Roger Norrington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roger Norrington
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Norrington conducting at rehearsal
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Roger Arthur Carver Norrington
16 March 1934 Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
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| Died | 18 July 2025 (aged 91) |
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Sir Roger Arthur Carver Norrington was a famous English conductor. He was born on March 16, 1934, and passed away on July 18, 2025. He was well-known for his special way of performing music. This style is called 'historically informed performance'. It means he tried to play old music exactly how it might have sounded when it was first created. He conducted many different types of music, including Baroque, Classical, and Romantic styles.
Contents
Life and Music
Early Years and Training
Roger Norrington was born in Oxford, England. He started his musical journey by studying at several schools. These included The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and the Royal College of Music. He learned from great teachers like Sir Adrian Boult. Roger Norrington played the violin. In the 1960s, he also sang as a tenor. In 1962, he started his own group, the Schütz Choir. This choir later became known as the Schütz Choir of London.
Leading Orchestras in the UK and USA
Roger Norrington became a very busy conductor. From 1969 to 1984, he was the music director for Kent Opera. In 1978, he created a new group called the London Classical Players. He led this group until 1997. He also worked with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta as their main conductor. In the United States, he led the Orchestra of St. Luke's from 1990 to 1994.
With his wife, Kay Lawrence, he started the Early Opera Project in 1984. This project focused on performing old operas in their original style. They began with an opera called L'Orfeo.
Conducting in Europe
Roger Norrington also had many important roles in Europe. He was the main conductor for the Camerata Salzburg from 1997 to 2006. He also led the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1998 to 2011. He conducted their final concert in London in 2016. This was before the orchestra joined with another group.
He was an artistic advisor for the Boston Handel and Haydn Society. He was also a guest conductor for the Orchestre de chambre de Paris. From 2011 to 2016, he was the main conductor of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. He conducted over 50 brand new musical pieces. He often performed with famous groups like the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic.
A Special Way of Playing Music
Sir Roger Norrington was famous for his 'historically informed performance' style. This means he tried to play music exactly as composers like Beethoven intended. He believed in using very little or no vibrato in orchestral music. Vibrato is a slight trembling sound that string players often use. He also followed Beethoven's original speed instructions very closely.
He made many recordings of music by composers like Haydn, Mozart, and Brahms. He used both old and modern instruments for these recordings. With the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, he created a unique sound. People called this the Stuttgart Sound. It was a mix of old ways of playing with a modern orchestra. His performances with this orchestra were praised around the world.
On Television
In August 2008, Roger Norrington appeared on a TV show called Maestro. He was a judge on this show. He also conducted the opening night of The Proms in 2006. He led the Last Night of The Proms on September 13, 2008.
Later Life and Legacy
Roger Norrington had a son named Tom with his wife, Kay Lawrence. He also had two other children from an earlier marriage. In November 2021, he announced that he was retiring from conducting. Sir Roger Norrington passed away on July 18, 2025, at the age of 91. He left behind a great legacy in the world of classical music.
Awards and Recognition
Roger Norrington received many important awards for his work. He was made an OBE in 1980. He became a Knight Bachelor in 1997, which means he was given the title "Sir". He was also a supporter of groups like Bampton Classical Opera. He received special degrees from several universities.
See also
In Spanish: Roger Norrington para niños
- The Rossini Bicentennial Birthday Gala
