Role

:

Conductor Performer

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

December 26, 1953 in Goudhurst, Kent, England

Genre

:

Choral

 

Harry Christophers is a renowned British conductor and founder of the award-winning choral ensemble, The Sixteen. Born on August 26, 1953, in Goudhurst, Kent, England, Christophers grew up in a musical family. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a singer. He began his musical education at the age of seven, learning to play the piano and the violin. He later attended the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied singing and conducting. Christophers began his career as a professional singer, performing with various choirs and ensembles. In 1979, he founded The Sixteen, a vocal ensemble dedicated to performing early music. The group quickly gained a reputation for their exceptional performances and innovative programming. They have since become one of the most respected and acclaimed choral ensembles in the world. Under Christophers' leadership, The Sixteen has recorded over 150 albums, many of which have won awards and critical acclaim. Their repertoire includes works by composers such as Bach, Handel, Purcell, and Monteverdi, as well as contemporary composers such as James MacMillan and Arvo Pärt. The group has performed in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, Carnegie Hall in New York, and the Sydney Opera House. In addition to his work with The Sixteen, Christophers has also conducted many other orchestras and ensembles, including the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as the Artistic Director of the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston and the Artistic Director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's Choral Program. Christophers has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 2000, he was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to music. He has also been awarded the Gramophone Award for Best Baroque Vocal Recording three times, and The Sixteen has won the Classical Brit Award for Best Ensemble or Chorus twice. One of Christophers' most notable performances was his conducting of Handel's Messiah at the BBC Proms in 2009. The performance was broadcast live on television and radio and was widely praised for its energy and passion. Christophers has also conducted many other notable performances, including the world premiere of James MacMillan's St. John Passion and the first performance of Handel's Susanna in modern times. Christophers is known for his innovative programming and his commitment to bringing early music to a wider audience. He has collaborated with many contemporary composers, including John Tavener and Eric Whitacre, and has commissioned many new works for The Sixteen. He is also a passionate advocate for music education and has worked with many schools and universities to promote classical music. In addition to his work as a conductor, Christophers is also a respected scholar of early music. He has written several books on the subject, including A New Heaven and A New Earth: The Visionary Experience in Literature and Music and Handel's Messiah: A Celebration. He has also served as a Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Music and the University of Oxford. In conclusion, Harry Christophers is a highly respected and influential figure in the world of classical music.

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