Richard Farnes
Conductor
Richard Farnes is a persuasive interpreter of the operas of Britten, Mozart, Verdi, Janáček and Wagner.
His connection with Britten runs deep, having performed at Snape Maltings for the composer as a choirboy at King’s College, Cambridge.
As Music Director of Opera North from 2004 to 2016, he conducted several of Britten’s operas, including Death in Venice, The Turn of the Screw, Gloriana and an award-winning Peter Grimes. He made his ROH debut in 2002 conducting Simon Boccanegra and has since conducted Il trovatore and Death in Venice there.
Career Highlights
He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2019 with Falstaff and was due to return in 2020 to conduct Manon Lescaut, before the Covid pandemic. Other recent engagements include La traviata (Royal Danish Opera) and semi-staged performances of Tosca (ENO at Crystal Palace Bowl).
During his time at Opera North, he developed a close affinity with Wagner, touring concert performances of the operas across the UK. His project to perform the entire Ring cycle six times in 2016 won public and critical acclaim, including the 2017 RPS Opera and Music Theatre award, with Farnes named Conductor of the Year.
Concert engagements include appearances with the LSO, CBSO, BBC Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
He opens the 22/23 Season conducting the Symphony Orchestra of India in Mumbai.
Last updated: 9th August 2023