BIOGRAPHY
English conductor Robin Newton’s rapidly developing career has seen him work with many renowned opera companies and orchestras including the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Bergen National Opera, English National Opera, Opera North, English Touring Opera, Bampton Classical Opera, the Bergen Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Philharmonia, the London Mozart Players and the Northern Chamber Orchestra.
During the 2011/12 season, Robin made several notable debuts including the RPO (Aida/Royal Albert Hall), Chelsea Opera Group (La forza del destino/Queen Elizabeth Hall) and the Buxton Opera Festival (La pazza giornata, ovvero Il matrimonio di Figaro by Marcos Portugal/Bampton Classical Opera). Further engagements include the world première of Daughters of the Elements by Stephen McNeff (Tête á Tête Opera Festival), Rossini’s Armida (Haydn Chamber Orchestra/St John’s Smith Square, London), Don Giovanni (Opera Della Luna), Mozart arias & Dvořák Symphony No.6 (Oxford Sinfonia) and as assistant to David Parry on Opera Rara’s recording of Donizetti’s Caterina Cornaro (BBC Symphony Orchestra). Important debuts coming up include WNO, Wexford and the Salomon Orchestra as well Robin’s first visit to the Hallé Orchestra. Robin will also return to Chelsea Opera Group for Bellini’s I Capuletti e i Montecchi.
Having worked on more than 20 recordings for Opera Rara, Robin has a deep understanding of the bel canto style and an extensive knowledge of Italian opera including many works by Bellini, Donizetti, Mercadante, Rossini and Verdi. In recent years Robin has also established an important relationship with Garsington Opera, where performance credits include Il Re Pastore, Die Zauberflöte and Fidelio. He has also worked closely on both operatic and symphonic works with Sir Mark Elder, Jiří Bělohlávek, Yves Abel, Andrew Litton and Maurizio Benini.
Robin has a music degree with honours from Cambridge University and studied conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester where he was a major prizewinner, including twice being awarded the Ricordi Prize for Conducting Opera.