Ivor Bolton
Encyclopedia
Ivor Bolton is an English conductor
and harpsichord
ist. He studied at Clare College (University of Cambridge)
and at the Royal College of Music
. He later trained as a répétiteur
at the National Opera Studio
and was appointed conductor of Schola Cantorum of Oxford
.
Bolton was music director of Glyndebourne Touring Opera (now Glyndebourne on Tour) from 1992 to 1997, and principal conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
from 1994 to 1996. He has also held leadership positions with the St James's Baroque Players in London (with whom he recorded the Bach harpsichord concertos BWV 1053, 1054, 1058 in 1987) and the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music. Bolton made his New York City conducting debut with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra in 1998. He has a particular focus on baroque and classical-era opera. His commercial recordings include Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea
(Farao Classics) and Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride
(Orfeo).
Bolton has, since 2004, been chief conductor of the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg
. Bolton has conducted the Mozarteum Orchestra at The Proms
. In August 2007, Bolton extended his contract with the Mozarteum Orchestra through 2012. He has conducted commercial recordings with the Mozarteum Orchestra of music by composers such as Joseph Haydn
, Michael Haydn
, and Anton Bruckner
. On September 7, 2010, Bolton debuted at the Vienna State Opera
conducting a revival of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte.
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...
and harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
ist. He studied at Clare College (University of Cambridge)
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
and 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...
. He later trained as a répétiteur
Répétiteur
Répétiteur , repetitore , or Korrepetitor / Repetitor , originally from the French verb répéter meaning "to repeat, to go over, to learn, to rehearse"....
at the National Opera Studio
National Opera Studio
The National Opera Studio in London, England was established by the Arts Council as a link between the music colleges and the six main UK opera companies. It was resident at Morley College in Lambeth until 2003, when it gained use for the first time of its own dedicated premises in Chapel Yard,...
and was appointed conductor of Schola Cantorum of Oxford
Schola Cantorum of Oxford
Schola Cantorum of Oxford is the longest running chamber choir of Oxford University, and one of the longest established and widely known chamber choirs in the UK. It was founded in 1960 by the British-Hungarian conductor Laszlo Heltay as 'The Collegium Musicum Oxoniense' before adopting the name...
.
Bolton was music director of Glyndebourne Touring Opera (now Glyndebourne on Tour) from 1992 to 1997, and principal conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is Scotland's national chamber orchestra, based in Edinburgh. One of Scotland’s five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and South of Scotland. The SCO appears...
from 1994 to 1996. He has also held leadership positions with the St James's Baroque Players in London (with whom he recorded the Bach harpsichord concertos BWV 1053, 1054, 1058 in 1987) and the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music. Bolton made his New York City conducting debut with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra in 1998. He has a particular focus on baroque and classical-era opera. His commercial recordings include Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea is an Italian baroque opera comprising a prologue and three acts, first performed in Venice during the 1642–43 carnival season. The music, attributed to Claudio Monteverdi, is a setting of a libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello...
(Farao Classics) and Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride
Iphigénie en Tauride
Iphigénie en Tauride is an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck in four acts. It was his fifth opera for the French stage. The libretto was written by Nicolas-François Guillard....
(Orfeo).
Bolton has, since 2004, been chief conductor of the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg
Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg
The Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra is the symphony orchestra of the town and state of Salzburg, Austria. It was founded in 1841 and acquired its current name in 1908. It is a major participant at the Salzburg Festival....
. Bolton has conducted the Mozarteum Orchestra at The Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
. In August 2007, Bolton extended his contract with the Mozarteum Orchestra through 2012. He has conducted commercial recordings with the Mozarteum Orchestra of music by composers such as Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, Michael Haydn
Michael Haydn
Johann Michael Haydn was an Austrian composer of the classical period, the younger brother of Joseph Haydn.-Life:...
, and Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, complex polyphony, and considerable length...
. On September 7, 2010, Bolton debuted at the Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
conducting a revival of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte.