| Biography | David Firman studied at Trinity College London, and Magdalene College Cambridge, where he was Organ Scholar and also Musical Director of Footlights. His professional career began in the orchestral pits of numerous West End theatres - he was Musical Director for the original productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Singin in the Rain, La Cage aux Folles, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Pirates of Penzance, and more recently the revival of Carousel. In European cities he supervised new productions of My Fair Lady (Royal Opear House Copenhagen) and Les Miserables. In tandem with theatre work he developed studio experience as a session recording keyboard player, performing on the soundtracks of Return of the Jedi, the Superman series, Legend, Tombstone, and Basic Instinct, along with television recordings for Carl Davis, Nigel Hess and Jim Parker. As an arranger and orchestrator he worked on the West End productions of My One and Only, Metropolis, and Enter the Guardsman, and for the regional productions of The Wiz and Good Fun, where he first met its writer, Victoria Wood. He later went on to be arranger and Musical Director for 3 BAFTA award-winning series Victoria Wood as Seen on T.V., Dinner Ladies, Christmas with all the Trimmings and Parkinson featuring Victoria.
Increasingly now David was in the concert hall and recording studio, conducting such orchestras as the London Symphony, the London Philharmonic, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic - for whom he conducted their inaugural concert in their new home, Cadogan Hall. He was also conducting abroad, not only in Europe (Budapest, Prague, Zurich, Hannover, Hamburg) but also further afield (Tokyo, Nagoya, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, Bangkok, Adelaide, Beijing, San Diego, Rome, Ottawa and Perth). In particular he is Principal Guest Conductor with the Danish Radio Sinfonietta, with whom he has worked for two decades highlights include the celebration marking the royal opening of the bridge between Denmark and Sweden, a royal marriage, numerous film and television recordings, Hans Andersens televised centenary celebration with Jean Michel Jarre, concert performances of The Lord Of The Rings, and the premiere of the Hobbit, with Sir Christopher Lee these last two David also arranged and orchestrated.
His career also came to include new writing commissions a 40 minute symphonic soundtrack for a Danish production A Mothers Story, and a new ballet for the Danish Royal Ballet, which proved particularly successful, being recorded for DVD and TV transmission.
A recent developing speciality has been conducting live performances of film screenings in concert venues the Royal Albert Hall and Birminghams NEC for example. This requires that the music soundtrack is performed in precise and exact synch with picture. Such events have included Disneys Fantasia, with its classical repertoire (Beethoven 5, Stravinsky Firebird etc), Pirates of the Caribbean (episodes 1 &2) and a full 2 hour compilation of Disney animation (including The Lion King, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast , Tarzan, Tangled, and Mulan) this last for full symphony orchestra, symphony chorus and 7 soloists. David also contributed arrangements and orchestrations for this project.
A special joy for David has been working in an infinite variety of musical disciplines and styles - concerts, film, theatre, television - across several continents, and in a multiplicity of venues recording studios, concert halls, open air festivals, renowned theatres, opera houses, and intimate performing spaces. Above all he is grateful for the inspiration received from collaborations with soloists Bryn Terfel, Harolyn Blackwell, Elaine Paige, Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Jerry Hadley, Victoria Wood, Gary Brooker, Sir James Galway, Sir Tim Rice, Sir Trevor Nunn, Glenn Close, Leo Andrew, Claire Moore, Jean Michel Jarre, Stig Rossen, Sumi Jo, and many others, along with partnerships with groups such as the Danish NatRadio Sinfonietta, the Odense Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and freelance ensembles all over the world. (October 2016) |