. . . to the site of the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra and Composer-Conductor Paul Coppens (click here for latest updates),who founded the orchestra in September 1973. The orchestra is a professional free-lance ensemble which works on a seasonal basis.
HOT GINGER CHORUS Gets New Music Director Paul Coppens has been appointed Music Director for Hot Ginger Chorus which takes effect immediately. The 45-member female group is part of Sweet Adelines International and was originally founded in 1991.
An Australian Night At The Proms (2001) This concert took place on 5 October 2001 at the Sydney Super Dome in the presence of 12,000 enthusiastic 'prommers'. Based on the famous London concerts dating back to 1895 and performed in the Royal Albert Hall since World War II, this programme featured an all-Australian cast including Yvonne Kenny, David Hobson, Simon Tedeschi, A Broad And Two Men, Glen Shorrock, Gina Jeffreys, Christine Anu, David Campbell, the 80-member Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, The Proms Chorus and compére Bert Newton.
During 1999 it provided the orchestras for the Australian Tour of the English National Ballet's arena production of Swan Lake and in 1996 organised the Perth Orchestra for the arena production of Aida in that city. It was in 1994 that the Orchestra was engaged by the Freemasons Hospital in Melbourne to present 'The Beatles Revisited' in both Melbourne and Sydney as a fund-raiser for their Cancer Clinic.
In 1991 the Orchestra toured with Rudolf Nureyev on his last Australian Tour and in 1989 the Orchestra was engaged to perform at the Centenary of Freemasonry in Victoria Concert. During 1987 the Orchestra was involved in the three-month tour of the Bolshoi Ballet in Australia and New Zealand and accompanied them again in 1992.
In 1980 the Orchestra presented its first 'An Evening in Vienna' series at the Hobart Wrest Point Casino and in the following year commenced its Country Tour programmes which eventually took the Orchestra all over Australia and to two seasons at the Jakarta Hilton.
These tours covered over 150 different country centres throughout Australia, averaged thirty performances a year over a six-year period and reached an audience in excess of 160,000. All tours were generally sponsored by Rotary and/or Apex Clubs.
Programmes included 'An Evening in Vienna', 'The Best of Broadway', 'The Great Light Classics', 'An Evening of Comedy with Gilbert & Sullivan', and Handel's oratorio 'The Messiah'. During this period, the Orchestra accompanied the initial 'Carols in the Domain' (Sydney), accompanied Abel Gance's 1927 silent movie classic Napoleon in both Melbourne and Sydney, and for three consecutive years was engaged by the Regent Hotels (Melbourne & Sydney) to perform a traditional Viennese New Year's Eve Ball.
In 1975, the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra formed the nucleus for the inaugural concert season of the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, at 'Summer In The City' concerts in January/February of that year (Concertmaster Ladislav Jasek) and during March that year performed for Rick Wakeman's Australian tour of Journey To The Centre Of The Earth.
Since then it has accompanied most of the international ballet and opera companies which have toured Australia and New Zealand, including the Stuttgart Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet (three seasons), the Perm Ballet, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the London Festival Ballet (two seasons), the Stars of World Ballet (two seasons), the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and the Berlin Komischen Oper Ballet.
From 1977 till 1979 the Orchestra presented a series of Johann Strauss concerts for the Melbourne Moomba Festival in both Melbourne and Sydney (the Melbourne Town Hall and Sydney Town Hall).
The Melbourne Chamber Orchestra presented its inaugural concert season on 5th September 1973 in St Hilda's College, University of Melbourne, conducted by its founder Paul Coppens. Over the next two years it presented a series of concerts each year as well as accompany a number of choral, opera and ballet companies.
In 1975, during an interstate ballet tour with Ballet Victoria featuring Barishnikov & Makarova, it presented its first interstate concert tour, with concerts in Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. It featured soloists Jiri Tancibudek (Oboe), Anne Care (Bassoon), Concertmaster Ladislav Jasek and cellist John Kennedy in Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante in Bb. During the next decade, although it presented a number of concerts under its own name, its activities became more and more part of the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, until 1989, when Rantos Collegium Inc. was given the rights to trade as the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra.
Under the direction of Spiros Rantos, the orchestra rapidly gained a high reputation for its concert seasons in Melbourne as well as in country Victoria. It regularly accompanied the Victoria State Opera seasons in country areas and was frequently featured at the Melbourne International Festival as well as festivals in Italy, Greece, Korea and Japan.
ServicesServices
As a service orchestra the musicians are placed in an accompanying role, and as such, is available for hire in most capital cities in Australia, using local musicians to that city. For national projects, a smaller touring group is usually used and augmented by local musicians.
