Testimonials

I have worked with Benjamin Pope on many occasions and have always enjoyed it immensely. He combines a relaxed working atmosphere with a sincere commitment to music, rehearses efficiently and succeeds in bringing the best out of the musicians in performance.

Benjamin Pope brings great musicianship, sensitivity and relaxed efficiency to the podium. His adaptability as conductor, composer and pianist is a great asset.  I have known and worked with Ben over many years and have immense respect for him.

I've worked with Benjamin over many years and have always found him to be capable, cheerful and sensitive to balancing the needs of the music and the orchestra - sometimes in challenging circumstances for a conductor.  He's well prepared and always uses the precious rehearsal time to best effect for all concerned.

 I have worked with Ben over many years as a conductor, composer and arranger, and in the studio doing commercial recordings, and have always found his energy and enthusiasm inspiring. A musician's dream.

Benjamin conducted our Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra concerts with typical passion - we had already experienced that from the Tchaikovsky ballet scores he had conducted with our orchestra.  I'm always grateful for his work - he came up with a brilliant edition of Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel Overture for our concerts - and I hope to see him again soon!

I have had the pleasure to work with Benjamin on several occasions, it was unforgettable for many good reasons.  Benjamin is a very fine conductor who understands how different art forms can complement each other, and what an enriching experience it may be.  Beside that - he is a very fine human being whose artistic values are high and with whom it is the greatest pleasure to collaborate.  I would love to work with him at any time in the future!

The times I have had the pleasure to work with Benjamin Pope he has given me the greatest inspiration and joy. He has a specialist’s passion for music combined with the deepest understanding and respect for ballet. Watching how he can make the orchestra and dancers really work together without any of the art forms having to pay the price of holding back their needs is every ballet director’s dream. Contemporary dance, or old classics, Mr Pope makes sure they are presented to the highest standard.

I had the pleasure of working with Benjamin Pope for seven years. He is the consummate professional, an amazing musician and a much loved member of our organisation. Ben is one of those rare ballet conductors who manages to feel what the dancer needs at every moment. He is so respected by the orchestra that he can achieve the highest possible level from them while remaining calm, friendly, and very amusing. It has been a highlight of my whole career to work with him. His musical knowledge and expertise has helped so many artists raise their understanding of the music. His advice over the years has been invaluable.

 It is always a pleasure to work with Benjamin Pope. Not only does he possess excellent musical knowledge and skill, but he is also one of the most creative musical directors I have ever worked with. His care for the work and the art, means that every performance or creative process that he commits to is one full of joy. His attention to detail is extraordinary, and you know you are in the best hands when Ben is leading the performance 

 It is so wonderful to work with Benjamin Pope - I adore him!

Benjamin is simply the best ballet conductor I have ever worked with.  He has a vast knowledge of music and dance history and is committed to the understanding and appreciation of the works he conducts.  On “Who Cares” Benjamin was very involved with the process, and was able to bring the right sound and tempos to the performances.  It sounded wonderfully American.  He made the process of putting it all together so smooth, I’ve never had such an easy experience with a conductor.  The orchestra and and dancers have the utmost respect for him. 

 The nice thing about working with Benjamin Pope is not only to enjoy his fantastic musical abilities, but his interest in a production and the choreography means that he always conducts a most exciting performance - he brings a score alive and makes it most beautiful. Working with such a sensitive colleague and strong artistic thinker makes the development of productions and rehearsal processes one of a shared enjoyment.

I have always very much enjoyed working with Benjamin Pope because I feel that he understands my movement as a dancer and therefore I feel completely free on stage.

I also always very much enjoy working with Benjamin in the studio because it's very relaxed and I really feel that he is very much involved in the process of creating a role and telling a story. 

 I had the pleasure of getting to know Benjamin during my production of Cinderella. He was very quick to pick up on the ‘flavour’ of the production, and particularly the way the choreography was intermeshed closely with the Prokofiev score, pitching his tempi and phrasing to closely match and support the needs of this choreographic/musical relationship. His understanding of what we do seems to be at once instinctive and well informed. 

But more than this vital component, I found him to be very personable and mercifully free of the often ‘difficult’ posturing of certain other musical collaborators I’ve experienced, enabling us all – dancers, musicians, artistic staff and myself – to get on with the work in a refreshingly harmonious way. He’s also possessed of an endearing sense of humour and is great fun to work alongside…in my book, a very important quality! I would recommend him very highly to any Artistic Director looking to strengthen the relationship between music and dance in their Company.

I worked with Ben for many years and in that time we have performed a wide variety of ballets together.  In Ben I have found someone whom I have complete confidence in when I am on stage. This trust I have in him coupled with his understanding of ballet is a huge part of what allows me to give myself totally on stage. He is always open and willing to discuss ideas and I have always found him to be very professional. Working with him is truly a pleasure!