Richard Egarr Music Director

The AAM's Music Director Richard Egarr is a brilliant harpsichordist and equally skilled on the organ, fortepiano and modern piano. He is also an accomplished conductor, and relishes the chance to talk about music at every opportunity.

Richard trained as a choirboy at York Minster, at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester and as organ scholar at Clare College, Cambridge; he later studied with Gustav and Marie Leonhardt.

Since being appointed Music Director of the AAM in 2006, Richard has directed the orchestra in concerts around the world and in a number of acclaimed recordings. Richard is also involved with numerous other period ensembles in America and the UK, including the Handel and Haydn Society and the Orchestra of the 18th Century. As a soloist he has performed throughout Europe, Japan and the USA, and for many years he formed an "unequalled duo for violin and keyboard" (Gramophone) with violinist Andrew Manze.

In 2006 Richard established the Choir of the AAM, and operas and oratorios lie at the heart of his repertoire more generally. He is also increasingly sought-after by non-period orchestras and this season he conducts, among others, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Richard's recording output includes acclaimed discs of Bach's Wohltemperierte Clavier, and works by Handel and JS Bach with the AAM.

Watch Richard playing JS Bach with the AAM

Forthcoming concerts featuring Richard Egarr

Richard Egarr's past performances

Recordings featuring Richard Egarr

Organ Concertos Op.7

Handel, George Frideric (1685–1750)

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Academy of Ancient Music

Richard Egarr director & organ

2009, HMU 807447-48 (hybrid CD/SACD)

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