Recording and broadcast projects

Charles Hazlewood, a man in his fifties with white hair and a moustache, stands surrounded by around twenty Paraorchestra musicians posing with their instruments

We create worlds through sound

From celebrated studio albums to unforgettable soundtracks and original documentary series viewed by millions, we know how to capture the magic of our live performances and our passion for the music we play.

If you’re interested in working with us on a recording or broadcast project then we’d love to talk further – don't hesitate to get in touch.

TV and broadcast

Charles Hazlewood and Paraorchestra pose in a large recording studio. The musicians are holding their instruments and smiling.

Reinventing the Orchestra with Charles Hazlewood

Originally broadcast on Sky Arts in 2022, this unprecedented series saw Charles Hazlewood and our ensemble challenge outdated notions of what an orchestra is, or who it ought to be for. 

Each of the six episodes revolves around a Paraorchestra performance, charting the contribution of the orchestra to the work of musical greats from Scott Walker to Barry White, from Kraftwerk to Steve Reich, inviting viewers to consider the relevance of the orchestra to our contemporary musical landscape. 

 

Charles Hazlewood, a white man in his fifties with grey hair and moustache, conducts an orchestra. In the foreground, a violinist plays with his back to the camera.

Beethoven & Me

Fronted by Charles Hazlewood and underpinned by performances from a 38-strong ensemble of our musicians, Beethoven & Me delves into the genius and various health conditions that both influenced and disrupted the great composer’s work.

Created to coincide with the 250th anniversary of his birth, this 2022 documentary film broadcast on Sky Arts is a deeply personal exploration of the torrid creation of Beethoven’s fifth symphony, of his troubled life and its resonance with Charles Hazlewood’s own childhood trauma.

 

Studio albums

Artwork for Paraorchestra's Death Songbook album with the LP name arrange over expressive brushstrokes in vivid red, yellow and blue-green.

Death Songbook

Released in 2024 via BMG’s World Circuit Records, the Death Songbook LP is the creation of Suede's Brett Anderson, Charles Hazlewood, and Paraorchestra. Originally created as a broadcast for BBC Cymru, the album is a melancholic mix of cult songs by the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen, Japan, and Depeche Mode reimagined for our ensemble by the Ivor Novello-award winning composer and Paraorchestra member Charlotte Harding.

This beautifully poignant album also features special guest appearances from Gwenno and Nadine Shah and an original collaboration between Brett and Charles. Its release was marked by two sold-out shows at Roundhouse, London and Factory Studios, Manchester. 

Find out more and listen to the album here.
 

Album artwork for 'The Unfolding' album by Hannah Peel and Paraorchestra. Abstract shapes arranged on a white background.

The Unfolding

A collaboration between the Mercury Prize-nominated composer and multi-instrumentalist Hannah Peel and Paraorchestra, The Unfolding was released via Real World Records in 2022. 

Written and produced by Peel and conducted by Charles Hazlewood, the eight-track album is an ambitious, elemental journey through atmospheric soundscapes conjured by a fourteen-strong ensemble of our musicians. The Unfolding scored a number one on the UK Classical chart upon release and was celebrated with a national tour culminating in a headline performance at Bluedot Festival.

Find out more and listen to the album here.

Soundtracks

A still image from the Shardlake TV series. Two men in Tudor period dress converse in a church.

Shardlake

In 2023 we worked with celebrated film composer Alex Heffes to record the original soundtrack to Shardlake, an adaptation of C. J. Sansom's cult mystery series commissioned by Disney+ featuring Sean Bean and Arthur Hughes. 

Recorded at British Grove Studios in Chiswick, London, a five-piece string ensemble of our musicians recorded parts for score alongside Heffes and the Tenebrae Choir. 

Shardlake was released in May 2024 and is available from streaming via Disney+ and Hulu.

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