Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

November 17, 1950 in London, England

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Concerto

 

Philip Pickett was a renowned English musician, composer, and conductor who specialized in early music. He was born on November 19, 1950, in Leicester, England, and grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a singer. Pickett started playing the recorder at the age of six and later learned to play the flute, oboe, and other instruments. Pickett studied music at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he was awarded the prestigious Queen's Prize for his outstanding performance on the recorder. He also studied with the renowned early music specialist David Munrow, who had a significant influence on his musical career. In the early 1970s, Pickett co-founded the early music ensemble The New London Consort, which became one of the most respected and influential groups in the field of early music. The ensemble specialized in performing music from the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, using authentic instruments and historical performance practices. Pickett's expertise in early music led him to collaborate with many other musicians and ensembles, including the Academy of Ancient Music, the English Concert, and the London Symphony Orchestra. He also worked as a conductor and musical director for various opera productions, including Monteverdi's L'Orfeo and Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. One of Pickett's most significant achievements was his contribution to the revival of the medieval music drama The Play of Daniel. He reconstructed the music and directed the first modern performance of the play in 1978, which was a huge success and led to many subsequent performances around the world. Pickett was also a prolific composer, and his works included music for films, television, and theater productions. He composed the music for the BBC's acclaimed TV series The Tudors and the film Elizabeth: The Golden Age, among others. Throughout his career, Pickett received many awards and honors for his contributions to the field of early music. In 1995, he was awarded the prestigious Early Music Award by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. He was also awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998 for his services to music. However, Pickett's career was marred by controversy in his later years. In 2013, he was arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and rape of underage girls. He was found guilty of some of the charges in 2015 and sentenced to 11 years in prison. Pickett died in November 2018 while serving his sentence. Despite the controversy surrounding his personal life, Philip Pickett's contributions to the field of early music remain significant and influential. His expertise in historical performance practices and his dedication to authentic interpretation of early music have inspired many musicians and ensembles around the world.

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