 
Scarred by physical and mental abuse under apartheid, the classical player came to the UK to build his career. Now he's on a mission to create a bass repertoire in the country of his birth
Lockdown Conversation with Leon Bosch - 21st August 2020
Watch on YouTube 
A lifetime discovering Schubert's 'Trout' Quintet - Full Article. 
The South African Double Bass: An idea is born Full Article (PDF). 
In his debut as a radio presenter, Leon Bosch opens up a colourful selection of classical music from the inside - revealing familiar and unfamiliar works in a new light. Broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Saturday 4th January, 2020 at 1pm. Live Broadcast [BBC]. 
Leon Bosch Featured on the Cover of The Strad, August 2019
Contrabass Conversations: Leon Bosch on getting things done
The Strad Masterclass: Leon Bosch on Dragonetti's Famous Solo for double bass
BBC Radio 4 'Midweek' with Libby Purves
Ultra (marathon) Man - an Interview with Leon Bosch
People of Note - interview with Dragan Jevtovic and Leon Bosch.
"The harder I worked, the more talented I became." Leon Bosch talks to ceramicist and musician Dragana Jevtovic of South Africa�s Fine Music Radio about his life as a double bassist from young wannabe lawyer in Cape Town to solo recording artist and principal double bass with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.
Contrabass Conversations � the Sherlock Holmes of the double bass
John Woolrich - To The Silver Bow
Since leaving the Academy of St Martin in the fields in 2014, Leon Bosch has been encouraging a growing list of composers to have deep thoughts Toby Deller reports. Full Article (PDF). 
On 13th March Leon will be swapping bow for baton in a concert of Mozart, Schumann and Shostakovich with Amanda Forsyth and the US Camerata. 
Academy Principal Second Violin Martin Burgess, Principal Viola Robert Smissen and Principal Cello Stephen Orton showcase the exceptional ability of the musicians who make up the Academy, stepping into the spotlight as soloists for the evening alongside former Academy Principal Double Bass Leon Bosch and the evening�s Guest Director, violinist Simon Blendis. A highlight of the programme sees the world premiere of To the Silver Bow by John Woolrich, one of the key figures of British contemporary classical music, which was commissioned by Bosch for this collaboration. The world premiere is on 16th February 2016 at the Church of St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. Tickets Available:
Instruments of the Night, Review by The Strad On 16th February 2016 Robert Smissen and Leon Bosch will perform the world premiere of John Woolrich's "To the Silver Bow", a concerto for viola double bass and strings, followed by a second performance on 17th February 2016 at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds.
Xenia Evangelista Communications
World Premiere at the Apollon Sinfonia Gala
Leon recently performed the world premiere, in South Africa, of a new concerto written specifically for him by the Columbian composer, Arturo Cuellar. 
Leon Bosch with Ruan Baartman
A short filmed profile of young double bassist Ruan Baartman, prot�g� of Leon Bosch since the pair first met at the Stellenbosch Festival in 2007. Bosch arranged for the then 14 year old to attend the Yehudi Menuhin school as a scholarship student. The interview (in Afrikaans with some English), was filmed at the 2014 festival and features the two together performing Bottesini's Passione Amorosa. Leon Bosch plays JOSEP CERVERA: THE CATALAN VIRTUOSO (world premiere recordings) The latest CD (Meridian CDE84622) from international soloist Leon Bosch features 10 recently discovered original pieces for double bass by the Catalan master of the instrument, Josep Cervera i Bret (1883-1969). Ranging from the technically dazzling El Carnaval de Venecia and Introduction e Tarantella to the melancholy Elegia and Cielo Gris, this album presents a sample of the 60 or so works that lay forgotten in a cupboard at the Cervera family property after Josep's death until they were uncovered some years later. As such it is one of the most substantial collections of double bass music in existence. Not only had the manuscripts disappeared from view, but so had their author. He lived his whole life in Catalonia, travelling around the region with his band, Els Peps, performing a mixture of classical and Catalan folk music. It is thanks to Bosch's efforts in tracking down the music, having come across the name of Cervera while recording a previous CD, Pedro Valls: Music for Double Bass and Piano (Meridian CDE84604), that these world premiere recordings are now available. In addition, a series of performing editions of some of the pieces, edited by Leon Bosch for Alces Publishing, are due for publication shortly, allowing double bass players around the world to rediscover this highly characterful and idiomatic music. More Information about this release & Album details www.josepcervera.net 
Double bassist Leon Bosch announces retirement from Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Articles about Leon's decision to leave for pastures new: The Strad Article ISB Convention Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog
CELEBRATED DOUBLE BASSIST RETIRES FROM ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS
One of a small number of double bassists with an international reputation as a solo performer, the South African virtuoso double bassist Leon Bosch has announced that he will be leaving his position as principal double bass with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Increasingly in demand as soloist and chamber musician, Mr Bosch is retiring from regular orchestral playing to pursue his own varied artistic projects and add to his substantial body of recordings of original music for double bass. The announcement brings down the curtain on a 30-year orchestral career which has also included appointments as principal double bass with Manchester Camerata, the East of England Orchestra (now Sinfonia ViVA) and the London Mozart Players. Foremost in his plans is I Musicanti, a new mixed chamber ensemble of handpicked players. The group will assemble for specific musical projects focusing on great works by unfamiliar composers and unfamiliar works by great composers. Mr Bosch said: "It has long been my ambition to direct my own ensemble, dedicated to the pursuit of the universally cherished ideal of total artistic freedom and unrestrained self-expression. I Musicanti will promote this ideal by resolutely embracing excellence, curiosity, adventure and determination as its guiding principles." His solo work in the near future will see him reunite with the ASMF to perform the world premieres of two commissions: a new concerto by Paul Patterson and a double concerto with viola and orchestra by John Woolrich. A number of composers are writing music for Mr Bosch as part of his substantial programme of commissions, including Malcolm Lipkin, Roxanna Panufnik, Philip Wood, Ivor Hodgson and Chris Gunning as well as the South African composers Paul Hanmer and Allan Stephenson. Among his forthcoming concerts, there are recitals in the Netherlands, Germany and USA, and concerto performances in South Africa and the UK. His immediate recording plans include:
