Alexander Baillie
Encyclopedia
Alexander Baillie is an English
cellist. He is currently professor of cello at the Bremen Hochschule
, as well as at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
.
, England, and started learning the cello at the late age of twelve, after having been inspired by seeing Jacqueline du Pré
perform. He advanced very quickly and gained a place at the Royal College of Music
at the age of 16, studying 'cello under Anna Shuttleworth
and Joan Dickson
. After leaving the RCM, he studied for three years under André Navarra
at the Vienna Hochschule. Other cellists he received tuition from included Mstislav Rostropovich
and the cellist who inspired him to begin playing, Jacqueline du Pré
.
, City of Birmingham Symphony, BBC Symphony
, Royal Philharmonic
and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
. He has also directed and performed the Haydn and Boccherini concertos with the English Chamber Orchestra
.
He has made a significant contribution to contemporary music, having premiered various works such as Penderecki's Cello Concerto No. 2 in 1992, H. K. Gruber's Concerto, and Andrew MacDonald's concerto. At the BBC Proms, he gave debut performances of Colin Matthew's Concerto in 1984, Henze's "Sieben Liebeslieder" in 1988 under the composer's direction, and Takemitsu's "Orion and Pleiades" in 1989. Other works by contemporary composers he regularly performs include Lutoslawski's Cello Concerto, which he has performed twice with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.
As well as being a prolific performer, Baillie frequently teaches both privately and in masterclasses. Currently he is professor of cello at the Bremen Hochschule
in Germany, as well as visiting professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
and Royal College of Music
. He also makes numerous appearances at summer music courses, including Cadenza International Summer School and the Bryanston International Cello Course in the South of England. As well, Bailey is a regular conductor of the Marryat Players in Wimbledon.
, Tippet's Triple Concerto with the composer himself conducting, and a recent CD of the Gordon Crosse Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Martyn Brabbins
. He has also recorded the Britten Cello Suites
and Sonata, which received the highest acclaim in the New York press. Recordings recently released and to be released soon include Jan Vriend's "The Anatomy of Passion", which was written for Baillie and duo partner James Lisney, as well as a CD of works for cello and piano by Thomas Schmidt Kowalski.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cellist. He is currently professor of cello at the Bremen Hochschule
University of the Arts Bremen
The University of the Arts Bremen is a publicly funded university in Bremen, Germany and one of the most successful ones whose roots in music, arts and design date back to 1873...
, as well as at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
.
Early life
Alexander was born in StockportStockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, England, and started learning the cello at the late age of twelve, after having been inspired by seeing Jacqueline du Pré
Jacqueline du Pré
Jacqueline Mary du Pré OBE was a British cellist. She is particularly associated with Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor; her interpretation has been described as "definitive" and "legendary." Her career was cut short by multiple sclerosis, which forced her to stop performing at 28 and led to her...
perform. He advanced very quickly and gained a place at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
at the age of 16, studying 'cello under Anna Shuttleworth
Anna Shuttleworth
Anna Shuttleworth is a cellist from the United Kingdom. She studied cello with Ivor James and Harvey Phillips at the Royal College of Music and later became a professor at the same college...
and Joan Dickson
Joan Dickson
Joan Dickson was one of the great cello teachers of the twentieth century. She worked primarily in the United Kingdom, and was a professor at the Royal College of Music in London...
. After leaving the RCM, he studied for three years under André Navarra
André Navarra
André-Nicolas Navarra was a French cellist and cello teacher.-Early life:...
at the Vienna Hochschule. Other cellists he received tuition from included Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
and the cellist who inspired him to begin playing, Jacqueline du Pré
Jacqueline du Pré
Jacqueline Mary du Pré OBE was a British cellist. She is particularly associated with Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor; her interpretation has been described as "definitive" and "legendary." Her career was cut short by multiple sclerosis, which forced her to stop performing at 28 and led to her...
.
Career
Baillie frequently appears as a concerto soloist all around the world. He has been a soloist at the BBC Proms numerous times, having performed the Schumann, Delius and Beethoven Triple Concertos, as well as various premieres of contemporary works. British Orchestras he has performed with include the London SymphonyLondon Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, City of Birmingham Symphony, BBC Symphony
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
, Royal Philharmonic
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
and the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
The National Youth Orchestras of Scotland has provided music education and performance experience for young musicians throughout Scotland since its formation in 1979....
. He has also directed and performed the Haydn and Boccherini concertos with the English Chamber Orchestra
English Chamber Orchestra
The English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
.
He has made a significant contribution to contemporary music, having premiered various works such as Penderecki's Cello Concerto No. 2 in 1992, H. K. Gruber's Concerto, and Andrew MacDonald's concerto. At the BBC Proms, he gave debut performances of Colin Matthew's Concerto in 1984, Henze's "Sieben Liebeslieder" in 1988 under the composer's direction, and Takemitsu's "Orion and Pleiades" in 1989. Other works by contemporary composers he regularly performs include Lutoslawski's Cello Concerto, which he has performed twice with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.
As well as being a prolific performer, Baillie frequently teaches both privately and in masterclasses. Currently he is professor of cello at the Bremen Hochschule
University of the Arts Bremen
The University of the Arts Bremen is a publicly funded university in Bremen, Germany and one of the most successful ones whose roots in music, arts and design date back to 1873...
in Germany, as well as visiting professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
and Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
. He also makes numerous appearances at summer music courses, including Cadenza International Summer School and the Bryanston International Cello Course in the South of England. As well, Bailey is a regular conductor of the Marryat Players in Wimbledon.
Recording
Alexander Baillie has made various recordings, which include Elgar's Cello ConcertoCello Concerto (Elgar)
Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, his last notable work, is a cornerstone of the solo cello repertoire. Elgar composed it in the aftermath of the First World War, by which time his music had gone out of fashion with the concert-going public...
, Tippet's Triple Concerto with the composer himself conducting, and a recent CD of the Gordon Crosse Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Martyn Brabbins
Martyn Brabbins
Martyn Brabbins is a British conductor. He studied at Goldsmiths College, London University, and later was a conducting student of Ilya Musin at the Leningrad Conservatory....
. He has also recorded the Britten Cello Suites
Cello Suites (Britten)
The Cello Suites by Benjamin Britten are a series of three compositions for solo cello, dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich. The suites were the first original solo instrumental music that Britten wrote for and dedicated to Rostropovich, but Britten had earlier composed a cadenza for Joseph...
and Sonata, which received the highest acclaim in the New York press. Recordings recently released and to be released soon include Jan Vriend's "The Anatomy of Passion", which was written for Baillie and duo partner James Lisney, as well as a CD of works for cello and piano by Thomas Schmidt Kowalski.
External links
See also
- List of English people
- List of cellists