico Muhly at the Camden Roundhouse, followed by concerts with Aurora Orchestra at Wigmore Hall and Kings Place.

December 2009 / Aurora Orchestra has published its 2010 Season Brochure, including a new series of concerts at LSO St Luke's Concert Hall.

November 2009 / The Sunday Times reviewed Aurora orchestra's recent concert at Kings Place; 'as pacy and invigorated a reading of Schoenberg's Chamber Symphony No 1 as I've heard.' Click here to read the full article.

September 2009 / Nicholas conducted the Orchestra of Opera North in the opening concert of the Kirklees Concert Series in Dewsbury. New dates announced: Nicholas will conduct the London Sinfonietta on October 1st in the Kings Place as part of their 'Sonic Explorations' Series, the BBC Symphony Orchestra on December 5th in George Crumb's 'Star Child' and a new opera by Julian Philips in the Glyndebourne Festival in March 2010. See www.knightcrewopera.com for more details.

August 2009 / Nicholas appeared in the BBC Proms with Aurora Orchestra in the BBC Proms Composers Competition, (broadcast on BBC Radio 3) and as off-stage conductor in Jon Leifs' 'Hekla,' with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

July 2009 / Nicholas is assisting Sir Mark Elder on Szymanowski's 'King Roger' in the Bregenz Festival.

Classical Music Magazine featured Nicholas and Aurora Orchestra in a double page feature in their June issue. Download page one / page two [PDF]

June 2009 / The Choir of London gave three performances of 'La Bohème' in the Palestinian Territories: Nabus, Jerusalem and Ramallah.

May 2009 / Nicholas conducted Aurora Orchestra in a concert of Polish music in the Sounds New Festival, which was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Two weeks later, they played Schoenberg's 'Erwartung' in the opening concert of the new Britten Studio in Snape Maltings.

Aurora Orchestra is shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society's Young Artist Award

Krysztof Penderecki with Aurora players

February / The Guardian features an interview with Nicholas about his upcoming tour with the Choir of London in Palestine on the Guardian Online.

January / Nicholas has recently finished a six-concert tour with the SymphonieOrchester Vorarlberg, including two sold-out concerts in the Bregenz Festspielhaus.

December / New concert dates have been announced for 2009, including a tour to the West Bank with ‘La Bohème.’

October / Nicholas performed Haydn, Macmillan, Lully and Birtwistle in a collaboration with Aurora Orchestra and a capoeira dance group, and Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring’ with the Salomon Orchestra.

September / It's been a busy summer, performing with Aurora Orchestra in the BBC Proms and Aberystwyth Festival, and working at the Bregenz Festival on Krenek's extraordinary 12-tone opera, 'Karl V.'

September / Nicholas was signed by Van Walsum Management for worldwide representation.

August / Nicholas was listed in Time Out as one of London's three rising musical stars.