James Crabb
Australia
James Crabb is supported by Simply Squeezebox - Townsville's accordion and concertina ensemble
Scottish born James Crabb is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading ambassadors of the classical accordion. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with classical accordion pioneer Mogens Ellegaard and was awarded the Carl Nielsen Music Prize, Denmark in 1991. He was professor of classical accordion at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen from 1995-2010 and also held a long-standing guest professorship at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria. James is currently Artistic Director of Four Winds Festival, NSW.
He has performed worldwide as soloist with a.o. BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish, Sydney and Melbourne Symphonies, Philharmonia, London Philharmonic, London Symphony, Hallé Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Nash Ensemble, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Swedish Chamber Orchestra.
A recognised and acclaimed authority on the music of Astor Piazzolla, James has performed with the original members of Piazzolla’s own quintet. He has directed Maria de Buenos Aires both at the Royal Danish Opera and for Victorian Opera. James’ Piazzolla recordings include Song of the Angel with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and The Quintets with Richard Tognetti and the Tango Jam quintet. He is also featured in the documentary Astor Piazzolla in Portrait published by Opus Arte. Further recordings include transcriptions of Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition (EMI Classic)s, The Singing (Sally Beamish) with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (BIS records).
Highlights of recent seasons include performing and recording the new Accordion concerto The Players written for him by Brett Dean with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Piazzolla’s Aconcagua with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Ulster Orchestra Sinfonia Cymru, Birtwistle The Last Supper in Glasgow, Stravinsky’s Petrouchka with the Tero Saarinen Dance Company in Europe and Asia, the world premiere of a new work by Magnar Am in Oslo and Japan, Gubaidulina’s 7 Words with BBC Symphony, Beamish concerto at the BBC Proms, tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, performances with the Camerata Salzburg, Australia Ensemble, Melbourne Symphony. James has been Artistic director of Four Winds Concerts Inc Australia since late 2016.
