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Barry Wordsworth is Music Director of the Royal Ballet Covent Garden, having also previously held the position from 1990-95.  In 2006 he became Conductor Laureate of the BBC Concert Orchestra, having served as its Principal Conductor since 1989.  He is also Principal Conductor of the Brighton Philharmonic, and has recently become Music Director Laureate of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. In a distinguished career, Barry Wordsworth has appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras both in the UK and overseas, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Sydney Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, and the Seoul Philharmonic. He has made regular appearances at the BBC Proms with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and in 1993 he conducted the “Last Night of the Proms” with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.  As Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra for 17 years, he toured extensively with the orchestra, including visits to Japan and the United States. In addition to his concert career, Mr Wordsworth has enjoyed a long and close relationship with the Royal Ballet in London and the Birmingham Royal Ballet.  In recent seasons, he has

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Barry Wordsworth is Music Director of the Royal Ballet Covent Garden, having also previously held the position from 1990-95.  In 2006 he became Conductor Laureate of the BBC Concert Orchestra, having served as its Principal Conductor since 1989.  He is also Principal Conductor of the Brighton Philharmonic, and has recently become Music Director Laureate of the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

In a distinguished career, Barry Wordsworth has appeared with many of the world’s leading orchestras both in the UK and overseas, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Sydney Symphony, New Zealand Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, and the Seoul Philharmonic.
He has made regular appearances at the BBC Proms with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and in 1993 he conducted the “Last Night of the Proms” with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.  As Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra for 17 years, he toured extensively with the orchestra, including visits to Japan and the United States.

In addition to his concert career, Mr Wordsworth has enjoyed a long and close relationship with the Royal Ballet in London and the Birmingham Royal Ballet.  In recent seasons, he has also conducted productions for the New National Theatre Tokyo, Leipzig Ballet, Christopher Wheeldon’s Morphoses, and the ballet of the Opéra National de Paris where, in 2007 and 2009, he conducted La fille mal gardée.

Barry Wordsworth has a large catalogue of recordings and has made commercial releases for all the UK based companies, including a long association with Argo/Decca International.  His recording of the "Last Night of the Proms" with the BBC Concert Orchestra for Phillips Classics has achieved enormous popular success.  Most recently he has made two albums of songs with Bryn Terfel and the London Symphony Orchestra for Deutsche Grammophon, the first of which won a Grammy Award in 2007; a recording of Lionel Sainsbury’s Violin Concerto for Dutton Epoch; and Tchaikovksy’s Sleeping Beauty with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Barry Wordsworth holds honorary doctorates from the University of Brighton and the University of Central England in Birmingham, and is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College of Music in London.

October 2011. Please do not use any previously dated biographies. Please contact IMG Artists if you wish to edit this biography.
 

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Photos

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Reviews

"The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – under the Royal Ballet's excellent Barry Wordsworth – delivers the 20th century's greatest ballet score with a sonorous expansiveness"

The Independent - Review for Romeo & Juliet at the O2 Arena, London

"But the real engine powering the show is Joby Talbot's score, a storming piece of work spiced with exotic woodwind, James Bond brass, and an ironmongers'-worth of percussion, deployed with thrilling climactic control, wonderfully played under Barry Wordsworth."

The Independent - Review for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Royal Ballet

"The brave orchestral playing under Barry Wordsworth, brought honour to the company."

Financial Times - Review for Triple Bill, Royal Ballet

"The Royal Opera House orchestra under Barry Wordsworth also deserve bouquets for their infectiously bouncy delivery."

The Arts Desk - Review for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Royal Ballet

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Discography