Hugh Brunt appointed Director of Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia
Sage Gateshead is delighted to announce the appointment of one of London’s most exciting young conducting talents, Hugh Brunt, to the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia. The conductor, orchestrator and arranger has experience of choral tradition, orchestral, cross genre and new music. Hugh has worked with Royal Northern Sinfonia in the past and he will be preparing all upcoming concerts of the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia starting with the Mozart Requiem under Music Director Lars Vogt in the Season Finale on 10 June. Co-Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the London Contemporary Orchestra and since 2008, Hugh has led the LCO in innovative programmes at UK and European venues and festivals including the Roundhouse, Barbican, Royal Opera House, Victoria Hall (Geneva), Village Underground and Latitude Festival, and live on BBC Radio 3. He has conducted numerous premieres by leading young composers including Francisco Coll, Shiva Feshareki, Martin Suckling, Gabriel Prokofiev, Emily Hall, Valgeir Sigurðsson and Edmund Finnis. A collaborator of composer and guitarist Jonny Greenwood, Hugh conducted his score for Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2012 film The Master. In the past year he conducted the first live screening of the Academy Award-winning There Will Be Blood. Other collaborative work includes Imogen Heap, Beck, Ron Arad, Actress, Boiler Room and Foals. He conducted and orchestrated Jed Kurzel’s score to Macbeth, starring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard. Thorben Dittes, Director, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Classical Music Programme at Sage Gateshead said: “We are thrilled to have found such an inspiring young successor to Alan Fearon. Hugh has already built an excellent rapport with the Chorus and will bring his own special energy and unique musical connections to shape the next phase of its artistic development.” Hugh Brunt comments: “It’s been exciting to witness the Chorus’ passion and commitment to high quality music-making in recent months. I look forward to working with them, Music Director Lars Vogt and the excellent team at Sage Gateshead over the coming season.” Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia was founded by former Royal Northern Sinfonia Timpanist, Alan Fearon, in 1973 and the chorus has performed regularly with Royal Northern Sinfonia as well as a capella ever since. Whilst performing the major masses and oratorios the chorus has varied its repertoire to match the range of the orchestra, including performances of David Lang's Little Match Girl Passion and his 40-part motet, I Never, commissioned by Sage Gateshead. The chorus appeared at the BBC Proms in 2012 with the BBC Philharmonic in the premiere of James Macmillan's Credo. For tickets and further information on the season finale and future performances of the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia go to www.sagegateshead.com or call Ticket Office on 0191 443 4661.