Maleny Christmas Pantomime Performances Aladdin And His Wonderful Lamp Fri 16-7:30pm, Sat 17-2:30pm & 7:30pm, Sun 18-2:30pm December 2011 Maleny Community Centre Qld Australia Paul Coppens has composed the music with words by David Crewe. Following last year's successful Christmas pantomime 'CINDERELLA: THE SEQUEL' by the same team, this year's pantomime is bigger, better, funnier and - is accompanied by the 80-piece Melbourne Philharmonic Virtual Orchestra.
In December 2011 he completed and performed the Christmas pantomime 'Aladdin' (words by David Crewe) for the Maleny Players, and for the same company (and lyricist) in the previous year wrote and performed the pantomime 'Cinderella: The Sequel'. In 2010 he completed the musical comedy 'Up The Tiber Without A Toga' with playwright John Cundill, which was performed at the Caloundra Events Centre in October 2010.
Concert Of The Century was held at the Townsville Civic Centre 11-13 August 2006, it celebrated 100 years of The Townsville Choral and Orchestral Society which has, during the past 53 years, produced 74 musicals. The Townsville Council presented the concert in recognition of their work and contribution to the City. The concert highlighted excerpts from their shows. As Conductor for this event, Paul Coppens arranged and orchestrated the entire musical programme.
Over the past few years Paul Coppens has completed a number of his own works (‘Capriccio’ 2004) and was consultant to many musical projects involving the well-known Greek violinist Spiros Rantos. These projects culminated in a number of musical events in Australia and overseas of which the highlight was the concert in the Brisbane Town Hall (October 2004) for which he wrote a number of compositions as well as arrangements featuring the Tibetan musician Tenzin Choegyal.
Music Director, arranger and composer for the ANZAC International Military Tattoo (2006 Sydney Super Dome & 1999 Sydney Entertainment Centre)
Music Director, conductor and arranger for 'Australian Night At The Proms', at the Sydney Super Dome 5 October 2001. It featured an all-Australian cast, including Yvonne Kenny, David Hobson, Simon Tedeschi, A Broad And Two Men, Glen Shorrock, Gina Jeffreys, Christine Anu, David Campbell, the 80-member Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, The Proms Chorus and compère Bert Newton.
Music and Artistic Director for the arena production of Aida, which premiered in Singapore in September 1996 and performed in Perth (Oct 96), Auckland (Feb 97) and Brisbane (Sep 97). As well as casting the solo artists and the artistic team, his responsibility for the production in each city involved all local artists and musicians. These included the appointment of chorus masters, repetiteurs, band masters, the local professional orchestra, a 250-voice amateur chorus, two brass bands and 60 trumpeters (in addition 450 ‘extras’ were also used). He also edited the score in order to involve all the forces assembled. His preparatory work, especially in Brisbane, with the soloists, alternative cast, orchestra, chorus and final production rehearsals has given him experience vital to any production on this scale.
Born in Brabant (The Netherlands), he emigrated with his family to Australia in 1955 and, after part time music studies and private tuition, he left Australia in 1970 for Europe, graduating in Conducting in 1972 at the Graz Music University, Austria. In 1973 he returned to Australia and founded the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, the nucleus of the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra, which he founded in 1975. He has since conducted this Orchestra in more than 350 concerts in almost 150 cities throughout Australia (mainly in co-operation with Rotary Clubs). Between 1974 and 1999 he was Music Director/Assistant Conductor/Administrator of Orchestras with the Edgley organisation, working with many of the international ballet and opera companies which have visited Australia and New Zealand. As Conductor he has worked with many choirs and his experience in music theatre includes productions of opera, operetta and musical comedy.
He was Music Director and Conductor for the Rudolf Nureyev 1991 Australian Tour and the Stars of the Bolshoi Ballet 1992 Australian Tour, during which he conducted the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. He conducted the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra for two seasons at the Jakarta Hilton and in 1992 was invited to Russia to conduct the Moscow Philharmonic and Yalta Symphony Orchestras.
In the last two years he wrote music for two pantomimes, Aladdin And His Wonderful Lamp and Cinderella: The Sequel. The words were by David Crewe who also directed the productions at the Maleny Community Centre in December of both years, with the composer conducting. In October 2010 he conducted his first musical comedy Up The Tiber Without A Toga with a libretto by John Cundill, at the Caloundra Events Centre. It was supported by the Maleny Rotary Club and raised money for their international projects.
A collection of traditional songs from mainly Dutch Brabant.
