Sir Roger Norrington, the English conductor known for historically informed performances, passed away last Friday, July 18. He was 91.
Born in Oxford, Norrington rose to prominence in the 1960s when he revived and championed the choral music of the 17th century German composer, Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672). In 1962, Norrington founded the Schütz Choir. He went on to found the London Classical Players, an ensemble he led until 1997. In later years, he served as principal conductor of Camerata Salzburg (1997-2006) and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (1998-2011).
Roger Norrington’s approach to music was idiosyncratic, and at times controversial. His tempos were brisk. He followed Beethoven’s rapid metronome markings. He insisted that the strings play without vibrato. (This adherence to a pure, uncolored sound extended to the music of Brahms, Wagner, Mahler, and Vaughan Williams). He contended that orchestral string sections began using vibrato only as late as the 1930s.
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55, Eroica
This concert performance of Beethoven’s Third Symphony (Eroica) features Roger Norrington and the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra:
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Here is a 1992 performance of the complete opera. Roger Norrington leads the London Classical Players, the Schütz Choir of London, and a cast which includes Andreas Schmidt (Don Giovanni), Amanda Halgrimson (Donna Anna), John Mark Ainsley (Don Ottavio), Lynne Dawson (Donna Elvira), Gregory Yurisich (Leoporello), Alastair Miles (Il Commendatore), Gerald Finley (Masetto), and Nancy Argenta (Zerlina).
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (V. Songe d’une Nuit du Sabbat: Larghetto – Allegro)
Recordings
- Roger Norrington’s discography at warnerclassics.com