Stargazing

Chris Hazell studied composition with Herbert Howells at the Royal College of Music before joining the Argo division of Decca in 1973 as a producer. There he continued the legendary recordings of Sir Neville Marriner, Philip Jones, King's College Cambridge and Peter Hurford amongst others. As the Decca Group labels evolved his artist base widened to incorporate such names as Sir Georg Solti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Charles Dutoit and Sir Charles Mackerras, the Berlin, Chicago, and Montreal Symphonies and all the major London Orchestras, becoming Senior Producer in 1992. His many recordings with David Zinman in Baltimore have continued (after he went freelance in 1997) with the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich, on their award winning Beethoven Symphony cycle.

Parallel to this has been his work as arranger and composer. His 'Brass Cats' (written for Philip Jones) is standard repertoire world-wide. He has worked extensively with Dame Kiri te Kanawa, and was both producer and arranger on Bryn Terfel's best-selling Welsh album. He also works regularly with Angela Gheorghiu. He has written music for television, including the title theme for the late Desmond Wilcox's award winning documentary series 'The Visit.'

He has received many commissions, including large-scale children's choral pieces, having regular performances at major venues such as the Royal Albert Hall.

He lives near Whipsnade Zoo (not in it!).