Orpheus Violinist

Orpheus Violinist

“A commanding soloist of great breadth and sensitivity.”  
Robert Matthew - Walker (Musical Opinion)
‘Balance was immaculate in Orpheus Leander’s fresh reading of ‘Summer’ from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. He achieved a beautiful, sustained pianissimo in the slow movement. Cunningham directed from the harpsichord providing a sparkling and sympathetic accompaniment..... a highly skilled group of musicians’  
Classical Source by Jens Fredriksen  2017
After training at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Orpheus was awarded a scholarship for his postgraduate violin studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music. Whilst there he led the Wren Ensemble,  the Contemporary Music Group and formed the Orpheus String Quartet. He was awarded a scholarship by the RAM to further his solo studies with Carmel Kaine at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Australia.

Orpheus performs as a soloist and won first prize in the Concerto Competition at the Richmond Music Festival playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto and also the Silver Medal at the Marlow Music Festival.

Orpheus is the artistic director of the Music of the Spheres Ensemble and works regularly with internationally renowned pianists Alberto Portugheis, Rimantas Vingras, Lada Valesová and the late Geoffrey Pratley his former teacher at the RAM.

Orpheus works with several conductors including  Bridget Cunningham director of London Early Opera, Scott Wilson (London/Boston), Luke Cleghorn (Vienna). Rising star composer Aziza Sadikova, in Berlin has written several solo and chamber works for Orpheus which he has premiered and recorded.

He performs with the Philharmonia Orchestra, English National Opera and Royal Philharmonic and has performed for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.  

He performs recitals in the UK, Asia, America, Africa and all over Europe.
 
High Points
 
In March 2011 Orpheus gave a series of performances of The Lark Ascending touring England with the generous support of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Charity.
 
In 2016 he made his Austrian debut to critical acclaim in Vienna performing The Lark Ascending with Luke Cleghorn conducting, which also features on his debut CD - Colours of Europe
 
He is regularly invited to perform ‘The Lark Ascending’ which is always a great joy and honour.
 
In August 2019 he gave a series of solo performances in Corfu at the Gina Bachauer International Festival.

He has shared the stage with violist Yuri Zhislin, including performances of Mozart Sinfonia Concertante and Andriy Viytovych principal violist, Royal Opera House Covent Garden for the World Premier of the ‘Ukrainian Fantasy’ by Alla Sirenko  for violin, viola and Orchestra.

Solo performances include at St Martin in the Fields, St John’s Smith Square and South Bank Centre.  

Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5 and Sarasate Zigeunerweisen with the Music of the Spheres Ensemble
at St Martin-in-the-Fields

Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3

Vivaldi Four Seasons

Beethoven Violin Concerto

Bruch Violin Concerto No 1

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor Op 64

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

He has made several recital tours of China as a soloist, performing in Guangzhou - Children’s Palace for the Arts, Nanning - Concert Hall, Beihai - Artists Hall of the People and Cheng Du - Arts Centre

World Premier of  ‘A Greek in New York’, Concerto for Violin and Chamber Ensemble by Denise Mangiardi, written for Orpheus

World Premiers works by Aziza Sadikova including
Preobrajenie - solo violin
Kamni & Letter Shards with the Orpheus String Quartet
Piece for violin & piano

He also gave the UK Premier of Ezio Bosso’s ‘Sea Rain’ for Violin and Strings with the composer conducting.

Solo tango violinist with the Balletboyz in the Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank Centre. 

He recently gave a recital tour of Bangladesh for Dhaka Classics.  

Orpheus has appeared on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Cypriot National Television and recorded for BBC radio

He performs as a Headline solo violinist on exclusive cruise liners.

In addition to his work as a performer, he enjoys composing music for the theatre and has had several successful scores performed both on and off London’s West End.

For many years Orpheus has given concerts for Music and Hospitals and Care and Lost Chord in Care Homes and Hospitals, to bring live music directly to those who might otherwise not come to concerts.

In 2019 his debut CD as a soloist ‘Colours of Europe’ came out, with works by Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Dinicu, Sadikova (featuring the Orpheus String Quartet) and Sarasate Zigeunerweisen.
‘violinist Orpheus Leander gave a magical rendition of
Vaughan Williams  The Lark Ascending‘   
Music in Hospitals & Care Charity Gala Concert

Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending

                Ukranian Cathedral London

Bruch Violin Concerto No 1 in G Minor Op 26 - Moments