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Barry Wordsworth is the Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a frequent guest conductor with many of the major British Orchestras.
In 1973 Barry Wordsworth became assistant conductor to the Royal Ballet's touring orchestra and, in 1974, principal conductor of the Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet. He branched out from his steady job with the Royal Ballet in 1987 to perform orchestral repertoire, while retaining a position as an official guest conductor of the company. In 1989, he made his first televised appearance on the BBC Proms and has continued to conduct during every Prom season since with the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Highlights of Barry Wordsworth’s recent seasons included a major tour to Japan with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and engagements with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Amsterdam), Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra as part of the Sydney Festival. In the UK, he has recently conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
In addition to his symphonic career, Barry Wordsworth has enjoyed a long and close relationship with the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet. He was Music Director of the Royal Ballet until 1995 and regularly conducts key productions with them (including a critically-acclaimed triple bill and Romeo and Juliet) and the Birmingham Royal Ballet, where he continues as Music Director and with whom he has conducted performances in New York. He has recently entered into a new relationship with the Tokyo Ballet where he has now conducted three productions, including the Macmillan “Manon”.
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. His most recent release is an album with Bryn Terfel and the London Symphony Orchestra on the Deutsche Grammophon label.
In February 2002, Barry Wordsworth completed the 50th Anniversary Tour of the BBC Concert Orchestra with an invitation to undertake a further tour of the USA. |
