Richard Blackford

Richard Blackford (born 13 January 1954 in London) is an English composer.

Biography

Richard Blackford studied privately with Elisabeth Lutyens and at the Royal College of Music. He spent a number of years as Henze’s assistant in Italy, where he received his first commissions while immersed in the European avant-garde. He returned to London in 1977 to turn his sights to the dramatic potential of music: he received two commissions for children’s operas and embarked on his career as a composer for the screen which has resulted in over eighty scores for film and television. The mid-1990s saw a renewed focus on lyrical and eloquent works for the concert hall, notably the poignant and eclectic oratorio "Voices of Exile". Publisher Novello & Company

Career highlights

* 1974 - Leverhulme Scholarship to study in Rome with Henze; wins Mendelssohn Scholarship and Tagore Gold Medal.
* 1990 - premiere of the musical "King", with lyrics by Maya Angelou, at London’s Piccadilly Theatre.
* 1990-5 - Director of Music at the Royal Ballet School where he wrote ballet "Plea to Autumn" performed at the Royal Opera House.
* 2000 - Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement In Music for "Millennium" (CNN).

Key works

* "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" (1978; soloists,children’s and adult choruses, orchestra)
* "String Quartet: ‘Canticles of Light’" (1979)
* "Mirror of Perfection" (1996; soprano, baritone,chorus, orchestra)
* "The Ride of the Valkyries" (2003; eight pianos,percussion)
* "Voices of Exile" (2001, rev.2004; soloists,children’s and adult choruses, orchestra)
* "Rowing in Eden" (2004; soprano, piano)
* "Barbara Wood - Das Haus Der Harmonie" (2005; German-Singapore movie soundtrack)

Selected recordings

* "Mirror of Perfection" - Sony Classical SK60285
* [http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2441&State_2934=2&discId_2934=1659 "On Another’s Sorrow"] - Signum Classics SIGCD059
* [http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2441&State_2934=2&discId_2934=2017 "Voices of Exile"] - Quartz Records

External links

* [http://www.blackford.co.uk Richard Blackford's official website]
* [http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2431&State_2905=2&composerId_2905=126 Richard Blackford's homepage at Novello & Co]