Stephen Stubbs
Encyclopedia
Stephen Stubbs is a lutenist and music director and has been a leading figure in the European early music
scene for nearly thirty years.
He was born in Seattle and studied harpsichord
and composition at the University of Washington
where, at the same time, he began to play the harpsichord
and lute
. He left America after graduation to study the instrument in England and Holland and gave his debut concert in London's Wigmore Hall
in 1976. Since 1981, Stubbs has been teaching at the University of the Arts Bremen
in Germany where he is currently holding a post as professor. He has performed extensively with his ensembles Tragicomedia and Teatro Lirico, and conducted baroque opera worldwide. He has recorded numerous albums with other famous ensembles like the Hilliard Ensemble
and with Andrew Lawrence-King
.
He moved back to Seattle in 2006. There he established a program for young professional singers called the Seattle Academy of Baroque Opera and is an adjunct professor at Cornish College of the Arts
. He is artistic co-director (with Paul O'Dette) of the Boston Early Music Festival
.
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
scene for nearly thirty years.
He was born in Seattle and studied harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
and composition at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
where, at the same time, he began to play the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
and lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
. He left America after graduation to study the instrument in England and Holland and gave his debut concert in London's Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
in 1976. Since 1981, Stubbs has been teaching at the University of the Arts Bremen
University of the Arts Bremen
The University of the Arts Bremen is a publicly funded university in Bremen, Germany and one of the most successful ones whose roots in music, arts and design date back to 1873...
in Germany where he is currently holding a post as professor. He has performed extensively with his ensembles Tragicomedia and Teatro Lirico, and conducted baroque opera worldwide. He has recorded numerous albums with other famous ensembles like the Hilliard Ensemble
Hilliard Ensemble
The Hilliard Ensemble is a British male vocal quartet originally devoted to the performance of early music. Founded in 1974, the group is named after the Elizabethan miniaturist painter Nicholas Hilliard....
and with Andrew Lawrence-King
Andrew Lawrence-King
Andrew Lawrence-King is a harpist and early music specialist, and is currently the director of The Harp Consort...
.
He moved back to Seattle in 2006. There he established a program for young professional singers called the Seattle Academy of Baroque Opera and is an adjunct professor at Cornish College of the Arts
Cornish College of the Arts
-Library:The library at Cornish College specializes in art, dance, design, music, performance production, and theatre. As of 2011 it holds 4700 CDs, 40,000 books, has 2,200 videos, and subscribes to 154 periodicals...
. He is artistic co-director (with Paul O'Dette) of the Boston Early Music Festival
Boston Early Music Festival
The Boston Early Music Festival is a music festival held every two years in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, for all people interested in historical music performance....
.