James Judd
Encyclopedia
James Judd is a British conductor. He is considered one of the pre-eminent interpreters of English orchestral music and the music of Gustav Mahler
.
A graduate of London’s Trinity College of Music
, James Judd came to international attention as the Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra
, a post he accepted at the invitation of Lorin Maazel
. Four years later he returned to Europe after being appointed Associate Music Director of the European Community Youth Orchestra by Claudio Abbado
, an ensemble with which he continues to serve as an honorary Artistic Director.
James Judd has amassed an extensive collection of recordings, including an unprecedented number in partnership with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
where he is Music Director Emeritus. In his seven year tenure as Music Director of the NZSO, he brought the orchestra to a new level of visibility and international acclaim through appearances at the 2000 Summer Sydney Olympic Arts Festival, the 2003 Auckland International Arts Festival, the Osaka Festival of International Orchestras as well as a specially televised Millennium Concert with Kiri Te Kanawa
as soloist. He led the orchestra on its first ever tour of the major concert halls of Europe culminating with a début appearance at the BBC Proms in the summer of 2005.
Since that time he has directed the Berlin Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic, conducted in the great concert halls of Europe, including the Salzburg Mozarteum and Vienna’s Musikverein, and made guest appearances with such prestigious ensembles as the Vienna Symphony, the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, the Prague Symphony, Orchestre National de France, L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Monte Carlo Symphony Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
, the Flemish Radio Orchestra, and the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg.
His previous directorships include Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestre National de Lille in France and a groundbreaking fourteen years as Music Director of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra
. During his tenure the orchestra’s recordings, released under the Harmonia Mundi label, garnered international acclaim. The FPO’s recording of Mahler’s Symphony #1 was awarded the Toblacher Komponierhauschen at the Salzburg Festival
by the Gustav Mahler
Society for best Mahler recording of the year, as well as the Gold Medal from France’s Diapason
.
He was co-founder of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe
, which he has led on tours throughout the United States, the Far East and Europe.
As an opera conductor, he has appeared with the English National Opera
and the Glyndebourne Opera Festival, as well as serving as Artistic Director of the Florida Grand Opera
from 1993-1996.
In keeping with his commitment to the education and development of young artists, Judd serves as Artistic Director of the Miami Music Project, which he founded in 2008, as well as Principal Conductor of the Asian Youth Orchestra
.
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
.
A graduate of London’s Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
, James Judd came to international attention as the Assistant Conductor of 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...
, a post he accepted at the invitation of Lorin Maazel
Lorin Maazel
Lorin Varencove Maazel is an American conductor, violinist and composer.- Early life :Maazel was born to Jewish-American parents in Neuilly-sur-Seine in France and brought up in the United States, primarily at his parents' home in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. His father, Lincoln Maazel , was...
. Four years later he returned to Europe after being appointed Associate Music Director of the European Community Youth Orchestra by Claudio Abbado
Claudio Abbado
Claudio Abbado, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , is an Italian conductor. He has served as music director of the La Scala opera house in Milan, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Vienna State Opera,...
, an ensemble with which he continues to serve as an honorary Artistic Director.
James Judd has amassed an extensive collection of recordings, including an unprecedented number in partnership with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the national orchestra of New Zealand. It is a crown entity owned by the Government of New Zealand, with 90 full-time players....
where he is Music Director Emeritus. In his seven year tenure as Music Director of the NZSO, he brought the orchestra to a new level of visibility and international acclaim through appearances at the 2000 Summer Sydney Olympic Arts Festival, the 2003 Auckland International Arts Festival, the Osaka Festival of International Orchestras as well as a specially televised Millennium Concert with Kiri Te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
as soloist. He led the orchestra on its first ever tour of the major concert halls of Europe culminating with a début appearance at the BBC Proms in the summer of 2005.
Since that time he has directed the Berlin Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic, conducted in the great concert halls of Europe, including the Salzburg Mozarteum and Vienna’s Musikverein, and made guest appearances with such prestigious ensembles as the Vienna Symphony, the Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig, the Prague Symphony, Orchestre National de France, L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande is a Swiss symphony orchestra, based in Geneva at the Victoria Hall...
, Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Monte Carlo Symphony Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra is a Dutch symphony orchestra based in Rotterdam. Its primary venue is the concert hall De Doelen. The RPhO is considered one of the Netherlands' two principal orchestras of international standing, second to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam...
, the Flemish Radio Orchestra, and the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg.
His previous directorships include Principal Guest Conductor of the Orchestre National de Lille in France and a groundbreaking fourteen years as Music Director of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra
Florida Philharmonic Orchestra
The Florida Philharmonic Orchestra was a symphony orchestra based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and serving the South Florida metropolitan area...
. During his tenure the orchestra’s recordings, released under the Harmonia Mundi label, garnered international acclaim. The FPO’s recording of Mahler’s Symphony #1 was awarded the Toblacher Komponierhauschen 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...
by the Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
Society for best Mahler recording of the year, as well as the Gold Medal from France’s Diapason
Diapason
Diapason may refer to:* Diapason , a just interval in Pythagorean tuning* Diapason , a tonal grouping of the flue pipes of a pipe organ* Diapason , a French classical music magazine...
.
He was co-founder of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
The Chamber Orchestra of Europe , established in 1981, is administratively based in London. The orchestra comprises about 60 members coming from across Europe. The players pursue parallel careers as international soloists, members of eminent chamber groups, and as tutors and professors of music...
, which he has led on tours throughout the United States, the Far East and Europe.
As an opera conductor, he has appeared with the 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 the Glyndebourne Opera Festival, as well as serving as Artistic Director of the Florida Grand Opera
Florida Grand Opera
Florida Grand Opera is an American opera company based in Miami, Florida. FGO was created in 1994 from the consolidation of two opera companies in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale region:...
from 1993-1996.
In keeping with his commitment to the education and development of young artists, Judd serves as Artistic Director of the Miami Music Project, which he founded in 2008, as well as Principal Conductor of the Asian Youth Orchestra
Asian Youth Orchestra
The Asian Youth Orchestra was founded by Yehudi Menuhin & Richard Pontzious. Their inaugural concerts were conducted in August 1990 by Yehudi Menuhin. Sergiu Comissiona is their conductor laureate and Richard Pontzious, artistic director and conductor...
.