Richard Harwood
Cello
"probably the greatest young 'cello talent since Jacqueline du Pré"
The Strad
The twenty-two year-old English 'cellist Richard Harwood is one of the leading musicians of his generation. He was a pupil of Joan Dickson, before spending almost five years studying with Steven Doane and David Waterman. Richard is now continuing his studies with Heinrich Schiff at the University of Music and Dramatic Art in Vienna. He has complemented his studies by taking master classes and lessons with Mstislav Rostropovich, Janos Starker, Steven Isserlis, Boris Pergamenschikow, Ralph Kirshbaum, Miklós Perényi, Valentin Erben (Alban Berg Quartet), William Pleeth, Zara Nelsova, and Ferenc Rados.
Since his critically acclaimed concerto debut at the age of ten, Richard has performed concerti in many of the nation's major concert halls, including the Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Festival Hall, St. John's, Smith Square, and St. George's, Brandon Hill. He has collaborated with conductors such as David Parry, En Shao, Shuntaro Sato, and Yehudi Menuhin, and been soloist with numerous orchestras including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and The Philharmonia. Richard made his BBC Radio 3 debut at the age of thirteen with the Elgar Concerto, which he subsequently performed many times on a five-week tour of New Zealand. He has also recorded Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme for BBC Radio 3.
In addition to concerto performances, Richard enjoys life as a recitalist and chamber musician. He made his Wigmore Hall recital debut in April 1998, and his Purcell Room debut took place the following January. Both were with the pianist Julius Drake. Richard also works with the exciting young pianist Dominic Harlan. They recently gave a recital at the Purcell Room and in 2002, Richard and Dominic's duo commitments will take them all over the South coast, to the Wigmore Hall, and to Austria. In 1997, Richard made his Viennese debut at the Schönbrunn Palace Theatre. He has also performed throughout other parts of Austria and in Moscow.
Contemporary music has taken on an important role for Richard this year. In January 2002, he took part in the PLG Young Artists' Series on the South Bank and premiered solo works written for him by Dominic Muldowney and Martin Butler. He has also worked with Philip Grange and recently gave the London premiere of his Nocturnal Image.
Richard has won countless awards, most recently a 2002 MBF Myra Hess Award and the 2001 Maisie Lewis Young Artists Award. He has received a host of other prizes from the MBF, including a Music Education Award and a prestigious 2001 Ian Fleming Trust Award. He currently receives support from the Hattori Foundation and has, in the past, benefited from over a decade of assistance from the KPMG/Martin Musical Scholarship Fund. In 1992, Richard became the youngest ever winner of the Audi Junior Musician Award. In 1997, BBC Music Magazine selected him in their world-wide "Who's Who" edition and, in May 2000, Richard was entered into the new edition of the "International Who's Who in Music" as an 'up and coming talent on the brink of world-wide recognition.'
In 2002, Richard's UK concerto performances will include Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme, Saint-Saëns Concerto No.1, Dvorak Concerto, and the Schumann Concerto. He will also give a number of solo recitals and collaborate with the pianists Julius Drake and Dominic Harlan in numerous duo recital performances.
Richard plays a 'cello by Francesco Rugeri, dated 1682.
Click here to visit Richard's own website.