Nimrod Borenstein: Composer and Conductor

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

Nimrod Borenstein is a brilliant composer, who was a child prodigy as both a composer and performer. His often complex music is beloved by performers and audiences alike, and has been widely recorded and performed internationally. He is also a renowned conductor, and he spoke to me about his difficult decision to cut short his career as a violin soloist in order to find alternate career options as he developed his career as a composer. Vladimir Ashkenazy has been an active champion of Nimrod’s music, and you’ll hear the charming story of their first meeting. Ashkenazy first conducted Borenstein’s orchestral work The Big Bang and Creation of the Universe op. 52 to great acclaim, and the Chandos label released a very successful album devoted to Borenstein’s music conducted by Ashkenazy featuring his Violin Concerto and orchestral works.

Nimrod shares his insights about interpreting music for performers and conductors, the development of his compositional style and his views on creativity in general. Nimrod has an infectious energy in his enthusiasm for the pursuit of beauty. Nimrod has exceptional parents, and you’ll hear how they met, and we start with Nimrod’s close relationship to his father the renowned painter Alec Borenstein.

You’ll be hearing excerpts from a couple of recordings, with thanks to both SOMM recordings and Naxos; links to Nimrod Borenstein's compositions and recordings below

This episode is also a captioned video on YouTube, and you can read the transcript at this link as well: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/nimrod-borenstein

Nimrod Borenstein website, for his discography, compositions and current projects: https://www.nimrod-borenstein.com/recordings

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Catalog of Episodes

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(03:27) father Alec Borenstein, sharing ideas about great art and creativity

(10:44) Un moment de sérénité Shirim, op. 94, no. 5 performed by pianist Clélia Iruzun with thanks to SOMM recordings

(13:24) the importance of contrast

(15:06) importance of dynamics, notation, interpretation

(18:04) evolution of Nimrod’s compositions, decision to give up career as a violin soloist

(22:37)Concertos

(24:51) piano Etudes

(30:11) Tango Etude. op. 66 No. 3 on the Naxos label with pianist Tra Nguyen

(32:32) piano Etudes, first symphony

(35:24) Chopin performed very little, Nimrod’s decision to prioritize composition

(36:41)decision to conduct

(43:47) excerpt from the 3rd movement of the Borenstein Concerto for Piano and Orchestra op. 91, performed by Clélia Iruzun and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Nimrod Borenstein conductor

(47:11) conducting, composition and interpretation

(55:35)past episodes you may enjoy, different ways to support this series

(56:20) English Chamber Orchestra 2025 collaboration Shakespeare Songs

(57:16)how Vladimir Ashkenazy became a champion of Nimrod’s compositions

(01:06:38) evolution of Nimrod’s compositional style, use of polyrhythms, finding his voice

(01:24:09) excerpt from the 2nd movement of the Borenstein Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, op. 91, performed by Clélia Iruzun and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with Nimrod conducting.

(01:27:31) Nimrod’s childhood in France, then move to the UK, musical influences, rating composers

(01:37:32) Nimrod’s family

(01:42:55) piano pedagogy books and approach to teaching

(01:48:42) great art separate from the creator

photo: Sonia Fitoussi