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Richard Balcombe

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Richard Balcombe is firmly established as one of the most versatile musicians of his generation.

In opera he has conducted The Gondoliers (English National Opera), Barber of Seville (Ulster Orchestra), Magic Flute and Offenbach's Bluebeard (English Chamber Orchestra), Rigoletto (English Touring Opera), Madama Butterfly and Magic Flute (Central Festival Opera), Falstaff, Tosca, Cosi fan Tutte, The Marriage of Figaro (London Opera Players), Die Fledermaus, The Merry Widow, The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, The Gondoliers and Pirates of Penzance (Carl Rosa) and HMS Pinafore & The Mikado (D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the UK and America). He has also conducted for Bryn Terfel, Jose Carreras and Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorgiu on BBC TV.

He has been privileged to work with some of the world's leading orchestras including Gothenburg Symphony, Orchestre National de Lille, Odense Symphony, Stavanger Symphony, Estonian National Symphony, Stockholm Sinfonietta, Sonderjyllands Symphony, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Orquesta Sinfonica Gran Mariscal (Venezuela); and in the UK the LPO, RPO, RLPO, RSNO, CBSO, ECO, Bournenouth, Halle, Ulster, BBC Concert, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Scottish, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Northern Chamber, London Concert and London Musicians Orchestras and the Orchestras of Scottish Opera and Opera North. Since 2012 he has conducted Proms in the Park in Hyde Park.

In the West End he was Music Director for Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Carmen Jones, Cats, and Once on this Island; he was Music Director for Divorce Me Darling, Out of this World, The Gondoliers and How To Succeed In Business (Chichester Festival), Babes in Arms (Cardiff International Festival), Follies in Concert (London Palladium), Wonderful Town and South Pacific (Grange Park Opera), Anton and Erin Steppin Out (national tour 2010) and Musical Supervisor for Promises and Lies (Birmingham Rep; world premiere), and the 2004/2005 national tour of Kiss Me Kate.

Richard is also a prolific orchestrator and arranger providing orchestrations for most of the orchestras in the UK; for artists including Lesley Garrett, Willard White, Michael Ball, Sir Cliff Richard, Will Young and Ronan Keating and for projects including The Sound of Musicals (Barbican and UK tour), Sounds of Hollywood (Ruthie Henshall, UK tour), Fred Astaire: His daughter’s Tribute (Palladium), Hollywood Symphonic (France), Can you feel the love tonight, The Magnificent Musicals and Something Wonderful (UK tours); Out of this world, How to succeed, Babes in Arms and The Gondoliers (Chichester), Promises and Lies (Birmingham Rep) and The Merry Widow (Carl Rosa). He was Music Associate for BBC TV’s Maestro in 2008 and in 2009 he arranged, orchestrated and conducted the score for Adam Cooper’s Shall we Dance? (Sadlers Wells). He conceived, arranged and orchestrated What the world needs now – the music of Burt Bacharach (premiered in 2012 by the RPO) and he has created reduced orchestral versions of 25 complete operas which are now used worldwide. arranger and has provided orchestrations for the LSO, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, RSNO and the BBC and London Concert Orchestras; for artists including Lesley Garrett, Willard White, Michael Ball, Sir Cliff Richard, Will Young and Ronan Keating and for projects including The Sound of Musicals (Barbican and national tour), Sounds of Hollywood (Ruthie Henshall, national tour), Fred Astaire: His daughter's Tribute (London Palladium), Hollywood Symphonic (France), Can You Feel The Love Tonight, The Magnificent Musicals and Something Wonderful (UK tours); Out Of This World, How To Succeed In Business, Babes in Arms and The Gondoliers (Chichester Festival), Promises and Lies (Birmingham Rep) and The Merry Widow (Carl Rosa). In 2009 he arranged, orchestrated and conducted the score for Adam Cooper's Shall we Dance at (Sadlers Wells) and he has created reduced orchestral versions of 25 complete operas which are now used worldwide.

His recording credits include The Martyr of Antioch (Sullivan), With a song in my heart (Wynne Evans), Love Unspoken, The Musicality of Irving Berlin, Showstoppers from Broadway, 3 original cast albums, This time it’s personal (Michael Ball), The London Cello Sound, Fred Astaire: His Daughter’s Tribute, the DVD Sometimes I dream and What the world needs now with the RPO.

Richard Balcombe Productions

 
[West End, 2012]
Musical Supervisor
 
[West End, 1994]
Musical Director
 
[West End, 1993]
Musical Director
 
[Regional (UK), 1997]
Musical Director

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Richard Balcombe News


BWW Interview: Celinde Schoenmaker Talks MIMMA at Cadogan Hall

Mimma, a new musical telling the stories of Italians living in London during World War Two, will debut in a one-night-only concert performance at Cadogan Hall later this month. We talk to Celinde Schoenmaker, the Dutch star best known for her West End roles in Les Miserables and The Phantom Of The Opera, about her eponymous role in Mimma and the musical’s universal themes.

John Owen-Jones, Ashley Riches, Elena Xanthoudakis Join The Cast Of MIMMA Gala Concert At Cadogan Hall

Joining the previously announced Sir David Suchet (Poirot, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, All My Sons), Louise Dearman (Wicked, Evita) and Celinde Schoenmaker (Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera) is John Owen-Jones, the youngest actor to play the role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and a record holder for the number of performances as Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. He will take on the role of Lorenzo.

New Musical MIMMA Will Be Presented as a Gala Concert at Cadogan Hall

Mimma, a new musical of war and friendship, will be performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra for one special semi-staged gala concert performance only, at Cadogan Hall, on 28 February 2022.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Announces New Programme of Concerts in November and December

Today, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra announces a new programme of concerts at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall from 5 November to 15 December. These are in addition to the October concerts which successfully launched on Thursday 1 October, with huge demand for tickets and many concerts sold out.

