George Vass
The work of conductor George Vass shows an orientation toward contemporary and lesser-known works by British composers. In his work as a festival director, he has often showcased new works.
Vass was born in Walsall, near Birmingham, England, on May 9, 1957. He studied at the Birmingham Conservatory and the Royal Academy of Music, at first taking percussion and composition courses in addition to conducting. By the late '80s, he had decided to focus on conducting. In 1989, he formed a new orchestra for the Presteigne Festival in Wales, and he signed on himself as the ensemble's conductor. In 1992, he was named the festival's artistic director, and he remained in that position as of the mid-2020s. Vass also became artistic director of the Hampstead & Highgate Festival in 2004, continuing there until the early 2010s. His recording debut came in 2005 when he led Orchestra Nova and the Canterbury Chamber Choir in an album of works by Cecilia McDowall on the Dutton Vocalion label.
At those festivals and elsewhere, Vass introduced numerous new works by such composers as Adrian Williams, John McCabe, Hilary Tann, and Hugh Wood. He went on to make several more recordings of McDowall's music and also recorded works by David Matthews and Donald Tovey. He has also made multiple recordings of music by Matthews and Michael Hurd. Vass has also performed and recorded mainstream repertory from Mozart to Shostakovich. Vass is noted as a supporter of community music, conducting the Bushey Symphony Orchestra and the St. Albans Choral Society. He is also associated with the Blaze Ensemble and the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra and has led ensembles at the Dartington International Summer School. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, Vass recorded for the Resonus Classics label. He moved to the Lyrita label in 2023, leading the BBC National Orchestra of Wales on the album British Piano Concertos: Addison, Jacob, Rubbra.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Discography
15 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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British Piano Concertos, Vol. 2
Simon Callaghan, The BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, Stephen Bell, George Vass
Classical - Released by Lyrita on 1/09/2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Violin Concerto & Humoresques
Fenella Humphreys, George Vass, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
Classical - Released by Resonus Classics on 2/04/2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Orchestral Music
Malmö Opera Orchestra, George Vass
Classical - Released by Toccata Classics on 1/01/2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cello Concerto
Alice Neary, Ulster Orchestra, Gretel Dowdeswell, George Vass
Classical - Released by Toccata Classics on 1/01/2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Watkins: Chamber Music and Works for String Orchestra
Leonore Piano Trio, Orchestra Nova, George Vass
Classical - Released by Resonus Classics on 26/04/2024
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
British Viola Music
Sarah-Jane Bradley, George Vass, Orchestra Nova
Classical - Released by Dutton Epoch on 10/07/2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Variations on 'Lovely Joan': VIII. Variation VII
Presteigne Festival Orchestra, George Vass
Classical - Released by Resonus Classics on 21/05/2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mathias: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Vaughan Williams: Fantasia
Mark Bebbington, Ulster Orchestra, George Vass
Classical - Released by SOMM Recordings on 17/10/2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Joseph Phibbs: Juliana
Nova Music Opera Ensemble, George Vass
Opera - Released by Resonus Classics on 7/01/2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Variations on 'Lovely Joan': V. Variation IV
Presteigne Festival Orchestra, George Vass
Classical - Released by Resonus Classics on 7/05/2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
McDowall: Seraphim - Dance the Dark Streets - Dancing Fish - Not Just a Place
George Vass, Orchestra Nova, Tippett Quartet
Classical - Released by Dutton Epoch on 1/01/2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Piano Trio No. 1: II. Lento
Leonore Piano Trio, Orchestra Nova, George Vass
Classical - Released by Resonus Classics on 5/04/2024
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Four Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 89: III. No. 3 in E-Flat Major
Fenella Humphreys, George Vass, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
Classical - Released by Resonus Classics on 26/02/2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Two Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 87: II. No. 2 in D Major
Fenella Humphreys, George Vass, BBC National Orchestra Of Wales
Classical - Released by Resonus Classics on 19/03/2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -