Mark Wigglesworth
Encyclopedia
Mark Wigglesworth is a British conductor
. Wigglesworth has served as associate conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, as musical director of the Opera Factory of London, and music director of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He has made guest appearances with leading opera companies and symphonies throughout the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Opera of New York.
in London. He won the Kondrashin Conducting Competition in Amsterdam in 1989. John Drummond
appointed him associate conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra
in 1991, a post he held until 1993. He has also appeared at the Salzburg Festival
, the BBC Proms, the Hollywood Bowl
, the 1995 Mahler Festival in Amsterdam and in 2000 led the Sydney Symphony in the closing concert of the Olympic Arts Festival. Wigglesworth was the Music Director of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
from 1996 until 2000.
Wigglesworth has worked with many of the leading European orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
, and London Symphony Orchestra
. He is currently in the process of recording a complete Shostakovich Symphony cycle with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic
for BIS Records
. He was principal guest Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
, 1998-2001.
In the United States, Wigglesworth has been a regular guest conductor with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
as well as working with the Cleveland Orchestra
, Chicago Symphony, and Philadelphia Orchestra
, to name a few. He regularly conducts the Minnesota Orchestra
and the Detroit Symphony and has an ongoing relationship with the New World Symphony Orchestra
.
Wigglesworth led his first opera
production in 1991, conducting Cosi fan Tutte for Opera Factory in London. Wigglesworth made his first conducting appearance with the Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden
in November 2002. He has also conducted at the Welsh National Opera
, the Metropolitan Opera
, English National Opera
, and Glyndebourne
. In 2005, he made his Metropolitan Opera
debut conducting Le Nozze di Figaro.
Wigglesworth was music director of the La Monnaie
opera, Brussels, for the 2007-2008 season.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. Wigglesworth has served as associate conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, as musical director of the Opera Factory of London, and music director of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He has made guest appearances with leading opera companies and symphonies throughout the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Opera of New York.
Career
Wigglesworth attended Bryanston School, Manchester University, and the Royal Academy of MusicRoyal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London. He won the Kondrashin Conducting Competition in Amsterdam in 1989. John Drummond
John Drummond (arts administrator)
Sir John Richard Gray Drummond CBE was an English arts administrator who spent most of his career at the BBC. He was the son of a master mariner in the British India line and an Australian lieder singer....
appointed him associate conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
in 1991, a post he held until 1993. He has also appeared at the Salzburg Festival
Salzburg Festival
The Salzburg Festival is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
, the BBC Proms, the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
, the 1995 Mahler Festival in Amsterdam and in 2000 led the Sydney Symphony in the closing concert of the Olympic Arts Festival. Wigglesworth was the Music Director of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation in Wales, occupying a dual role as both a broadcasting orchestra and national orchestra.The BBC NOW has its...
from 1996 until 2000.
Wigglesworth has worked with many of the leading European orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is a symphony orchestra of the Netherlands, based at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In 1988, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred the "Royal" title upon the orchestra...
, and London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
. He is currently in the process of recording a complete Shostakovich Symphony cycle with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic
The Radio Filharmonisch Orkest is a Dutch radio orchestra, based in Hilversum. The RFO performs under the aegis of the Muziekcentrum van de Omroep , an umbrella organization bringing together the music departments of the various broadcasting associations affiliated to Nederlandse Publieke...
for BIS Records
BIS Records
BIS Records is a record label founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. It is located in Åkersberga, Sweden.BIS focuses on classical music, both contemporary and early, especially works that are not already well represented by existing recordings....
. He was principal guest Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a radio orchestra based in Stockholm, Sweden, and affiliated with Sveriges Radio . The orchestra broadcasts concerts on the Swedish Radio-P2 network....
, 1998-2001.
In the United States, Wigglesworth has been a regular guest conductor with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its main performance center is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood...
as well as working with the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, Chicago Symphony, and Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, to name a few. He regularly conducts the Minnesota Orchestra
Minnesota Orchestra
The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Emil Oberhoffer founded the orchestra as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, and it gave its first performance on November 5 of that year. In 1968 the orchestra changed to its name to the Minnesota Orchestra...
and the Detroit Symphony and has an ongoing relationship with the New World Symphony Orchestra
New World Symphony Orchestra
The New World Symphony is the United States' only full-time orchestral academy preparing musicians for careers in symphony orchestras and ensembles...
.
Wigglesworth led his first opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
production in 1991, conducting Cosi fan Tutte for Opera Factory in London. Wigglesworth made his first conducting appearance with 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...
, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
in November 2002. He has also conducted at the Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera is an opera company founded in Cardiff, Wales in 1943. The WNO tours Wales, the United Kingdom and the rest of the world extensively. Annually, it gives more than 120 performances of eight main stage operas to a combined audience of around 150,000 people...
, the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
, and Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne is a country house, thought to be about six hundred years old, located near Lewes in East Sussex, England. It is also the site of an opera house which, with the exception of its closing during the Second World War, for a few immediate post-war years, and in 1993 during the...
. In 2005, he made his Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
debut conducting Le Nozze di Figaro.
Wigglesworth was music director of the La Monnaie
La Monnaie
Le Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie , or the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg is a theatre in Brussels, Belgium....
opera, Brussels, for the 2007-2008 season.