Christmas Carol Singalong Comes To Royal Festival Hall This December

Raymond Gubbay Limited is celebrating over 25 years of presenting brilliant season entertainment in 2019, with an incredible line up of Christmas Festivals in London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham including some iconic favourites a?" which have become UK festive institutions a?" and some exciting new concerts for 2019. Highlights of the new concerts for 2019 are:

BWW Review: THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT, Royal Albert Hall

Following on from their celebration of all things Queen in October, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra last night returned to the Royal Albert Hall for a night of modern musical magic. Conducted by Richard Balcombe, the orchestra performed an incredible range of songs from modern-day shows - ranging from screen-to-stage adaptations and jukebox hits, to completely original musicals. Stage star Bonnie Langford (currently in the West End production of 9 to 5) was there to oversee the evening's events, and was joined by soloists Alex Gaumond, Celinde Schoenmaker, Louise Dearman and Ben Forster, as well as the ArtsEd Ensemble.

Raymond Gubbay Ltd Celebrates 25 Years Of Seasonal Entertainment With 2019 Christmas Festivals

Raymond Gubbay Limited is celebrating over 25 years of presenting brilliant season entertainment in 2019, with an incredible line up of Christmas Festivals in London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham including some iconic favourites a?" which have become UK festive institutions a?" and some exciting new concerts for 2019.

BWW Review: OKLAHOMA!, West Horsley Place

Oh, what a beautiful evening in West Horsley! Grange Park Opera open their 2018 summer festival season with Rogers and Hammerstein's vintage musical (the first of its kind in 1943), set in the farming heartlands of America.

SOUND OF MUSICALS Comes to Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Back by popular demand with a new programme of show-stopping music and songs from the greatest Broadway and West End musicals.

Denise Van Outen, Michael Xavier, Kimberley Walsh and Kerry Ellis Set to Lead SWEET CHARITY Concert at Cadogan Hall

Cadogan Hall presents the concert version of Sweet Charity with musical theatre stars Denise Van Outen, Michael Xavier, Kimberley Walsh and Kerry Ellis. The soloists are joined by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and Arts Ed Chorale, under musical director Richard Balcombe. The creative team is completed by stage director Paul Foster and choreographer Matt Flint.

Christopher Gattelli Will Helm NYC Developmental Lab of TOP HAT with New Book by Chad Beguelin

According to an Equity casting notice, Tony winner Christopher Gattelli is set to helm an upcoming NYC developmental lab of Top Hat. This version of the show features the classic music and lyrics of Irving Berlin and a new book by Chad Beguelin. The lab is set to be held May 18 through June 19.

Kerry Ellis and Summer Strallen Perform THE SOUND OF MUSICALS This Weekend

This weekend, 27-30 December 2014, Kerry Ellis and Summer Strallen perform together in a new concert of show-stopping music and songs from the greatest West End and Broadway musicals.

Alan Burkitt and Charlotte Gooch Lead TOP HAT at Theatre Royal Glasgow

Let's Face the Music and Dance with Top Hat at the Theatre Royal until Saturday 13 December. Stepping into the tap dancing shoes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the lead roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont, are Alan Burkitt and Charlotte Gooch, who both return to Top Hat having previously performed these roles in the West End.

TOP HAT Coming to Theatre Royal Glasgow in December

Top Hat - winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography', 'Best Costume Design' from its seven nominations - is enjoying an epic 47-week UK tour, visiting 24 theatres nationwide. From Tuesday 2 December Top Hat will be Puttin' on the Ritz at the Theatre Royal Glasgow.

Olivier Winner TOP HAT to Receive Second Developmental Reading in New York this Month

The production previously held a lab in NYC in March of this year.

TOP HAT Tour Coming to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, 21 October - 1 November

TOP HAT, winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography', 'Best Costume Design' from its seven nominations and winner of the Evening Standard Award for 'Best Night Out', embarks on a 47-week UK tour, visiting Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tue 21 Oct - Sat 1 Nov 2014.

TOP HAT Will Return to London Prior to Launching UK tour

Top Hat, winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography', 'Best Costume Design' from its seven nominations, and winner of the Evening Standard Award for 'Best Night Out', returns to London to open its new tour at New Wimbledon Theatre on Tuesday 12 August where it will run for two weeks until Saturday 23 August. The production then embarks on a major 47-week tour visiting theatres throughout the UK and in Ireland, until 25 July 2015.

Kerry Ellis and Summer Strallen Perform THE SOUND OF MUSICALS, December

On 27-30 December 2014, Kerry Ellis and Summer Strallen perform together in a new concert of show-stopping music and songs from the greatest West End and Broadway musicals, including:

Maria Friedman, Jenna Russell & More Set for ANYTHING GOES Concert at Cadogan Hall; Runs August 20-23

Over the past decade Cadogan Hall has established itself as one of London's leading venues at the heart of Chelsea. In 2014 Cadogan Hall celebrates its tenth anniversary with a host of events including classical, opera, jazz, swing, pop and comedy.

Burkitt And Gooch Lead Cast In UK Tour of TOP HAT!

Top Hat, winner of three Olivier Awards, for 'Best New Musical', 'Best Choreography' and 'Best Costume Design' from a total of seven nominations and winner of the Evening Standard Award for 'Best Night Out', is setting off on an epic 47-week UK tour, visiting 24 theatres nationwide. Opening at New Wimbledon Theatre on Tuesday 12 August 2014 the production will tour until Saturday 25 July 2015.

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