Craig Armstrong
Orchestral works, solo albums and film scores
Pacific
Composer Craig Armstrong returns with new work Pacific out now via CMA Records. Written for piano, cello, and electronics, the three-movement piece was originally commissioned in December 2024 by Christian Kellersman, a pioneering figure in contemporary classical and jazz music, for his new live event series Berlin Confidential.
Armstrong was among the first artists invited to perform as part of Berlin Confidential, premiering Pacific at Berlin’s historic Meistersaal concert hall in March 2025. The concert featured Armstrong on piano alongside cellist Lena Angelina von Almen and producer and musician Guy Sternberg, combining acoustic instruments with live electro-acoustic treatments to create a rich and atmospheric sound world.
Recorded in May 2025 at Lowswing Studios in Kreuzberg,
Speaking about the inspiration behind the piece, Armstrong says: “I wrote this work during a time of great instability in the world, I wrote “Pacific†as an Elegy dedicated to the many suffering in today’s conflicts and in the hope that peace will prevail.â€
The Orchestral Score from Baz Luhrmann’s Film The Great Gatsby – “Green Light” 2LP
This release marks the first vinyl pressing of the beautiful orchestral score from Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film, The Great Gatsby. The Grammy© nominated score was composed by Craig Armstrong and features guest performances by Lana Del Rey, The xx, and The Bryan Ferry Orchestra.
The 2LP is printed on “Green Light†vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket printed with a gorgeous high gloss finish.
“Composing the score for Baz on The Great Gatsby was a very special time in my musical life.
Working with Baz and Anton and my music team Scott, Geoff, Emma, Clio, Matt, and the inspiring orchestral musicians was a unique collaborative experience.
I remember the many sessions in Glasgow [often in the snow] and beautiful Sydney fondly.
Baz is a truly inspirational artist, and I was fortunate he trusted me to write the score for his unique vision of F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel.
More than anything I remember we had a lot of fun as well as pushing ourselves to be the best that we could be.
I saw the film recently 12 years after the premiere at Cannes. I found it to be very beautiful, profound, and moving and it reminded me of our great journey together.â€
– Craig Armstrong [Glasgow 2025]
Orchestral works
Through his orchestral writing and wide ranging artistic collaborations in classical and film music, Craig Armstrong’s distinct compositional voice has received world wide acclaim.
Concert works from Armstrong include commissions from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Hebrides Ensemble, Cappella Nova and the Scottish Ensemble to name a few. Visconti was a commission from the London Sinfonietta and the Barbican, premiered at the Stockhausen Festival in 2002 and is an homage to both the film director Luchino Visconti and the composer Gustav Mahler.
The violin concerto Immer, for the vioinist Clio Gould was recorded by Virgin Classics which was premiered at the Saint Denis Festival in Paris in 2008.
Armstrong’s second Scottish Opera commission, The Lady From The Sea, premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2012 winning the Herald Angel Award. For a recent commission for Union Chapel’s Organ Reframed festival, Armstrong composed the beautiful Painted In White for Organ and Strings performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra.
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“What I love about [Craig’s] work is the way in which it’s like a movie in itself, but without any pictures.â€
Baz Luhrmann
Director