Anthony Russell-Roberts
Encyclopedia
Anthony de Villeneuve Russell-Roberts, CBE, MA (Oxon) (born 25 March 1944) is a British businessman and opera manager
Russell-Roberts is the son of Francis Douglas Russell-Roberts and the pianist
Edith Margaret Gertrudis Russell-Roberts, née Ashton. He is the nephew of the dancer and choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton
and residual legatee
of Ashton's
will
.
Russell-Roberts was educated at Eton College
and, after Voluntary Service Overseas
in British Honduras
, now Belize, (1961-62), at New College, Oxford
, where he read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
(BA
, MA
).
After graduation, having decided that he was unlikely to succeed in his preferred career as a professional painter
, he became a general management trainee at the brewery
Watney Mann
(1965-68). In 1968 he joined the property agents Lane Fox and Partners, becoming a partner himself in 1971.
In 1976 his career took a change of direction when he became a stage manager
for Glyndebourne Festival Opera
, and in 1977 he was a stage manager
for Kent Opera. From 1977 until 1980 he was assistant to the General Director of the Royal Opera House
, and from 1981 until 1983 he was Artistic Administrator of Opéra National de Paris. Later in 1983 he returned to the Royal Opera House
as Administrative Director of The Royal Ballet
until his retirement in March 2009.
In the New Year Honours List
2004 HM The Queen
appointed him Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
"for services to dance".
Russell-Roberts has been married three times, and divorced twice. From his second marriage, to Anne Dunhill, he has a step son, Ingo Ferruzzi, and two daughters, Tabitha and Juliet. He is now married to Jane Holkenfeldt.
He is a member of the Garrick Club
.
Between 2000 and 2008 he was a Non-executive director
of the pharmaceutical company
, Amarin Corporation.
Russell-Roberts is the son of Francis Douglas Russell-Roberts and the pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
Edith Margaret Gertrudis Russell-Roberts, née Ashton. He is the nephew of the dancer and choreographer Sir Frederick Ashton
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
and residual legatee
Residuary estate
A residuary estate, in the law of wills, is any portion of the testator's estate that is not specifically devised to someone in the will, or any property that is part of such a specific devise that fails. It is also known as a residual estate or simply residue. The will may identify the taker of...
of Ashton's
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
.
Russell-Roberts was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and, after Voluntary Service Overseas
Voluntary Service Overseas
Voluntary Service Overseas is an international development charity that works through experienced volunteers living and working as equals alongside local partners. It is the largest independent volunteer-sending organization in the world...
in British Honduras
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
, now Belize, (1961-62), at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, where he read Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Philosophy, politics, and economics is a popular interdisciplinary undergraduate/graduate degree which combines study from the three disciplines...
(BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, MA
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
).
After graduation, having decided that he was unlikely to succeed in his preferred career as a professional painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, he became a general management trainee at the brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
Watney Mann
James Watney
James Watney was a brewer and landowner who resided at Haling Park, Croydon, and Beddington, Surrey. He was born to Daniel Watney of Mitcham, Surrey and Mary Galpin , daughter of James Galpin of Mitcham, Surrey...
(1965-68). In 1968 he joined the property agents Lane Fox and Partners, becoming a partner himself in 1971.
In 1976 his career took a change of direction when he became a stage manager
Stage management
Stage management is the practice of organizing and coordinating a theatrical production. It encompasses a variety of activities, including organizing the production and coordinating communications between various personnel...
for Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an English opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England.-History:...
, and in 1977 he was a stage manager
Stage management
Stage management is the practice of organizing and coordinating a theatrical production. It encompasses a variety of activities, including organizing the production and coordinating communications between various personnel...
for Kent Opera. From 1977 until 1980 he was assistant to the General Director of the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, and from 1981 until 1983 he was Artistic Administrator of Opéra National de Paris. Later in 1983 he returned to the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
as Administrative Director of The Royal Ballet
Royal Ballet, London
The Royal Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the four major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded in 1931 by Dame Ninette de Valois, it became the resident ballet...
until his retirement in March 2009.
In the New Year Honours List
British honours system
The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...
2004 HM The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
appointed him Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
"for services to dance".
Russell-Roberts has been married three times, and divorced twice. From his second marriage, to Anne Dunhill, he has a step son, Ingo Ferruzzi, and two daughters, Tabitha and Juliet. He is now married to Jane Holkenfeldt.
He is a member of the Garrick Club
Garrick Club
The Garrick Club is a gentlemen's club in London.-History:The Garrick Club was founded at a meeting in the Committee Room at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on Wednesday 17 August 1831...
.
Between 2000 and 2008 he was a Non-executive director
Non-executive director
A non-executive director or outside director is a member of the board of directors of a company who does not form part of the executive management team. He or she is not an employee of the company or affiliated with it in any other way...
of the pharmaceutical company
Pharmaceutical company
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...
, Amarin Corporation.
Sources and Further Information
- Breakfast at the Royal Opera House, BBC News, 6 December 2002, including a link to a video of Breakfasts interview with Russell-Roberts
- New Year Honours List 2004, BBC News, 31 December 2003
- David Vaughan, 'Celebrating Ashton', danceview: a quarterly review of dance, Spring 1999
- Photograph of Russell-Roberts from Washington Life Magazine with Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas DBE (Chairman of the Royal Opera House) His Excellency Mr Karim Kawar (Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United States) on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Royal Ballet
- Suzanne McCarthy, 'Anthony Russell-Roberts', Ballet.co Magazine, July 2002
- Board of Directors, Amarin
- 'RUSSELL-ROBERTS, Anthony de Villeneuve', Debrett's People of Today (12th edn, London: Debrett's Peerage, 1999), p. 1713