Daniel Harding
Encyclopedia
Daniel Harding is a British conductor
.
Harding studied trumpet at Chetham's School of Music
and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra at age 13. At age 17, Harding assembled a group of musicians to perform Pierrot Lunaire of Arnold Schoenberg
, and sent a tape of the performance to Simon Rattle
in Birmingham. After listening to this tape, Rattle hired Harding as an assistant to him at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
for a year, from 1993-1994. Harding then attended the University of Cambridge
, but after his first year at university, Abbado named him his assistant with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
. Harding first conducted the Berlin Philharmonic at age 21. At the time of his first conducting appearance at The Proms
in 1996, he was then the youngest-ever conductor to appear there. Harding has stated that he has never had formal conducting lessons.
Harding has been music director of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (1997–2000), the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (1999–2003) and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra
(since 2003). He conducted the 2005 opening night at La Scala
, Milan
in Idomeneo, as a substitute after the resignation of Riccardo Muti
earlier in 2005. He conducted Così fan tutte
at the Aix Festival
in 2005 and appeared at the festival again in 2006.
In 2004, Harding was appointed principal guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra
(LSO), as of 2006. One of his new projects with the LSO involves the 'Sound Adventures' program for new compositions. With the LSO, he has conducted a commercial recording of the opera Billy Budd
for EMI Classics. He became the Principal Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
in 2007. In September 2009, he extended his contract as the orchestra's principal conductor through 2012. With the orchestra, he has recorded commercially for the Sony Classical label.
Harding has two children, Adele and George, from his marriage to Béatrice Muthelet, a violist. As of February 2011, the couple have separated and are in the process of divorce. Harding is a particular fan of the football club Manchester United.
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...
.
Harding studied trumpet at Chetham's School of Music
Chetham's School of Music
Chetham's School of Music , familiarly known as "Chets", is a specialist independent co-educational music school, situated in Manchester city centre, in North West England. It was established in 1969, incorporating Chetham's Hospital School, founded as a charity school by Humphrey Chetham in 1653...
and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra at age 13. At age 17, Harding assembled a group of musicians to perform Pierrot Lunaire of Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
, and sent a tape of the performance to Simon Rattle
Simon Rattle
Sir Simon Denis Rattle, CBE is an English conductor. He rose to international prominence as conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and since 2002 has been principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic ....
in Birmingham. After listening to this tape, Rattle hired Harding as an assistant to him at the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. The Orchestra's current chief executive, appointed in 1999, is Stephen Maddock...
for a year, from 1993-1994. Harding then attended the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, but after his first year at university, Abbado named him his assistant with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
The Berlin Philharmonic, German: , formerly Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester , is an orchestra based in Berlin, Germany. In 2006, a group of ten European media outlets voted the Berlin Philharmonic number three on a list of "top ten European Orchestras", after the Vienna Philharmonic and the...
. Harding first conducted the Berlin Philharmonic at age 21. At the time of his first conducting appearance at The Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
in 1996, he was then the youngest-ever conductor to appear there. Harding has stated that he has never had formal conducting lessons.
Harding has been music director of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (1997–2000), the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (1999–2003) and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
The Mahler Chamber Orchestra is a professional touring chamber orchestra founded by Claudio Abbado and former members of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra in 1997....
(since 2003). He conducted the 2005 opening night at La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in Idomeneo, as a substitute after the resignation of Riccardo Muti
Riccardo Muti
Riccardo Muti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian conductor and music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.-Childhood and education:...
earlier in 2005. He conducted Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte....
at the Aix Festival
Aix-en-Provence Festival
The festival international d'art lyrique is an annual international music festival which takes place each summer in Aix-en-Provence, principally in the month of July. Devoted mainly to opera, it also includes concerts of orchestral, chamber, vocal and solo instrumental music.-Establishment:The...
in 2005 and appeared at the festival again in 2006.
In 2004, Harding was appointed principal guest conductor of the 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:...
(LSO), as of 2006. One of his new projects with the LSO involves the 'Sound Adventures' program for new compositions. With the LSO, he has conducted a commercial recording of the opera Billy Budd
Billy Budd (opera)
Billy Budd is an opera by Benjamin Britten, from a libretto by E. M. Forster and Eric Crozier, was first performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 1 December 1951. It is based on the short novel Billy Budd by Herman Melville....
for EMI Classics. He became the Principal 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....
in 2007. In September 2009, he extended his contract as the orchestra's principal conductor through 2012. With the orchestra, he has recorded commercially for the Sony Classical label.
Harding has two children, Adele and George, from his marriage to Béatrice Muthelet, a violist. As of February 2011, the couple have separated and are in the process of divorce. Harding is a particular fan of the football club Manchester United.