Role

:

Conductor

 

Richard Baker was born on June 15, 1925, in Willesden, London, England. He was the son of a railway clerk and a housewife. Baker showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. He later learned to play the organ and the cello. Baker attended the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied piano, organ, and composition. He graduated in 1943 and began his career as a freelance musician. He played with various orchestras and ensembles, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra. In 1950, Baker joined the BBC as a music producer. He worked on a variety of programs, including the popular radio show "Desert Island Discs." He also produced recordings of classical music for the BBC's record label, BBC Records. Baker's career as a conductor began in the 1960s. He conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. He also conducted opera productions, including Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes" and Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro." Baker was known for his interpretations of British composers, including Edward Elgar, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Benjamin Britten. He also championed contemporary music and conducted premieres of works by composers such as Michael Tippett and Peter Maxwell Davies. Baker was a regular guest conductor with orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He also made numerous recordings, including a series of recordings of the symphonies of Ralph Vaughan Williams. Baker was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1977 and a knighthood in 1991 for his services to music. He was also awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal in 1994. Baker retired from conducting in 2002 but continued to be involved in music. He wrote several books on music, including a memoir, "Notes from a Small Room," and a biography of the composer Edward Elgar. He also presented radio programs on classical music. Richard Baker died on November 17, 2018, at the age of 93. He was remembered as a passionate advocate for classical music and a beloved figure in the music world.

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