Mr Bosch's retirement from the Academy of St Martin in the Fields will also allow him to devote more time to teaching and education work. He teaches at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and in summer schools and seminars internationally, and is double bass coach for the I Culture Orchestra (Poland) and MIAGI Youth Orchestra and South African National Youth Orchestra. He is writing a scale book, tutor and recording a series of teaching videos. Mr Bosch said: "While I regret having to relinquish my position, it became increasingly clear to me that if I was to do full justice to my plans, this would not be possible while remaining the Academy's principal double bass. I will always look back on my years with the orchestra with gratitude, and would like to express my appreciation to my colleagues and to Sir Neville Marriner, Joshua Bell, Murray Perahia and all our other musical partners for what really has been the most inspiring and fulfilling musical journey." Mr Bosch's last performance as principal double bass with the ASMF will be at the BBC Proms on 10 August in a concert conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, the orchestra's founder and life president, and featuring its current music director Joshua Bell. Notes for editors: Leon Bosch (b 1961, Cape Town) studied double bass at the University of Cape Town before moving to the UK for further study at the Royal Northern College of Music and Royal College of Music. He was appointed principal double bass at Manchester Camerata immediately thereafter in 1984, remaining there until 1995 when he left to join the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, later becoming principal double bass. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields is one of the world's foremost chamber orchestras. It was founded in 1959 by Neville (now Sir Neville) Marriner, and is named after the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. It has made countless recordings and gives concerts throughout the world. Since 2011, its music director, only its second, is US violinist Joshua Bell. Pianist Murray Perahia has been principal guest conductor since 2000. Leon Bosch records for the Meridian Records label. He has recorded the complete works for solo double bass by Dittersdorf; music for double bass and piano by Pedro Valls; The Virtuoso Double Bass, vols 1 & 2; three volumes dedicated to Russian, Hungarian and British double bass music; and the Concerto and Burlesque for double bass by Allan Stephenson. Leon Bosch has commissioned over a dozen new works for double bass from David Ellis, John McCabe, Christopher Gunning, Malcolm Lipkin, Philip Wood, Allan Stephenson, Hendrik Hofmeyer, Francois le Roux, Paul Hanmer, Paul Patterson, John Woolrich, Roxanna Panufnik, Elis Pehkonen. Leon Bosch is leading the revival of Catalan virtuoso double bassist and composer Josep Cervera (www.josepcervera.net), through recordings, recital presentations and by editing his music for publication (Alces Publishing). I Musicanti is a new, mixed instrument chamber ensemble comprising some of the most experienced and respected musicians in the UK, dedicated to the ideal of total artistic freedom. It aims to provide a home to creative and imaginative artists who share the ambition of realising this dream. Leon Bosch holds a master's degree in intelligence and international relations from the University of Salford, and is a frequent marathon and ultra-marathon runner. Related Articles The Strad ISB Convention Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog World Orchestra for Peace - BBC Proms 2010
Alces Publishing presents an interview with Leon Bosch
'Before too long, this music will become standard repertoire. Cervera will have as esteemed a place in the bass repertoire as Bottesini does.' As his editions of the recently discovered cache of music by the neglected 20th century Catalan virtuoso start to appear, Leon Bosch tells Jeannot Maha, editor in chief of Editions Violone and Alces Publishing, why this long lost music is such an astonishing find. Leon Bosch records the works of Josep Cervera-Bret
Leon Bosch records the Berceuse, Elegia and Nocturno by the recently rediscovered Catalan virtuoso Josep Cervera-Bret, with pianist Sung-Suk Kang, for his 2013 CD release on Meridian Records. "I know, in my heart of hearts, that a lot of this music that I'm recording of Cervera's will become standard repertoire because it is just too beautiful and too good not to be enduring." Short documentary of the 2010 Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival.
Introduction to the international music festival for advanced music students at Stellenbosch University, including interviews with Leon Bosch and other members of the festival teaching faculty. People of Note - interview with Dragan Jevtovic and Leon Bosch.
'The harder I worked, the more talented I became.' Leon Bosch talks to ceramicist and musician Dragana Jevtovic of South Africa�s Fine Music Radio about his life as a double bassist from young wannabe lawyer in Cape Town to solo recording artist and principal double bass with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Leon Bosch Recording & Discussing his Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf album
Which illustrious quartet was adequate but by no means exceptional? What's the 'real' reason there are so many 18th century double bass concertos? Leon Bosch and Robert Smissen play Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf with long-time friends the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and talk about their 2011 recording of his music for Meridian. Leon Bosch and The Music Group of Manchester performing in the Bulgaria Hall, Sofia
Bottesini, Giovanni: Grand Duo Concertante for Violin and Double Bass Leon Bosch and The Music Group of Manchester performing Roger Quilter - Gipsy Life
Performed by The Music Group of Manchester Leon Bosch and The Music Group of Manchester performing Lyapunov, Sergei - Piano Sextet Op.63
Performed by The Music Group of Manchester Menuhin ESO Tour USA 1990
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