Simon Streatfeild
Encyclopedia
Simon Streatfeild is a British-Canadian violist
, conductor
and teacher.
Simon Nicholas Streatfeild was born in Windsor, Berkshire
England
in 1929. He studied viola with Frederick Riddle
at the Royal College of Music
from 1946 to 1950. He then played with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
and Royal Opera Orchestra, Covent Garden
, became Principal Viola with the Sadler's Wells Orchestra
(1953–55) and the London Symphony Orchestra
(1956–65), and was a founding member of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields (1958–65).
He moved to Canada, where he played various roles with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
from 1965 to 1977: Principal Viola, Assistant Conductor, acting Music Director, and Associate Conductor.
Streatfeild was conductor of the Vancouver Bach Choir from 1969 to 1981. From 1977 to 1981 he was a visiting professor at the University of Western Ontario. He led the Regina Symphony Orchestra
1981-84, overlapping the last year with his new post as conductor of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra
(QSO), succeeding James DePreist
. He left the QSO in 1991 over artistic differences. During his tenure the orchestra made its Toronto
debut and its first commercial recordings.
He was also conductor of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
(MCO) 1982-2000. In 1983 he led the MCO in the world premiere of Michael Matthews’s work Between the Wings of the Earth.
He regularly guest conducts in Canada, the US, the UK and Europe, and other places. He was Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Norwegian Academy of Music
in Oslo
for ten years, where he was also Professor of Orchestral Conducting.
His recordings include music by Mahler
, Berlioz
, Shostakovich
, Britten
, Honegger
, Messiaen
and others.
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, conductor
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...
and teacher.
Simon Nicholas Streatfeild was born in Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1929. He studied viola with Frederick Riddle
Frederick Riddle
Frederick Riddle OBE was an important British violist. He was considered to be in the line from Lionel Tertis and William Primrose, through to the violists of today such as Lawrence Power.-Biography:...
at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
from 1946 to 1950. He then played with the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
and Royal Opera Orchestra, Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, became Principal Viola with the Sadler's Wells Orchestra
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
(1953–55) and 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:...
(1956–65), and was a founding member of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields (1958–65).
He moved to Canada, where he played various roles with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
from 1965 to 1977: Principal Viola, Assistant Conductor, acting Music Director, and Associate Conductor.
Streatfeild was conductor of the Vancouver Bach Choir from 1969 to 1981. From 1977 to 1981 he was a visiting professor at the University of Western Ontario. He led the Regina Symphony Orchestra
Regina Symphony Orchestra
The Regina Symphony Orchestra was founded by Frank Laubach, in Regina, Saskatchewan, as the Regina Orchestral Society in 1908, giving its inaugural concert December 3 of that same year...
1981-84, overlapping the last year with his new post as conductor of the Quebec Symphony Orchestra
Orchestre Symphonique de Québec
Orchestre symphonique de Québec is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Quebec City. Founded in 1902 as the Société symphonique de Québec, the OSQ is the oldest active Canadian orchestra. Joseph Vézina was the OSQ's first music director, from 1902 to 1924...
(QSO), succeeding James DePreist
James DePreist
James Anderson DePreist is an American conductor. One of the few African American conductors on the world stage, he is currently the director of conducting and orchestral studies at the Juilliard School and laureate music director of the Oregon Symphony.-Biography:DePreist was born in Philadelphia...
. He left the QSO in 1991 over artistic differences. During his tenure the orchestra made its Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
debut and its first commercial recordings.
He was also conductor of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra is a chamber orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1972 by Ruben Gurevich, the ensemble's first music director, the MCO presents nine concerts annually at Westminster United Church and tours in rural Manitoba, Canada and elsewhere.The MCO...
(MCO) 1982-2000. In 1983 he led the MCO in the world premiere of Michael Matthews’s work Between the Wings of the Earth.
He regularly guest conducts in Canada, the US, the UK and Europe, and other places. He was Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Norwegian Academy of Music
Norwegian Academy of Music
The Norwegian Academy of Music is a music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the country's highest level of music education. As a university college, it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
for ten years, where he was also Professor of Orchestral Conducting.
His recordings include music by 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...
, Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
, Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
, Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
, Honegger
Arthur Honegger
Arthur Honegger was a Swiss composer, who was born in France and lived a large part of his life in Paris. He was a member of Les six. His most frequently performed work is probably the orchestral work Pacific 231, which is interpreted as imitating the sound of a steam locomotive.-Biography:Born...
, Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
and others.