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Gordon Hunt (musician)

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Gordon Hunt
Born1950 (age 73–74)
London, England
GenresClassical music
Occupations
  • Oboist
  • clarinetist
  • conductor
  • professor of music
Instrument(s)XL Oboe (made by Howarth of London)
Clarinet
Years active1982–present

Gordon Hunt (born 1950) is a British musician and conductor. Regarded as one of the world's leading oboists, Hunt has served as principal oboe of the Philharmonia and London Chamber orchestras, a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music.

Early life and education

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Hunt was born in London in 1950.[1] He is the son of Jean Anderson, a pianist, and Francis Hunt, a businessman and violinist. As a child, he was taken regularly to recitals and concerts by his parents, where he was encouraged to become an oboist.[2]

Hunt studied under Terence MacDonagh.[1]

Career

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Hunt has had a professional career as both a soloist, conductor, and as principal oboist of the Philharmonia Orchestra. He has held principal positions at the London Philharmonic and the London Chamber Orchestra, and has played as Guest Principal with the Berlin Philharmonic. He has also appeared as a soloist with conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Andrew Davis, Carlo Maria Giulini, Kirill Kondrashin, Riccardo Muti, Sir John Pritchard, Sir Simon Rattle, Giuseppe Sinopoli and Franz Welser-Möst.[1]

Hunt has made several CD recordings, from which tracks are regularly broadcast on Classic FM (UK) and other radio stations. He has made many musical recordings for BMG, EMI and Virgin, including all of Mozart’s solo music. His recording of the Richard Strauss Concerto with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Vladimir Ashkenazy (Decca) has been named the finest available by the Penguin CD Guide. He has also made several recordings for BIS, including Elevazione, a disc of popular concertos which he also directed.[1]

Hunt has conducted the National Symphony Orchestra of South Africa, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of South Africa, the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, the Danish Radio Sinfonietta and London's Southbank Sinfonia, and has conducted in the Budapest Spring Festival.[1] Of a performance of the Mozart Oboe Concerto in Berlin, a critic wrote that "with his crystal clear, aristocratic tone, he undoubtedly ranks as one of the greatest exponents of his instrument."[3]

Hunt was the original "Gabriel's Oboe" in the Morricone score for the 1986 period drama film The Mission.[3]

Hunt was music director of the Swedish Chamber Winds from 1991 to 1997, and has worked with orchestras and wind ensembles across the continents. He was artistic director of the Danish Chamber Players from 2001 to 2004, and now works regularly with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra.[1]

In the summer of 2005, Hunt played the Adagio from Albinoni’s D minor concerto at the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.[1]

In 2008, he was soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, televised live to over 30 million homes across the world. In 2010, Hunt was designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace. He is currently principal oboe of the World Orchestra for Peace and a member of the jury for the International Oboe Competition of Japan. In 2011, he conducted concerts in Brazil, and on tour with the winds of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In 2022, he conducted concerts in the Traveling Notes festival in Tbilisi, Georgia.[1]

Discography

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Album Year Credits Label Ref
Mozart 1982 Chilingirian String Quartet
Andrew Marriner
Classics for Pleasure [4]
Mozart: Oboe Concerto, Flute and Harp Concerto 1987 Jonathan Snowden
Caryl Thomas
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrew Litton
EMI [4]
Jonathan Haas – 18th Century Concertos For Timpani And Orchestra 1988 Johann Fischer
Georg Druschetzky
Bournemouth Sinfonietta
Harold Farberman
CRD Records [4]
Mozart – Flute Concerto In G / Oboe Concerto / Sinfonia Concertante K297B / Flute And Harp Concerto 1995 Jonathan Snowden
Caryl Thomas
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Charles Mackerras
Andrew Litton
EMI [4]
Bax / Bliss: Oboe Quintets / Britten: Phantasy Quartet 1997 BIS Records [5]
Soliloquy 1998 Benjamin Britten
Mary Chandler
Andrew Jackman
Gordon Jacob
Nicola LeFanu
Paul Reade
Neil Saunders
BIS Records [6]
Mozart – Clarinet Concerto, Clarinet Quintet, Oboe Quartet 2001 Andrew Marriner
London Mozart Players
Jane Glover
Chilingirian Quartet
Classics for Pleasure [4]
Elevazione – The Magic Of The Oboe 2001 BIS Records [4]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Divertiment / Symphony No. 29 / Adagio And Fugue 2002 Levon Chilingirian DB Productions [4]
Harald Sæverud – Symphony No. 5 • Oboe Concerto • Entrata Regale • Sonata Giubilata 2003 Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
Ole Kristian Ruud
BIS Records [4]
Vagn Holmboe – Concertos For Piano, Clarinet And Oboe / Beatus Parvo 2004 Noriko Ogawa
Martin Fröst
Danish National Opera Choir
Aalborg Symfoniorkester
Owain Arwel Hughes
BIS Records [4]
The Danish Chamber Players + Gordon Hunt Play Jacques Ibert 2010 The Danish Chamber Players
Jacques Ibert
CDKlassisk [4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Gordon Hunt". Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Numiko. 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. ^ History of The Larry Slattery Memorial Fund at The Larry Slattery Memorial Fund
  3. ^ a b "Gordon Hunt". Taipei Music Academy & Festival. FT. 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 903391 discography at Discogs
  5. ^ Bax / Bliss: Oboe Quintets / Britten: Phantasy Quartet at Tidal
  6. ^ Soliloquy - British Music for Solo Oboe at BIS Records