No.1 Wat Voor Vijand (4 min)
Male Choir Vocal Score (TTBB)
Mixed Choir Vocal Score (SATB)
No.2 't Ros Beijaard (9 min)
Male Choir Vocal Score (TTBar1Bar2BB)
Mixed Choir Vocal Score (SSATTB)
No.3 Berg Op Zoom (7.5 min)
Male Choir Vocal Score (TTBB)
Mixed Choir Vocal Score (SATB)
No.4 Allen Die Willen Naar Island Gaan (4 min)
Male Choir Vocal Score (TTBB)
Mixed Choir Vocal Score (SATB)
No.5 Het Loze Vissertje (5.5 min)
Male Choir Vocal Score (TTBB)
Mixed Choir Vocal Score (SATB)
Duration: 31 min
For large Orchestra
Based on Dutch folk melodies. In memory of my mother.
Duration: 21 min
For Three Brass Groups
Written for the Anzac Military Tattoo-Sydney 3-8 Nov 1999. Performed by the fanfare brass groups of: the RAAF Band (Richmond), the Army Band Sydney and the Band of the Royal Coldstream Guards.
Duration: 1.5 min
Based on Dutch folk melodies
In memory of my mother
Komt Vrienden . . . (8 min)
Op.18a For Organ solo
Playful Duets (12 min)
for Oboe and Violin Op.18b................................................................
for Three Oboes and Cor Anglais Op.18c
for Clarinet Choir Op.18d.................................................................
Duration: 12 min
For Baritone, Chorus and Orchestra.
Lyrics from C.J. Dennis 'The Moods of Ginger Mick'
Commissioned by the Centenary Committee of Freemasonry in Victoria. Written to accompany Ross Skiffingtons Grand Magic Company. Performed by the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Coppens March 1989.
Duration: 12 min
An Opera for Children for 6 Voices and Piano.
Commissioned by the Ringwood Theatre Company. Performed by them in January 1988 and conducted by the composer.
Duration: 60 min
For Orchestra or Military Band.
Commissioned by the Rialto Towers Management for the official opening of their building in 1986. Performed by the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Coppens June 1986. Arranged for Military Band and performed by the Melbourne Army Band November 1991.
Duration: 11 min
Film score for Orchestra.
Commissioned by David Parker/Nadia Tass for their film. Digital recording with the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Coppens.
Duration: 72 min
For Orchestra
Uses many popular Broadway melodies and performed in programmes by the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra.
Duration: 7.5 min
For Brass and Percussion.
Performed at various Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra's functions.
Duration: 2 min
For Two Trumpets and Organ.
Duration: 3 min
For Flute, Harp & String Trio.
Commissioned by Lisa Roberts for her short film \'Still Lifes\'. First live performance at Music In The Round 1983.
Duration: 8 min
Concert Suite for String Quartet and Percussion.
Duration: 20 min
Ballet for String Quartet and Percussion.
Commissioned by the Australian Contemporary Dance Theatre. Choreographer ? Recorded on tape for the performances.
Duration: 65 min
Suite for Childrens' Choir, Tenor solo and Orchestra.
Uses 24 popular childrens songs from around the world. Commissioned by the Melbourne Moomba Festival. Performed by the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Coppens February 1980.
Duration: 18 min
For Rock Band and Orchestra
Uses 'Paint it Black' and 'Whole Lotta Love'. Performed by the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Coppens December 1979.
Duration: 12 min
For Orchestra
No.1 Spring Song (theme by Christos Ioannides) (3 min)
Performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra June 1978
No.2 I Karagouna (Traditional melody) (4.5 min)
Recorded using GS3(Sampler) and Finale
No.3 Gerakina (Traditional melody) (3.5 min)
Performed by the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra May 1978
Duration: 11 min
Ballet for String Quartet and Percussion.
Commissioned by the Australian Contemporary Dance Theatre. Choreographer Ron Bekker. Recorded on tape for the performances. Orchestra version (1980).
Duration: 22 min
Oratorio for Orchestra and four singers
With melodies and themes by Christos Ioannides. World premiere May 1977 Greek Festival Week Performance with the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Coppens.
Duration: 45 min
Ballet for String Quartet and Percussion.
Commissioned by the Australian Contemporary Dance Theatre. Choreographer Ron Bekker. Recorded on tape for the performances.
Since 1974 Paul Coppens has been involved in most aspects of the music industry, especially in the area of Musical Direction of the Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra and for special projects. His work in projects, where music played a critical role, has included the initial preparation of budgets and casting, to the eventual preparation of all musical forces involved. His negotiating and administrative skills, and above all his ability in choosing the right people to help him in a project, have ensured artistic success under his direction.
