Raymond Leppard
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Biography
Born in London, England conductor and harpsichordist Raymond Leppard studied viola and harpsichord at the University of Cambridge between 1948 and 1952, where he also developed an interest in choral conducting. He made his conducting debut at Wigmore Hall in London in 1952 and at Covent Garden in 1959, conducting Handel's 'Samson'. He quickly became known for his lively interpretations of 17th and 18th century music, and for his inventive harpsichord continuo playing. He became a fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and a lecturer in music in 1957 and remained there for the next ten years. In 1962, he made his own edition of Monteverdi's 'L'Incoronazione di Poppea' and conducted it at the Glyndebourne Festival, his first appearance there. He also made editions of Monteverdi's other operas and also works by Cavalli, and these remained in Glyndebourne's repertoire until the 1980s. Several recordings were made of these performances, notably with Dame Janet Baker and James Bowman in Cavalli's 'La Calisto', which was released in 1970. He also worked with Baker in Glyndebourne's production of his edition of Monteverdi's 'Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria' in 1972, which was also performed at the BBC Proms in the same year.
Whilst at Cambridge University, Leppard became involved with the Goldsborough Orchestra, which later renamed to the English Chamber Orchestra. It was the start of a long relationship between orchestra and conductor, with many notable concert performances and album releases, including Handel's 'Water Music' in 1970, Grieg's 'Peer Gynt Suites' and 'Norwegian Dances' in 1976, J.S. Bach's 'Brandenburg Concertos' in 1984 and Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas' with soprano Jessye Norman and baritone Thomas Allen in 1986. In 1973, he was appointed principal conductor to the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, which is now the BBC Philharmonic.
His concert and recording repertoire was broad, including works such as Bax's 'Symphonies'. He later moved to the USA and became conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1987. This was a very successful appointment which considerably raised the profile of the orchestra. He remained in Indianapolis, becoming an American citizen in 2003, and lived there until his death in October 2019.
Throughout his life, Leppard maintained a busy schedule of conducting operas worldwide as guest conductor, performing in Paris, New York, Santa Fe and Hamburg. He was also highly in demand as a harpsichordist and pianist, his style renowned for being rhythmically lively and showing crisp articulation. As a keyboard player his repertoire included works by various composers such as Couperin, Rameau, Liszt and Handel.
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Albums
English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Lully: Pièces de Symphonie; Campra: L'Europe Galante
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English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Rameau: Le Temple de la Gloire Suites; Grétry: Ballet Music From Operas; Charpentier: Medée Suite
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English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Rameau: Le Temple de la Gloire (second suite) / Campra: L'Europe Galante
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English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Couperin: L'Apothéose de Lully / Charpentier: Médée
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Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068: Air by English Chamber Orchestra
- Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 1, Scene 4: Pastoral Symphony "Pifa"
- Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 1, Scene 4: Recitative. "There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field"
- Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 1, Scene 5: Recitative. "Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be Opened"
- Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2, Scene 1: Chorus. "And with His Stripes We Are Healed"
- Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2, Scene 1: Accompagnato. "Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart"
- Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2, Scene 4: Recitative. "Unto Which of the Angels"
- Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 2, Scene 1: Chorus. "Behold the Lamb of God"
- Handel: Il Floridante, HWV 14 / Act 1: Alma mia featuring Raymond Leppard
- Handel: Radamisto, HWV 12 / Act 1: Perfido, di a quell'empio featuring Raymond Leppard
- Handel: Tolomeo, HWV 25 / Act 3: Che piu si tarda...Stille amare featuring Raymond Leppard
- Handel: Rodelinda, HWV 34 / Act 2: Scacciata dal suo nido featuring Raymond Leppard
- Rameau: Dardanus / Act 4: Voici les tristes lieux...Monstre affreux featuring Raymond Leppard
- Rameau: Castor et Pollux: Nature, amour, qui partagez mon coeur featuring Raymond Leppard
- Rameau: Hippolyte et Aricie / Act 2: "Ah! qu'on daigne du moins...Puisque Pluton" featuring Raymond Leppard
- Oboe Concerto in E flat, Wq 165: 1. Allegro by English Chamber Orchestra
- Handel: Berenice, HWV 38 / Act 2: Si, tra i ceppi featuring Raymond Leppard
- Lully: Persée: Je ne puis dans votre malheur featuring Raymond Leppard
- Lully: Cadmus et Hermione / Act 5: Belle Hermione, hélas featuring Raymond Leppard
- Lully: Alceste / Act 4: Il faut passer tôt ou tard featuring Raymond Leppard
- Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 1, Scene 1: Accompagnato. "Comfort Ye My People"
- Monteverdi: Sovra tenere herbette - Madrigali a 5 voci (Book III) featuring Alfreda Hodgson
- Monteverdi: La giovinetta pianta - Madrigali a 5 voci (Book III) featuring Alfreda Hodgson
- Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 1, Scene 2: Accompagnato. "Thus Saith the Lord"
