Robert Howarth

Harpsichord

Robert Howarth studied music at the University of York where he won the Department prize for his outstanding Musical contribution. He quickly established himself as a Harpsichordist in England, specialising in Continuo playing. As a keyboard continuo player he plays for many Early Music Ensembles such as the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, English Baroque Soloists, Gabrieli Players and the New London Consort.

As musical assistant to Ivor Bolton, Robert works regularly for the Salzburg Festival, Florence's Maggio Musicale and the Bavarian State Opera. As a conductor he has worked in the Hamburg State Opera and with the Northern Sinfonia in England and also with Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg in concerts with Angelicka Kirschlager and Thomas Hampson. He also opened the Munich Opera Festival last year conducting Handel with the Bayerische Staatsorchester.

He is currently working on a Monteverdi cycle with Graham Vick and the Birmingham Opera Company which culminates in performances of Ulisse in 2005. Future plans include working on Poppea for Paris Opera and then a Gluck Cycle in Vienna beginning in 2007.

His chamber music recordings with La Serenissima, Ricordo and his own group, The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble have all met will great critical acclaim, winning special recognition in both the Gramophone and BBC Music magazines. Future plans include a complete recording of Monteverdi's 1610 Mass and Vespers. He is now the Artistic Director of the Avison Ensemble of Newcastle