'ALADDIN And His Wonderful Lamp' a Pantomime in Two acts(2011) Composer, Music Director and Conductor for the Maleny Players (David Crewe words and direction). Performed at the Maleny Community Centre December 2011
'CINDERELLA: The Sequel' a Pantomime in Two acts(2010) Composer, Music Director and Conductor for the Maleny Players (David Crewe words and direction). Performed at the Maleny Community Centre December 2010
'UP THE TIBER WITHOUT A TOGA' a Musical Comedy in Two acts(2010) Composer, Music Director and Conductor for the Maleny Rotary Club (libretto by John Cundill). Performed at the Caloundra Events Centre October 2010
Arena production 'AIDA' (1996 - 1997) The responsibilities as Music Director for this two-year project to four cities included casting of soloists, guest conductors, auditioning minor roles, sourcing and selecting local orchestras, choirs, brass bands, trumpet groups, repetiteurs and chorus masters. It also involved heading a team of Chorus masters train the amateur chorus, rewriting the brass band parts to allow for two brass bands, giving the trumpet groups the orchestral trumpet calls at the beginning of Act 2 scene 2 and work together with the Sound Designer in achieving the best possible balance of the reinforced sound in each venue.
Melbourne production of Pinocchio(1986) For this children's opera he was the Composer, Music Director and Conductor.
Melbourne season of 'Cox & Box'/'HMS Pinafore'(1977) As Chorus Master and Conductor of this production, tasks also included the auditioning of musicians and singers respectively for the orchestra and chorus, and the preparation of most of the music rehearsals.
PRODUCTIONS 1974 - 1999 Generally for ballet productions Musical Direction was provided by the touring companies themselves but most projects required the services of an Associate or Assistant Conductor. Productions which took place in large entertainment venues required working with the Sound Engineer in fine-tuning the reinforced sound.
Projects included the English National Ballet's arena production of 'Swan Lake' (1999); The Bolshoi Ballet; Rudolf Nureyev with various companies including London Festival Ballet, Stars Of World Ballet and his last Australian tour in 1991(three tours); Barishnikov & Makarova tour with Ballet Victoria. See also the detailed list Service Orchestra - Ballet.
MALCOLM (1986) Paul Coppens was Composer, Music Director and Conductor for this project. The score was written for orchestra and digitally recorded. It was not used for the film as by the time the music was being recorded, the film had been sold to a distributer who was happy with the sound track already in place. See Malcolm
Still Lifes (1982) A short art film on dance by Lisa Roberts, which was written for String Trio and Harp. See Fantasy.
ANZAC International Military Tattoo Sydney 2006 As Music Director and Arranger for this project, responsibilities were mainly concerned with the musical details of the opening and closing segments of the production, the sourcing and rehearsing of the 200-voice choir, and the fine-tuning of the reinforced sound, with the Sound Engineer. See more details in Orchestrations.
ANZAC Military Tattoo Sydney 1999 As Coordinating Music Director and Composer for this project, responsibilities were mainly concerned with the musical details of the opening and closing segments of the production, the sourcing and rehearsing of the 150-voice choir, and the fine-tuning of the reinforced sound, with the Sound Engineer. See more details in Orchestrations.
Concert Of The Century - Townsville (Aug 11-13,2006 - Townsville Civic Centre) For this project he was the conductor and orchestrator (orchestrated the entire programme).
An Australian Night At The Proms (Oct 2001 - Sydney Super Dome) For this project he was Music Director, conductor and arranger. See the Proms page.
Melbourne Chamber Orchestra Concerts/Tours (1973-1995) Between 1973 and 1977 he directed a series of annual concerts, including its first interstate tour in 1975. During the early 1980's he toured the MCO in Victorian and New South Wales country towns with Handel's oratorio 'The Messiah' and in 1995 conducted one of its subscription concerts (under the direction of Spiros Rantos), which featured guitarist Slava Grigoryan.
Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra Concerts/Tours (1973-1986) Between 1973 and 1986 he directed over 200 concerts throughout Australia, designing the programmes and writing all the material where necessary. See Orchestrations.
Laser Fantasia (Nov 1979 - Melbourne Festival Hall) For this project he was Music Director, conductor and arranger.
Melbourne University Choral Society (3 concerts in 1974)
Advances in the technique of sound reproduction have thrown up new possibilities especially for the composer. The creation of small or large scale works using the traditional 'writing' method (with such software programmes as Finale or Sibelius) can now be instantaneously realised, or 'played', with stunning realism.
