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Harry Bicket

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Harry Bicket (born 1961) is a British conductor, harpsichordist and organist. He is particularly associated with the baroque and classical repertoire.

Bicket was educated at Radley College, Christ Church, Oxford, where he was organ scholar, and the Royal College of Music. Before Oxford he was organ scholar at St George's Chapel, Windsor, and afterwards he was sub-organist at Westminster Abbey, during which time he performed at the wedding of Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew.

As a conductor, Bicket became known when he stood in as a replacement to conduct Peter Sellars' production of Handel's opera Theodora with Dawn Upshaw, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson and David Daniels, at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1996. In 2003, Bicket made his Covent Garden debut conducting Handel's Orlando with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE).[1] In 2004, Bicket made his first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in a production of Rodelinda with Renée Fleming in the title role.[2]

In October 2006, Bicket was named music director of The English Concert, and formally assumed the post in September 2007, his first orchestral directorship. He first worked with The English Concert as a harpsichordist in 1984. Bicket has conducted commercial recordings with The English Concert for harmonia mundi.[3]

Bicket first conducted at Santa Fe Opera (SFO) in 2004, in a production of Agrippina. He returned to SFO as conductor for subsequent productions of Platée (2007) and Radamisto (2008). In April 2013, SFO named Bicket its next chief conductor, effective 1 October 2013.[4] Although the formal press release did not indicate a specific time length of Bicket's initial contract, SFO general director Charles MacKay stated an informal duration of 4–5 years.[5]

In addition to recording with The English Concert, Bicket has conducted commercial recordings with other ensembles for various labels, including Decca,[6][7] Avie,[8] and EMI.[9]

Bicket and his wife Audrey de Nazelle, an environmental scholar at Imperial College London, have a daughter, Amelia.[4] The family reside in London.

References

  1. ^ Andrew Clements (8 October 2003). "Orlando (Royal Opera House, London)". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  2. ^ Anthony Tommasini (4 December 2004). "Handel Discovers Big Home At the Met". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  3. ^ Tim Ashley (10 March 2011). "Bach: Cantatas and Arias – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Chief Conductor Announced" (Press release). Santa Fe Opera. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  5. ^ Anne Constable (24 April 2013). "Harry Bicket named new chief conductor of Santa Fe Opera". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  6. ^ Anthony Holden (9 October 2004). "Handel, Arias". The Observer. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  7. ^ Edward Greenfield (11 November 2004). "Handel: Arias from Semele, Scipione, Orlando, Giulio Cesare, Lotario, Alexander Balus, etc, Fleming/ OAE/ Bicket". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  8. ^ Anthony Holden (29 May 2004). "Handel: Arias, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson". The Observer. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  9. ^ Tim Ashley (9 August 2007). "Handel: Arias; Bostridge/ OAE/ Bicket". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
Preceded by Music Director, The English Concert
2007–present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by Chief Conductor, Santa Fe Opera
2013–present 		Succeeded by
incumbent
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