Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

May 17, 1958 in Blackrod, Lancashire, England

Genre

:

Concerto

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

Ivor Bolton is a renowned British conductor and harpsichordist who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Born on October 26, 1958, in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, Bolton grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a singer. Bolton's early exposure to music sparked his interest in pursuing a career in the field. Bolton began his musical education at the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied harpsichord and organ. He later continued his studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, where he focused on early music performance practice. Bolton's training in early music performance practice would later become a defining feature of his career. In 1986, Bolton made his debut as a conductor with the Basel Chamber Orchestra. He quickly gained recognition for his exceptional musicianship and was soon invited to conduct other orchestras in Europe and the United States. In 1991, Bolton was appointed the music director of the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music in London, a position he held until 1995. Bolton's career reached new heights in 1994 when he was appointed the music director of the Mozarteum Orchestra in Salzburg, Austria. During his tenure, Bolton led the orchestra in numerous performances and recordings, including a critically acclaimed recording of Mozart's "Don Giovanni." Bolton's work with the Mozarteum Orchestra earned him widespread recognition and established him as one of the leading conductors of his generation. In 2004, Bolton was appointed the principal conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic, a position he held until 2016. During his tenure, Bolton led the orchestra in numerous performances and recordings, including a highly acclaimed recording of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Bolton's work with the Dresden Philharmonic earned him numerous awards and accolades, including the Echo Klassik Award for Conductor of the Year in 2010. Bolton has also worked with numerous other orchestras and opera companies throughout his career. He has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Metropolitan Opera, among others. Bolton's work in opera has been particularly noteworthy, and he has conducted productions at the Royal Opera House in London, the Salzburg Festival, and the Glyndebourne Festival, among others. Throughout his career, Bolton has been recognized for his exceptional musicianship and has received numerous awards and accolades. In addition to the Echo Klassik Award, he has received the Bach Prize of the City of Leipzig, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, among others. Bolton's contributions to the world of classical music extend beyond his work as a conductor. He is also an accomplished harpsichordist and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout his career. In addition, he has been a champion of early music performance practice and has worked to promote the performance of Baroque and Classical music on period instruments. In recent years, Bolton has continued to be an active performer and conductor. He has conducted numerous orchestras and opera companies throughout Europe and the United States and has continued to record extensively.

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