Below is the newly orchestrated Dutch 'folk' song 'Berg Op Zoom', with a newly composed middle section, and fully realised using GigaStudio3(GS3), Peter Siedlaczek's 'Advanced Orchestra' samples and Choir samples from 'Voices of the Apocalypse'. In preparation is 'Het Loze Vissertje' and 'Aan Den Nacht'.
The choir samples come with separate vowels and consonants (english) so programming the choir to sing in Dutch was quite a challenge, and has generally been successful. Again, the technology is there for the benefit of those who are unable to 'visualise' a full score, and for the composer to 'virtually hear' his creations almost immediately.
For writing film scores, he uses Finale2012 to write the music, GigaStudio3 (music sampler) to record the music, and uses Sony Vegas6 to match film with sound. Film scenes may be emailed (in a reduced format) and can be returned by email (in reduced format) with the proposed orchestration. He is able to work on-site when/where required, as his 'writing' equipment consists of a computer (laptop) and music keyboard.
As the above titles imply, Paul Coppens was involved in this project from its very beginnings to its final performance. Although there are many antecedents, this 'Prom' project was born in 1979 when he conducted a similar programme involving a healthy mix of classical and contemporary 'pop' music called 'Laser Fantasia'.
Most items have been arranged and/or orchestrated by Paul Coppens. All photos on this page are from the Proms 2001 concert.
Each title listed contains selections from the DAT recording made of the performance given in the Sydney Town Hall on 10th October 1994. The recording (CD) is not for sale and is intended for private listening only or as a demonstration of the diversity of the musical material arranged, composed and orchestrated by Paul Coppens. All musical programme material makes free use of the music composed by Paul McCartney and John Lennon and rights were given by Music Sales Pty Ltd (Australia) and EMI Music Publishing (Australia) for the concerts in both Melbourne and Sydney. The concert season was in aid of the Freemasons Hospital Special Cancer Clinic (Melbourne Australia).
The Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Paul Coppens with Concertmaster Spiros Rantos, who also performs all the violin solos. The cello solos are played by Barbara Woolley; oboe solos by Amelia Barden; trumpet solo in Penny Lane by Robert Smithies and tuba solo in Yellow Submarine by Andrew Jordan.
This 'classical' view of the Beatles, in using all the resources of a large orchestra, takes their material into the world of the great romantics, especially Mahler and Bruckner as well as Bartok, Shostakovitch, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov. Reworking their material from the original recordings was a natural progression, and the ease with which this occurred, indicates the originality not only of their musical material but the language and instrumentation they used in the first place. Although no attempt has been made to present this material in any particular style (except theirs!), the musical content of the original recordings has been totally absorbed in these new compositions, making special mention of the harmonies, bass lines and their original instrumentation.
All the tracks made available here are excerpts only and are incomplete in themselves. They are presented as examples of the composition and orchestration techniques applied to the material used, and as such remain the property of the copyright owners (including Paul Coppens). If your orchestra is interested in performing these works, please send an email (refer to the Contact page).
A Hard Day's Night............................................
I Should Have Known Better....................................
If I Fell In Love.............................................
Things We Said Today..........................................
Any Time At All
Another Girl..................................................
Martha My Dear................................................
Each title listed below contains selections from the casette recording made of the performance given in the Melbourne Concert Hall on 7th March 1985. The recording (CD) is not for sale and is intended for private listening only. It is neither the recorded quality of the tracks nor the quality of the performance which is the purpose of presenting these excerpts, but to show the diversity of the musical material arranged and orchestrated by Paul Coppens. All musical material follows the original music (and in the order within each operetta) composed by Arthur Sullivan but the orchestrations, especially where the audience is required to sing, support or highlight the chorus parts.
The Melbourne Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Paul Coppens with Concertmaster Janice Walker. Soloists are soprano Carolyn Kennett, baritone Constantine Mavridis and mime artist and baritone Timothy Tyler (appearing as Mr P.P.). The audience sings the chorus parts. This programme toured in country towns in New South Wales and Victoria during 1985.
All the tracks made available here are excerpts only and are incomplete in themselves. In size they are between 1mb and 1.7mb and may take some time to download. They are presented as examples of the orchestration techniques applied to the material used, and as such remain the property of Paul Coppens. If your orchestra is interested in performing this material, please send an email (refer to the Contact page)
Dance A Cachuca...............................................
We Sail The Ocean Blue
My Gallant Crew ..............................................
Established in 1975Established in 1975
