About Leslie

 

Leslie Craven

DSC00291Leslie – long standing Principal Clarinettist of Welsh National Opera, retired from the position at the end of September 2018. He was appointed by Maesto Carlo Rizzi twenty five years ago and in his last season of Opera was singled out by many of the national press out for his outstanding artistry in substantial solos in performances of Forza del Destino (Verdi) (notably Act 3 Prelude and Aria del Alvaro) and Tosca (Puccini – the aria “E Lucevan le Stelle”).

Before he joined W.N.O he was guest Principal clarinet with major orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia, London Symphony, London Chamber Orchestra, London Musici and many other ensembles. He has had a prolific Film and T.V. recording session career and was one of London’s most sought after recording musicians in film studio sound track work and for jingles (T.V. and radio advertisements) 

As a child aged 11 he was invited to play with the London Philharmonic Orchestra a unique opportunity to play with a professional orchestra under the Baton of Sir Colin Davis.

During Leslie’s very first appointment as Principal Clarinet with an Opera Orchestra (age twenty one) he studied the Italian – opera clarinet repertoire with Maestro Franco Ferraris, learning much about the style and tradition of that art form and it is from Ferraris he developed a great affinity for Italian Opera, eliciting numerous compliments and accolades for his solos, being singled out by name in live televised performances and broadcasts particularly on BBC Radio 3 

Solo Concertos and appearances on T.V. 

Leslie has played many concertos all over the world notably on television in UK: the Mozart concerto live from St David’s Hall Cardiff, the Fantasia da Concerto “La Traviata” on T.V. in South Africa and Weber 2nd concerto in Portugal. He performed the 2nd performance of the Alun Hoddinott first concerto at the Royal College of Music shortly after it’s recording by Gervase De Peyer in the 1970’s. He has also been the dedicatee of several concertos written for him: notably  the “Pied Piper of Hamelyn” by Vasco Hexel and the Concerto “Ambidexterity” by Roma Cafolla. His definitive recording of the Christopher Ball Concerto  (written for  and dedicated to him)  is available for sale on this website.

Front cover of cd of Romantic Trios

5 stars and nominated for Chamber music award in BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE: ROMANTIC TRIO    Chamber CD  recordings with “2CELLOS” Stjepan Hauser and friends

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Before he became world renowned “2CELLOS” star Stjepan Hauser recorded two CD discs with Leslie and since then has had huge success and was signed by Sony records to record numerous albums.

 

 

Leslie has also recently been partnered in recitals by Michael Pollock with whom he has recorded for CD both of the Brahms Sonatas, plus the beautiful Sonata by Nino Rota (composer of the Godfather score) also on that particular disc “Rota Centenary” (to celebrate Rota’s 100 anniversary of his birth) Leslie is joined by Yoko and Stjepan to perform the Rota trio for Clarinet Cello and piano

 

Leslie and Michael after finishing their 4 stars BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE recording of Rota Centenary: Brahms and Rota Sonatas plus Rota trio with Hauser and Misumi

 

Leslie Craven is also featured on solo discs and numerous chamber music recordings, some of which have been written especially for and dedicated to him – notably, many of the works on the “Expressions” disc of lyrical contemporary pieces and the Concerto for clarinet and strings by Christopher Ball (see CD page) plus the Clarinet Quintet by Christopher Ball and the new CD “Inspirations” featuring the music of Roma Cafolla with virtuoso friends. 

Orchestral and studio work

He has a vast recital repertoire and has also performed many concertos in countries as distant as America, Canada, South Africa, most of Europe and for many international Radio and T.V. networks. In his role as a principal clarinettist he has recorded with Vladimir Ashkenazy, Gidon Kremer, Rostropovitch, Alfredo Kraus, Bryn Terfel, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming, Marcello Alvarez, Stjepan Hauser, and many other great artists.

Films and “Jingles”

During his freelance career in London he was highly sought after in studios, playing on soundtracks for films and for TV series and commercials (aka Jingles). Films he played for include Howards End (with Anthony Hopkins), Mickey Blue Eyes (with Hugh Grant), The Pope Must Die (with Robbie Coltrane), The Wicker Man (original version with Britt Ekland and Edward Woodward), The Pirate Prince and many more.
T.V. series include amongst others; House of Eliott, Soldier, Soldier, Anna Lee, the Michael Aspel show and Wogan. He appeared also on the sound track for the background music to the Barcelona Olympics with Placido Domingo and Sarah Brightman.
He also played for West End Shows such as Phantom of the Opera and was a member of the chamber ensemble (hand chosen by Michael Reed –  who was at the time Andrew Lloyd Webber’s executive musical director) for Aspects of Love and featured on the cast albums and compilation discs of most of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical hits.
Leslie also recorded for many commercials including: Ribena, Levi, Renault, McDonalds, Lindt chocolates, Ariel, Cheerios and many other household brands. As well as numerous classical and operatic orchestral discs he also recorded backing tracks for Charlotte Church, Cilla Black, Michael Ball, Michael Crawford, Barry Manilow, Rod Stewart, The Pet Shop Boys, Richard Clayderman and many others.

 

Pedagogy   see also : lesliecraven.co.uk/about-leslie/teaching  

Leslie’s work as a teacher and pedagogue is known internationally and he is considered one of Britain’s foremost teachers of clarinet and one of the most exciting players in the English style.
Leslie teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music  and the University of Cardiff School of Music. He has given  master classes throughout U.K. in most of the major teaching establishments including: the Royal College of Music, Trinity Laban, Birmingham Conservatoire, South African College of Music Cape Town, Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts, School of Music, University of Caldas, Colombia, Utiel-Requena Union de Musica, Spain.

Leslie has written a teaching/playing treatise about the clarinet, called “Instant Help for Playing and Teaching the Clarinet” which is available to download as a PDF and is recommended reading on the A.B.R.S.M Diploma Course reading list . see book page in LESLIE CRAVEN’s products.

Leslie’s specific Mouthpiece Design 

Leslie has been working on mouthpiece facing design for over forty years and designed his own brand of clarinet mouthpiece, manufactured in the United States exclusively for Leslie (by Bradford Behn, possibly the finest mouthpiece craftsman in the world) and is sold from this website and used by many of Britain’s leading players and various clarinettists all over the globe. see: https://www.lesliecraven.co.uk/products/mouthpiece/