Robin Hill (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
Robin Hill is a classical guitarist who has been performing worldwide for over 30 years.
He has performed with a wide variety of musicians including Luciano Pavarotti
, Lesley Garrett
, Russell Watson
, Jethro Tull
and Deep Purple
.
He is a published author, composer, performer and guitar teacher, and is also one half of the acclaimed Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo.
At Huddersfield Robin met fellow guitarist Peter Wiltschinsky, and together they formed, in 1973, the Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo, a highly successful partnership with a vast archive of recordings for Teldec/Warner Bros. Classics, Hyperion, ASV, RCA, Erato, Telstar, IMP Classics, Carlton Classics, and many more. The duo have made numerous television and radio broadcasts and toured extensively worldwide.
Hill/Wiltschinsky has collaborated with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the BBC Concert Orchestra
(under Barry Wordsworth
), the Irish National Symphony Orchestra, the Caracas Symphony Orchestra and many other fine orchestras.
In recent years Robin has made many appearances as a soloist and has begun to develop his compositional activities. In 1997 he gave the premiere of his own, Concerto Primavera with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
under conductor, Ian Tracey
. He has subsequently composed four further concertos, three for guitar and one for piano.
He also gave the UK premiere, in 1981, of Claude Bolling
’s ‘Concerto for Classic Guitar & Jazz Piano Trio’, a work he has also recorded with his quartet, Eklectica.
In 1997 Robin performed Joaquín Rodrigo
’s ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
under conductor Carl Davis
.
Robin has collaborated with artists as diverse as the legendary tenor, Luciano Pavarotti
, soprano Lesley Garrett
, tenor, Russell Watson
, soprano Denise Greaves at the 2003 Proms at the Royal Albert Hall
, and from British rock bands Jethro Tull
and Deep Purple
, to American jazz/soul singer, Madeline Bell
.
Robin has travelled extensively with 6 star Crystal Cruises and Cunard’s RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
and RMS Queen Mary 2
, performing highly acclaimed recitals on board, from the Antarctic, South America, Hawaii, Japan, India, Thailand, North America, the Caribbean, and many more countries of the world.
Robin also teaches aspiring guitarists at University of Leeds
, and his book, ‘The Guitar Gymnasium’, published by Mel Bay, which is designed to develop a flawless technique and to investigate the psychology of musical performance, is used in conservatories throughout the world.
Robin plays a Miguel Rodriguez guitar.
He has performed with a wide variety of musicians including Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
, Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
, Russell Watson
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
, Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
and Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
.
He is a published author, composer, performer and guitar teacher, and is also one half of the acclaimed Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo.
Biography
Robin Hill was born 14 May 1953 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England and educated at Bolton School. He studied at Huddersfield College of Music and later participated in master classes with Venezuelan guitarist, Alirio Diaz.At Huddersfield Robin met fellow guitarist Peter Wiltschinsky, and together they formed, in 1973, the Hill/Wiltschinsky Guitar Duo, a highly successful partnership with a vast archive of recordings for Teldec/Warner Bros. Classics, Hyperion, ASV, RCA, Erato, Telstar, IMP Classics, Carlton Classics, and many more. The duo have made numerous television and radio broadcasts and toured extensively worldwide.
Hill/Wiltschinsky has collaborated with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the BBC Concert Orchestra
BBC Concert Orchestra
The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra....
(under Barry Wordsworth
Barry Wordsworth
Barry Wordsworth is a British conductor.From 1989 to 2006, Wordsworth was principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra, and now holds the title of conductor laureate. From 1990 to 1995, Wordsworth was music director of the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. He began his second tenure in that post in...
), the Irish National Symphony Orchestra, the Caracas Symphony Orchestra and many other fine orchestras.
In recent years Robin has made many appearances as a soloist and has begun to develop his compositional activities. In 1997 he gave the premiere of his own, Concerto Primavera with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society is a society based in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, that organises concerts and other events mainly in the field of classical music. The society is the second oldest of its type in the United Kingdom and its orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic...
under conductor, Ian Tracey
Ian Tracey
Ian Tracey is a Canadian Leo- and Gemini Award-winning actor. Over the years, Tracey has participated in over seventy films and television series. Tracey has starred in series like Da Vinci's Inquest and Intelligence, both CBC television series produced by long-time colleague Chris Haddock...
. He has subsequently composed four further concertos, three for guitar and one for piano.
He also gave the UK premiere, in 1981, of Claude Bolling
Claude Bolling
Claude Bolling , is a renowned French jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and occasional actor.He was born in Cannes, studied at the Nice Conservatory, then in Paris. A child prodigy, by age 14 he was playing jazz piano professionally, with Lionel Hampton, Roy Eldridge, and Kenny Clarke...
’s ‘Concerto for Classic Guitar & Jazz Piano Trio’, a work he has also recorded with his quartet, Eklectica.
In 1997 Robin performed Joaquín Rodrigo
Joaquín Rodrigo
Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre, 1st Marquis of the Gardens of Aranjuez , commonly known as Joaquín Rodrigo, was a composer of classical music and a virtuoso pianist. Despite being nearly blind from an early age, he achieved great success...
’s ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society is a society based in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, that organises concerts and other events mainly in the field of classical music. The society is the second oldest of its type in the United Kingdom and its orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic...
under conductor Carl Davis
Carl Davis
Carl Davis CBE is an American born conductor and composer who has made his home in the UK since 1961. In 1970 he married the English actress Jean Boht....
.
Robin has collaborated with artists as diverse as the legendary tenor, Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
, soprano Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
, tenor, Russell Watson
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
, soprano Denise Greaves at the 2003 Proms at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, and from British rock bands Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
and Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, to American jazz/soul singer, Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, having arrived from the US in the gospel show Black Nativity in 1962, with vocal group The Bradford Singers.-Career:She worked as a session singer, most notably backing for Dusty...
.
Robin has travelled extensively with 6 star Crystal Cruises and Cunard’s RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2
Queen Elizabeth 2, often referred to simply as the QE2, is an ocean liner that was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008. Following her retirement from cruising, she is now owned by Istithmar...
and RMS Queen Mary 2
RMS Queen Mary 2
RMS Queen Mary 2 is a transatlantic ocean liner. She was the first major ocean liner built since in 1969, the vessel she succeeded as flagship of the Cunard Line....
, performing highly acclaimed recitals on board, from the Antarctic, South America, Hawaii, Japan, India, Thailand, North America, the Caribbean, and many more countries of the world.
Robin also teaches aspiring guitarists at University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, and his book, ‘The Guitar Gymnasium’, published by Mel Bay, which is designed to develop a flawless technique and to investigate the psychology of musical performance, is used in conservatories throughout the world.
Robin plays a Miguel Rodriguez guitar.
Quotes
‘As always, it was sheer pleasure to observe Robin Hill’s remarkable fluent technique: everything looks easy when he plays it.’ Colin Cooper ‘Classical Guitar Magazine’
‘Wonderful for their (Hill/Wiltschinsky) precision, touch and clarity of sound…refined virtuosity, the achievement of a long interpretive process.’ Il Giornale D’Italia (Rome)
‘There’s nothing they (Hill/Wiltschinsky) can’t play. The whole evening constituted a breath of stimulating fresh air in a scene where so many duos simply lack the technical equipment to make it to the big time. From Robin Hill and Peter Wiltschinsky anything is possible.’ Colin Cooper ‘Classical Guitar Magazine’