Craig Leon

Craig’s arrangement for violin, harp and strings of Chopin’s Nocturne no 20 in C Sharp Minor was recently used in the film “Karate Kid”. It is a remake of the 1980s version which Craig also worked on musically.

"Karate Kid(2010)"

The premiere of two new pieces will be performed in a concert
featuring Carlos Nunez,The Chieftains and the Orquestra Sinfonica de Galicia in the cathedral square of Santiago de Compostela, Spain on 11 Sept.These are previews of a larger programme that we are doing next year in Santiago.

STARTS BROADCASTING ON DISCOVERY HD 20 and 21 JULY 2009 in over 50 countries worldwide.

MONDAY JULY 20 AT 1AM AND TUESDAY JULY 21 AT 8PM. ONLY ON DISCOVERY HD.

“Here Men From The Planet Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon, July 1969 A.D. We Came in Peace For All Mankind.”

ORBIT: Journey To The Moon is the story of man’s greatest achievement. Told through the original hand-held footage shot by the men who went there.

Enter the Command Module “Columbia” and “The Eagle” Lunar Lander to experience the first moon landing in July 1969. With rarely seen before footage, shot on-board by the astronauts who went there, this film tells their story in their own words and pictures.

Featuring an original soundtrack compiled to complement the film, alongside original commentary between the three astronauts; Commander Neil Alden Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Eugene ‘Buzz’ Aldrin Jr. and Mission Control, ORBIT celebrates mankind’s greatest achievement and takes you on an emotional musical journey – from lift off at Cape Canaveral in Florida to landing the Eagle on the Sea of Tranquility on July 20th 1969.

To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of this momentous event, world renowned composer and producer Craig Leon (Blondie, Talking Heads, Natasha Marsh, Pavarotti) and Grammy Nominated creative director Andrew W. Ellis (Pink Floyd, Genesis, ABBA, DuranDuran) have created a stunning audio/visual journey through space from the launch of Apollo 11 to the awe inspiring landing of the Eagle lunar landing craft.

See the amazing hand-held footage shot by astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins on the first lunar mission in 1969, and hear commentary from these space pioneers.

Please click here to view and hear a 3 minute excerpt form the show as well as a short promo clip for the next larger scale Orbit project “Journey Into Space” which will air and tour internationally in 2010-11.

Watch the trailer of Orbit: journey to the moon.

C.Leon: Orbit: Journey to the Moon (Main Theme)

Congratulations to Ophélie Gaillard, Nicolas Bartholomée,Tim Redmond and The Royal Phlharmonic Orchestra !!! In addition to receiving a 5 star review in France’s prestigious classical music magazine Diapason  the CD “Dreams” ,featuring  the orchestrations of and production by Craig has reached number 1 on the French classical chart. “Dreams” will be released through Harmonia Mundi in all other territories of the world in 2010 and 2011.

(December 2009)

The first CD release under the joint venture of Craig, French producer Nicolas Barhtolomée and Harmonia Mundi France is now available in France. The recording, entitled”Dreams” features French cellist Ophélie Gaillard and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Timothy Redmond performing arrangements for cello and orchestra by Craig , who also produced and mixed the album.

Follow this link to a review and to purchase “Dreams” in the U.S.

Ophélie Gaillard’s  Official Website.

French television interview with Ophélie Gaillard about “Dreams”.

(October 2009)

The self titled album “Ramones” ,produced by Craig in 1976,has been voted into the U.S. Grammy Hall of Fame. For further info please click here to see the hall of fame website.

February 2007 sees the release of the debut album by soprano Natasha Marsh  and the London Symphony Orchestra on the EMI Classics label. Natasha is one of the most exciting new classical artists to emerge from the UK operatic scene.The album features  production, arrangements and orchestration by Craig. In addition Craig has conducted a number of the recordings on the disc.

You can find out more about Natasha at: natashamarsh.com or at myspace.com/natashamarsh

In January 2007 EMI/Manhattan Records is releasing the new album by crossover soprano Giorgia Fumanti. This album features production, arrangements and orchestrations by Craig. Giorgia is a unique interpreter of music from Italian films( one of Craig’s favourite areas of pop music) and other contemporary music. Recorded in The Netherlands and in the U.K. with Craig conducting. More info on Giorgia can be found on her web site: giorgiafumanti.com

Decca Music Group will release The Best of Andreas Scholl will be released internationally on 15 September which contains two titles from the “Wayfaring Stranger” disc that was produced and arranged by Craig.This is a compilation which covers the years during which Andreas’ recorded at Decca.

The recording of the London Symphnony Orchestra, conducted by Simone Pittau, performing Erich Korngold’s Symphonic Serenade in B Flat Major, op. 39 coupled with Craig’s new orchestration of the complete “Roman Sketches, op. 7 for Orchestra” by Charles Tomlinson Griffes is now available on ASV Gold in Europe. The American release through Koch will follow shortly.

The disc, produced by Craig, was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. One movement of the Griffes arrangement has been used on the current demonstration DVD for the new line of B&W Nautilus loudspeakers. The full version is now available on this new disc.

For more information on the music on the disc please click here.

For more information on Erich Korngold click here

For more information on Charles Tomlinson Griffes and his wonderous music click here