JACQUES COHEN
Conductor & Composer
an astonishingly successful string arrangement by Jacques Cohen of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition
David Nice, theartsdesk.com
The Cohen ensemble anchored the whole thing together with impeccable playing of the highest standard... I have rarely witnessed such cohesion and shared musical empathy between band and choir.
Church Times
Cohen employs a multitude of string colours to brilliant effect in this most attractive piece.
British Music Society 2024
- Cohen's writing for string quartet is never less than confident...with a heart-stopping interlude before the final scene...This is a composer much possessed by shadows.”
BBC Music Magazine
a sumptuous sound, with conductor Jacques Cohen highly sensitive to the music’s ebb and flow
The Strad
Vidit Lucem Magnum is a stunner... Cohen's fearless Oxford Camerata sing with a confidence and flair.. a cracking collection
Graham Rickson, TheArtsDesk.com
Cohen's timing and control is excellent
Agnes Kory, musicalcriticism.com
A performance to delight the most demanding of critics
Cantabile
What a pleasure it was to share a platform with you. Thank you for a lovely concert. Clearly the orchestra and audience adore you!
Dame Evelyn Glennie
Thank you so much for such a beautiful performance
George Benjamin
An absolutely glorious performance and a unique occasion.
International Bruckner Society Journal
Concertino by Jaques Cohen was a thrilling and articulate showcase.. a very distinct voice.
Julia Savage, Bachtrack
The undoubted highlight was a brilliantly performed premiere of Cohen's own impressive Yigdal
Joanne Talbot, The Strad
New work commemorating the sinking of HMT Lancastria
Ever since I have been involved with Lloyd’s Choir and became aware of their involvement with the Lancastria, conducting the choir for the annual service at St Katharine Cree, I have felt compelled to help commemorate this in some way. Since I am a composer, writing a piece seemed the obvious thing. Originally, I was going to write an orchestral piece but realised it was important to involve the choir as well, and since the bagpipe melody has always been such an important and moving part of the ceremony, I knew that that too had to play a role. Then when I came across the Tennyson text everything came together. – Jacques Cohen
Lloyd’s Choir commemorated the sinking of HMT Lancastria with the premiere of a new choral work by Jacques Cohen. The new work marked the 85thanniversary of the World War II tragedy, which resulted in loss of life equal to the combined losses of the Lusitania and Titanic disasters.
On 17 June 1940, HMT Lancastria was anchored three miles off St Nazaire on the French Atlantic Coast with the task of repatriating British servicemen and civilians who had been left in France after the evacuation of Dunkirk. Almost 9,000 people were on board the ship when it was hit four times by enemy bombs and sank.
Cohen’s setting is one of originality and immediacy of gesture…His language is wiry and bold, but always accessible…some of the best chamber-orchestral playing I have heard in a long time. Lancastria was a fitting and moving tribute, which I cannot wait to hear again.
The choir and orchestra were perfectly balanced…Jacques Cohen as the conductor of the evening ensured that the orchestra and choir brought to the fore every nuance of his powerful composition, Lancastria….Cohen thereby masterfully not only referenced the ship’s Scottish origins, but also introduced into the music the theme of the Scottish folk song.
It’s a highly approachable and moving work which…suddenly (and spine-tinglingly) bursts into recognisable life. Chorus and orchestra performed the work with touching eloquence, pulling forth all the emotional resonances that Tennyson’s text brings to the historical record of Lancastria’s sinking…. a special moment.
Forthcoming Concerts
World Premiere of “Androida”
17 September 2026, The Cockpit, London
Academy of St Thomas
17 October 2026, St Andrew’s Halls, Norwich
Compositions
His compositions, published by Norsk Musikforlag have been commissioned and performed internationally by Kremerata Baltica, Sofia Soloists, Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Onyx Brass, Fitzwilliam String Quartet among many others. His string orchestra arrangements of such works as Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition are fast becoming staples of the repertoire.
WORK IN FOCUS
Ein Sternenzelt
Ein Sternenzelt, which in English means A Canopy of Stars is a set of variations for orchestra each depicting a different constellation in the night sky. The German title is taken from Schiller’s An die Freude (Ode to Joy), and the subtitle, Variations on a Theme of Beethoven, refers, not to the really famous melody, but to the weird 11-note theme that appears at the midpoint of the finale of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, setting the following words:
Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen? Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt? Such’ ihn über’m Sternenzelt! Über Sternen muß er wohnen. (Do you bow down, you millions? Do you sense your creator, world? Seek Him above the canopy of stars! Above stars must He dwell.)
The theme of human brotherhood and sisterhood advocated by Schiller’s poem is further explored by the interlude, Hymnus Universalis that appears between the 9th and 10th variations and this plays a major role in the finale.
The piece (as yet to be played live) is ideally intended to be performed in its entirety in the prescribed order. However, movements can be performed separately or grouped together to form little suites.
The variations include: Orion, Gemini, Ursa Major & Ursa Minor, Hydra, Pegasus, Capricorn & Scorpius, Canis Major & Canis Minor, Perseus & Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Libra and Crux.
Recent News
Premiere of Lancastria
Lloyd’s Choir and Cohen Ensemble gave the first performance of Jacque’s new work commemorating the sinking of the HMT Lancastria in 1940. Press reaction was unanimously positive: Cohen’s setting is one of originality and immediacy of gesture…His language is wiry and bold, but always accessible…some of the best chamber-orchestral playing I have heard in a…
The Lady of Satis House
Meridian’s recent release features Jacques Cohen’s haunting operatic monodrama The Lady of Satis House, inspired by the story of Miss Havisham from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. Written for Tête à Tête in 2012, it was Mark Pappenheim’s ‘opera pick of the week’ ( The Independent).
Premiere of “Creation”
Jacques Cohen’s Creation was premiered at St. Giles’ Church Cripplegate, Barbican London in 2023. A setting for orchestra, alto soloist, mixed choir and children’s voices of biblical texts interspersed with modern verse that concern Mankind’s threat to himself and the planet. Participants included Mae Heydorn (alto solo), Lloyd’s Choir, The Finchley Children’s Music Group and an enlarged…