Harry Bicket
Encyclopedia
Harry Bicket is a British conductor
, harpsichordist
and organist
.
Bicket was educated at Radley College
, Christ Church, Oxford
, where he was organ scholar, and the Royal College of Music
. Before Oxford
he was organ scholar at St George's Chapel, Windsor, and afterwards he was sub-organist at Westminster Abbey
, during which time he performed at the wedding of Sarah Ferguson
and Prince Andrew
.
As a conductor, Bicket became known when he stood in as a replacement to conduct Peter Sellars’ production of Handel
's opera Theodora
with Dawn Upshaw
, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
and David Daniels, at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1996. He has since conducted in many other opera houses and concert halls. He has become especially associated with the baroque
and classical
repertoire. In 2003, Bicket was conductor for the revival of Theodora at Glyndebourne.
In 2003, Bicket made his Covent Garden
debut conducting Handel
's Orlando
with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
(OAE), a production that was nominated for "Best New Opera Production" in the 2004 Laurence Olivier Awards. Bicket's engagements with the OAE have also included Handel's Theodora
and Rodelinda for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera
. In 2005, Bicket made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera
conducting Rodelinda with Renée Fleming
.
His recordings include performances conducting the OAE of recitals by Renée Fleming and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
.
In October 2006, Bicket was named the next director of The English Concert
, effective as of September 2007. He first worked with the ensemble as a harpsichordist in 1984. This position is his first orchestral directorship. He lives in London.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, harpsichordist
Harpsichordist
A harpsichordist is a person who plays the harpsichord.Many baroque composers played the harpsichord, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, George Frideric Handel, François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau...
and organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
.
Bicket was educated at Radley College
Radley College
Radley College , founded in 1847, is a British independent school for boys on the edge of the English village of Radley, near to the market town of Abingdon in Oxfordshire, and has become a well-established boarding school...
, Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, where he was organ scholar, and 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...
. Before Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
he was organ scholar at St George's Chapel, Windsor, and afterwards he was sub-organist at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
, during which time he performed at the wedding of Sarah Ferguson
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
and Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew, Duke of York
Prince Andrew, Duke of York KG GCVO , is the second son, and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
.
As a conductor, Bicket became known when he stood in as a replacement to conduct Peter Sellars’ production of Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's opera Theodora
Theodora
Theodora is a name of Greek origin, meaning "God's gift". It is the feminine form of the Greek name, Θεόδωρος meaning "God's gift" , neuter gender...
with Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw is an American soprano described as "one of the most consequential performers of our time" by the Los Angeles Times. The recipient of several Grammy Awards and Edison Prize-winning discs, Upshaw is at home both in opera and art song, and in repertoire from Baroque to contemporary...
, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was an American mezzo-soprano, known for the dramatic power of her vocal artistry as well as her commitment to performing infrequently-heard Baroque era and contemporary works...
and David Daniels, at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1996. He has since conducted in many other opera houses and concert halls. He has become especially associated with the baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
repertoire. In 2003, Bicket was conductor for the revival of Theodora at Glyndebourne.
In 2003, Bicket made his Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
debut conducting Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Orlando
Orlando (opera)
Orlando is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel written for the Royal Academy of Music . The Italian-language libretto was adapted from Carlo Sigismondo Capece's L'Orlando after Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, which was also the source of Handel's operas Alcina and...
with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a British period instrument orchestra. The OAE is a resident orchestra of the Southbank Centre, London, associate orchestra at Glyndebourne Festival Opera and has its headquarters at Kings Place...
(OAE), a production that was nominated for "Best New Opera Production" in the 2004 Laurence Olivier Awards. Bicket's engagements with the OAE have also included Handel's Theodora
Theodora
Theodora is a name of Greek origin, meaning "God's gift". It is the feminine form of the Greek name, Θεόδωρος meaning "God's gift" , neuter gender...
and Rodelinda for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an English opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England.-History:...
. In 2005, Bicket made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
conducting Rodelinda with Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice.Fleming has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also...
.
His recordings include performances conducting the OAE of recitals by Renée Fleming and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was an American mezzo-soprano, known for the dramatic power of her vocal artistry as well as her commitment to performing infrequently-heard Baroque era and contemporary works...
.
In October 2006, Bicket was named the next director of The English Concert
The English Concert
The English Concert is a baroque orchestra playing on period instruments based in London. Founded in 1972 and directed from the harpsichord by Trevor Pinnock for 30 years, it is now directed by harpsichordist Harry Bicket...
, effective as of September 2007. He first worked with the ensemble as a harpsichordist in 1984. This position is his first orchestral directorship. He lives in London.
Selected reviews
- Andrew Clements, "Meandering meaning". The Guardian, 16 May 2000 (Radamisto).
- Fiona Maddocks, "So, Sigmund, why do children suffer?". The Observer, 21 May 2000 (Radamisto).
- Tim Ashley, "And Mozart made five". The Guardian, 30 May 2000 ( The Philosopher's Stone).
- Erica Jeal, "Le Nozze di Figaro". The Guardian, 10 October 2001 (Glyndebourne Touring Opera production).
- Fiona Maddocks, "Who cares where the pin is anyway?" The Observer, 18 November 2001 (Le Nozze di Figaro, Glyndebourne Touring Opera production).
- Rian Evans, "La Clemenza di Tito". The Guardian, 22 February 2002 (Welsh National Opera production).
- Tom Service, "Xerxes". The Guardian, 11 November 2002 (English National Opera production).