|
Tom
Higgins Conductor Tom Higgins studied conducting at the
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, winning a silver medal with honours in
his first year. He continued his studies with James Lockhart, formerly Music
Director of the Kassel Opera House in Germany. He now regularly conducts leading
British orchestras and during a four-year association with London’s Opera
Holland Park directed the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His diverse operatic
repertoire has led to a command of more than 50 works for the stage, ranging
from Mozart’s, The Magic Flute to Menotti’s, The Consul. Among the
prominent choral societies in the London area he has conducted are the
Croydon Philharmonic, the Epsom College Chapel Choir and Hertfordshire
Voices. He made his German debut in 2003 when
he conducted the New Year’s Day Concert with Dresden’s Staatsoperetten
Orchestra. Debuts in the United Kingdom include: St. Martin-in-the-Fields,
the Covent Garden Festival, the Brighton Festival and Cadogan Hall, where he
conducted the New Queen’s Hall Symphonic Wind Band. In May 1999 he released through the BBC
Music Magazine the world premiere recording of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s
last completed work for the stage – The Rose of Persia. Chosen by The
Observer as ‘Classical CD of the Week’, it features
the Hanover Band. The CD was recently re-issued by CPO - (‘It is very good with excellent playing under Tom Higgins caught in
good clean sound’ – Opera Magazine). His most recent recording is a
revival of Elgar’s, long forgotten song cycle, The Fringes of
the Fleet (SOMMCD 243) with the noted baritone, Roderick Williams and
the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra. This was the work’s first professional
recording since Elgar’s own in 1917. It drew wide critical acclaim and became
Classic FM’s CD of the week. (‘This is a superb performance’ – Michael
Kennedy ~ ‘Wonderfully done!’ - Jerrold Northrop Moore). Tom Higgins later
directed a private performance of the work for the Queen and Duke of
Edinburgh. In 2000 he was awarded a Diploma of Honour by the International Robert Stolz
Society of Vienna. Engagements in 2002 included a gala performance of Aida
as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Between 2004 and 2008 he directed a series
of concerts in Berlin for the district of Charlottenburg. From 2002 to 2011 he was Resident
Music Director of Opera South and conducted 10 main productions. During the
greater part of this time he worked on a number of rare operas, attaining
highly-praised performances - (‘Tom
Higgins drew firm polished playing from the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra
and gave good support to his cast – Opera Magazine). Lortzing’s, Zar
und Zimmermann (Peter the Great), was one of
several operas for which he made a successful orchestral reduction. Particularly noted in both Europe and
Britain for his ‘stylish and attentive conducting’ he was appointed music
director of The Linden Wind Orchestra in 2010. In 2011 he and the LWO were
invited to record Montague Phillips’, A Surrey Suite for future
broadcasting as part of the BBC’s, Light Fantastic Festival. Tom Higgins is also Music Director of
the Richmond Symphonic Wind Ensemble In addition to his concert work, he assisted
the late Sir Charles Mackerras in the reconstruction of Sullivan’s ‘Cello
Concerto and has also created a portfolio of solos for the
international violinist, Midori. She premiered one of these works with the
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in February 2006 Tom Higgins Telephone: +44 (0)20 8390 1020 ~ email: thiggins113@btinternet.com Tom Higgins is represented by
Michael Letchford ~ Goar Lodge, Smith’s Green, Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford,
Herts. CM22
6NS. Telephone: 01279 871114 ~ Mobile: 07815 871766
email: mlartists@googlemail.com |
