STEUART BEDFORD STEUART BEDFORD

Transcription

1 STEUART STEUART BEDFORD BEDFORD

2 It is through his association with the works of Benjamin Britten that Steuart Bedford is best known. One of the Artistic Directors of the Aldeburgh Festival for many years, his collaboration with Britten and the English Opera Group makes him the definitive interpreter of the composer s works. One of the last musicians still practicing who worked with Britten, Steuart Bedford conducted with an assurance born of long experience. - Rupert Christiansen, The Telegraph

3 Steuart Bedford has an extensive operatic repertoire and has worked with many of the world s greatest opera companies including English National Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Opéra de Paris, Royal Danish Opera, Oper Köln, the Bolshoi Theatre, Teatro San Carlo, and the Teatro Colón. Bedford is highly regarded for his interpretations of the works of Mozart and his recent performances of Idomeneo, Lucio Silla, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni and La finta giardiniera, Il re pastore and Cosi fan Tutte, all for Garsington Opera, have been widely acclaimed. Other recent successes have included Peter Grimes with San Diego Opera, Owen Wingrave with Chicago Opera Theater and Don Pasquale with Den Norske Opera. Recent highlights include a critically acclaimed production of A Midsummer Night s Dream for Garsington Opera, a new production of Death in Venice with the Canadian Opera Company, Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Opéra de Rennes and Linda di Chamounix at Opera de Toulon. In the 2012/13 season and beyond Steuart conducts Paul Bunyan for Chicago Opera Theater, Don Giovanni at Vancouver Opera and a production of Albert Herring with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican, as well as performances of Peter Grimes at Aldeburgh as part of the Britten centenary. Steuart Bedford has worked extensively with the English Chamber Orchestra (with whom he has toured all over the world), as well as with the Scottish Chamber, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He has performed with the Orchestre National de France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine and Orchestre Philharmonique de Montpellier, and all of the BBC s Orchestras.

4 Critical Acclaim It certainly helped that its conductor, Steuart Bedford, had assisted the composer with his own recording of the richly jewelled score, because here every nuance was lovingly projected. - Michael Church, The Independent From the first glissando under Steuart Bedford s elegant beat... Garsington Opera s final production in its home of 21 years is faultless: musically refined, funny, perceptive. - Anna Picard, The Independent Another coup was securing the authoritative services of Steuart Bedford, a longtime Britten associate who had conducted the world stage premiere... The British maestro secured glowingly atmospheric playing from a fine 15-member instrumental ensemble. - John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune [The Turn of the Screw] left my stomach in knots thanks to conductor Steuart Bedford, who showed that the key to the piece lies in the orchestra pit. - David Patrick Stearns, WQXR New York Bedford s conducting was exacting and elucidating... Britten didn t waste a note, and Bedford let none escape notice. - Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times

5 Selected Discography Britten: Death in Venice English Chamber Orchestra, Peter Pears, John Shirley-Quirk Decca/London Britten: Phaedra English Chamber Orchestra, Janet Baker Decca/London Britten: Albert Herring Northern Sinfonia with Josephine Barstow, Gerald Finley, Christopher Gillett, Susan Gritton, Della Jones, Stuart Kale, Robert Lloyd, Felicity Palmer, Peter Savidge and Ann Taylor Britten / Gay: The Beggar s Opera Anne Collins, Ann Murray, Christopher Gillett, Declan Mulholland Decca Britten: The Turn of the Screw Aldeburgh Festival Ensemble with Phyllis Cannan, Eileen Hulse, Philip Langridge, Felicity Lott and Sam Pay Britten - Sinfonia da Requiem: Four Sea Interludes; Gloriana Suite London Symphony Orchestra with Osian Ellis (Harp), Keiron Moore (Oboe) Britten: Symphony for Cello and Orchestra; Death in Venice (Suite) English Chamber Orchestra, Raphael Wallfisch (Cello) Chandos Holst: Vedic Hymns / Four Songs, Op. 35 / Humbert Wolfe Settings Steuart Bedford (piano) with Louise Fuller, Susan Gritton, Philip Langridge and Christopher Maltman

6 Steuart Bedford is represented by HarrisonParrott For more information, including photo, future dates and repertoire, please contact: Katie Cardell-Oliver Associate Director +44 (0) Tom Philpott Associate Artist Manager +44 (0)