Martyn Charles Brabbins (born 13 August 1959) is a British conductor. He was the music director of the English National Opera from 2016 until his resignation in 2023.

Early life and education

The fourth of five children in his family, he learned to play the euphonium, and then the trombone during his youth at Towcester Studio Brass Band. He later studied composition at Goldsmiths, University of London.[1] He subsequently studied conducting with Ilya Musin at the Leningrad Conservatory.

Career

Brabbins first came to international attention when he was awarded first prize at the Leeds Conductors Competition in 1988. Between 1994 and 2005, Brabbins was Associate Principal Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He became principal conductor of Sinfonia 21 in 1994. He was artistic director of the Cheltenham Music Festival from 2005 to 2007.[2] During his Cheltenham tenure, he established a new ensemble, the Festival Players.[3] In Leeds, he created a new chamber music series called "Music in Transition".[4] On 17 July 2011, Brabbins conducted the 6th live performance of Havergal Brian's Symphony No. 1 "The Gothic", at The Proms,[5] which was later released on a Hyperion commercial recording.[6] Brabbins was subsequently named president of the Havergal Brian Society. Brabbins is also conductor laureate of the Huddersfield Choral Society. In 2002, Brabbins founded a training course for aspiring conductors at the St Magnus International Festival in Orkney,[7] which he continues to co-direct.

Outside of the UK, Brabbins became principal guest conductor of deFilharmonie (Royal Flemish Philharmonic) in 2009. He held the position of chief conductor of the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra from 2012 to 2016.

Brabbins first guest-conducted at English National Opera (ENO) in 2012, in a production of Vaughan Williams' The Pilgrim's Progress.[8] On 21 October 2016, ENO named Brabbins its next music director, with immediate effect.[9] On 15 October 2023, Brabbins resigned from ENO, with immediate effect, in protest at proposed music personnel reductions to the company's music staff.[10][11]

Recordings

Brabbins has conducted commercial recordings of music for such labels as Warner,[12] Chandos,[13][14][15][16] Hyperion,[17][18] NMC,[19] Nimbus,[20] and Deutsche Grammophon.[21]

Recordings include: Saint-Saëns: piano concertos n°2 & n°5, Louis Schwizgebel-Wang, piano, BBC Symphony Orchestra, cond. Martyn Brabbins & Fabien Gabel; label Aparté 2015

Personal life and recognition

Brabbins and his wife Karen (née Evans) met at Goldsmiths. The couple married in 1985, and have three children. In January 2013, the University of Bristol awarded Brabbins an honorary degree, of Doctor of Music honoris causa.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Honorary degrees 2013 - Martyn Brabbins" (Press release). University of Bristol. 31 January 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  2. ^ Rian Evans (22 July 2008). "Festival Academy/Brabbins (Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham)". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  3. ^ Andrew Clements (23 June 2006). "The Scottish are coming". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  4. ^ Alfred Hickling (14 October 2005). "Opera North Ensemble/ Brabbins (The Venue, Leeds)". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  5. ^ Andrew Clements (18 July 2011). "Prom 4: Gothic Symphony – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  6. ^ Fiona Maddocks (27 November 2011). "Havergal Brian: Symphony No 1 ('The Gothic') – review". The Observer. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  7. ^ Tom Service (14 July 2006). "The maestro in me". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2008.
  8. ^ Fiona Maddocks (11 November 2012). "The Pilgrim's Progress; Total Immersion: Knussen at 60 – review". The Observer. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Martyn Brabbins announced as new Music Director of ENO" (Press release). English National Opera. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  10. ^ "A statement from the ENO regarding Martyn Brabbins' resignation" (Press release). English National Opera. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  11. ^ Tilden, Imogen. "ENO's music director resigns over proposed cuts to musical staff positions". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  12. ^ Edward Greenfield (11 October 2002). "Bruch: Violin Concertos nos 1 and 3 Hanslip/ LSO/ Brabbins". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  13. ^ Edward Greenfield (10 October 2003). "Gregson: Clarinet Concerto; Violin Concerto; Blazon; Stepping Out, Collins/ Charlier/ BBCPO/ Brabbins". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  14. ^ Andrew Clements (6 May 2004). "Scott: Symphony No 3, The Muses; Piano Concerto No 2; Neptune: Shelley/ Huddersfield Choral Society/ BBC Philharmonic/ Brabbins". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  15. ^ Andrew Clements (6 February 2004). "Bax: St Patrick's Breastplate etc, Bunning/ Huddersfield Choral Society/ BBC Philharmonic/ Brabbins". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  16. ^ Andrew Clements (14 February 2008). "Scott: Symphony No 1; Cello Concerto, Watkins/ BBCPO/ Brabbins". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  17. ^ Andrew Clements (23 June 2011). "Walton: Symphonies Nos 1 and 2 etc – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  18. ^ Andrew Clements (2 November 2007). "Tippett: Piano Concerto; Handel Fantasia; Piano Sonatas Nos 1-4, Osborne/ BBCSSO/ Brabbins". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  19. ^ Andrew Clements (8 March 2007). "Britten on Film, Russell Beale/ Carewe/ BCMG/ Brabbins". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  20. ^ Michael McManus (22 July 2014). "Introducing the Great Animal Orchestra Symphony". Gramophone. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  21. ^ Anthony Holden (31 July 2004). "Birtwistle, Theseus Game, Earth Dances". The Observer. Retrieved 14 March 2012.

External links

Cultural offices Preceded byMichael Berkeley Artistic Director, Cheltenham Music Festival 2005–2007 Succeeded byMeurig Bowen Preceded byThierry Fischer Chief Conductor, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra 2012–2016 Succeeded byKazuhiro Koizumi Preceded byMark Wigglesworth Music Director, English National Opera 2016–2023 Succeeded by(post vacant)
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