Robert Hollingworth

Robert Hollingworth has spent much of his life thinking about how audiences receive music instead of just how performers are used to delivering it. He founded “musical shapeshifters” I Fagiolini in 1986 who have presented many signature projects “following [his] giddy, eclectic imagination wherever it leads” (The Spectator). Under Hollingworth’s expert direction, I Fagiolini has won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Ensemble Award, a Gramophone Award, the Diapason D'Or de l'Annee, and the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik (German Record Critics Award) in the Early Music category for its Wilbye disc.

Recent projects include a new collaboration as musical director of Clorinda Agonistes with Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, multiple performances in The VOCES8 Foundation’s LIVE From London, an educational and outreach series Sing The Score (funded by University of York), and a podcast ‘choral chat’ collaboration, Choral Chihuahua, with Eamonn Dougan. Upcoming projects include directing De Profundis in a disc series of Morales complete Masses and Magnificats, a new recording of Victoria Tenebrae Responsories, and new projects for I Fagiolini’s 40^th anniversary in 2026.

Robert conducted the world premiere of Benji Merrison’s new piece, xoxvx ovoid, with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain for the Aldeburgh Proms. He made his Russian debut as part of the British Council’s ‘UK-Russia Year of Music’ conducting Blow Venus and Adonis featuring Anna Dennis and Jonathan Sells alongside Russian choir Intrada and Pratum Integrum and returned in February 2022 for a second iteration.

Robert has directed the English Concert, BBC Concert Orchestra, RIAS Kammerchor (Purcell as part of the Barocktage collaboration with Berliner Staatsoper), VOCES8 & VOCES8 Scholars with Academy of Ancient Music in Bach Actus Tragicus’ and Durufle Requiem, Irish Baroque Orchestra in Handel Messiah; and some of the world’s finest chamber choirs including Capella Cracoviensis, Accentus, NDR Chor, Netherlands Chamber Choir, National Chamber Choir of Ireland and BBC Singers. He conducted De Profundis on their album, Vivanco’s Missa Assumpsit Jesus & motets, for Hyperion.

Robert is the Artistic Director for Stour Music festival succeeding Mark and Alfred Deller. An influential communicator, he was the Keynote Presenter at the Australian National Choral Association’s ChoralFest in Perth and at the American Choral Directors Association with I Fagiolini. He writes and presents programmes for BBC Radio 3, TV, and other media outlets. He is Reader in Music at the University of York, where he founded and leads the MA in Solo Voice Ensemble Singing course and directs university chamber choir ‘The 24’. Robert Hollingworth is managed worldwide by Percius. www.percius.co.uk

Updated: 21/05/2023