Purcell is a composer who had a formative influence on British music - even The Who now cite him as an influence. There's an intense, dirty harmony, but there's a Louis XIV kind of elan and style, too. He had the melancholy DNA of our national folk heritage. Charles Hazlewood britishcitecomposer share on social
Music is about communication, and the chemistry between an audience and the orchestra is absolutely essential; the performance does not exist in a bubble. Charles Hazlewood absolutelyaudiencebubble Change image and share on social
The way Fatboy Slim layers motifs is the same as 18th-century baroque counterpoint. You have an idea, then you have an answer to the idea in another voice, then you have a counter idea accompanying the original idea, and you build up your texture like that. I'm really into Kruder and Dorfmeister at the moment, and they do the same thing. Charles Hazlewood 18thaccompanyanswer share on social
I admire Tom Ades: he's a brilliant conductor, and he gets just the right hard, brilliant sound from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra for Russian music. Charles Hazlewood adeadmirebirmingham Change image and share on social
Parallels between classical and pop are not new. The whole San Francisco movement of John Cage and Terry Riley went hand in glove with what the Velvet Underground were doing. Charles Hazlewood cageclassicalfrancisco Change image and share on social
There's always blood on the carpet when I play Beethoven at the piano. I hate playing the piano! And it's so hard to fight for Beethoven's soul! But that's what I have to do! Charles Hazlewood beethovenbloodcarpet Change image and share on social
I'd like to explode a few myths about what we call classical music. It's not high art for the titillation of a chosen few. Charles Hazlewood artcallchoose Change image and share on social
The rest of my family are obsessed by 'The X Factor:' I'm intrigued by it, although its musical values are far away from mine, like a cup of tea with 400 lumps of sugar in it. There's something very strange about Simon Cowell's lips, isn't there? Charles Hazlewood cowellcupfactor share on social
There is a terrible conservatism, like a cancer, right in the heartlands of music-making, a tremendous resistance to change, an absolute horror of the idea that more people might connect with music. That infuriates me more than I can say. Charles Hazlewood absolutecancerchange share on social
A hundred years ago, concerts were far more come-what-may - people played cards, drank beer and appreciated the music. If we go some way towards restoring that spirit, I'll be happy. Charles Hazlewood agoappreciatebeer Change image and share on social