Robin Ticciati (born 16 April 1983, in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
) is a British
conductor of Italian ancestry.
Biography
Ticciati's paternal grandfather, Niso Ticciati, was a composer, arranger, cellist, and keyboardist. His father is a barrister, and his mother is a therapist. His older brother
Hugo Ticciati
Hugo Ticciati (born April 12, 1980) is a British-born violinist, living in Sweden. He has performed in several worldwide events such as the Gotland Chamber Music Festival (Sweden), the St. Denis-Festival (Paris), and the Festival Internacional ...
is a violinist, and his sister is a theology professor.
As a youth, Ticciati studied violin, piano and percussion, and was a member of the
National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain (NYO-GB) is the national youth orchestra of the United Kingdom, consisting of 164 members of ages 13 to 19 years. Their mission is to "give thrilling experiences of orchestral music to teenage musici ...
. He began conducting at age 15 whilst attending
St Paul's School. Ticciati read music at
Clare College
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college was founded in 1326 as University Hall, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. It was refounded ...
,
University of Cambridge
, mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts.
Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge.
, established =
, other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
. Although Ticciati has not had any formal conducting training, he counts Sir
Simon Rattle
Sir Simon Denis Rattle (born 19 January 1955) is a British-German conductor. He rose to international prominence during the 1980s and 1990s, while music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (1980–1998). Rattle was principal ...
and Sir
Colin Davis
Sir Colin Rex Davis (25 September 1927 – 14 April 2013) was an English conductor, known for his association with the London Symphony Orchestra, having first conducted it in 1959. His repertoire was broad, but among the composers with whom h ...
among his conducting mentors.
Ticciati founded the chamber ensemble Aurora, which gave its first concert in April 2005, the year in which he was also awarded a
Borletti Buitoni Trust Fellowship. In June 2005 he was called to substitute for
Riccardo Muti
Riccardo Muti, (; born 28 July 1941) is an Italian conductor. He currently holds two music directorships, at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and at the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini. Muti has previously held posts at the Maggio Musicale ...
for a night at the
Teatro alla Scala
La Scala (, , ; abbreviation in Italian of the official name ) is a famous opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the ' (New Royal-Ducal Theatre alla Scala). The premiere performan ...
, thus becoming its youngest conductor ever. In January 2006, Ticciati became artistic advisor and chief conductor of the
Gävle Symphony Orchestra
The Gävle Symphony Orchestra ( sv, Gävle symfoniorkester) is a symphony orchestra based in Gävle, Sweden. The orchestra is resident at the ''Gävle Konserthus'' (Gävle Concert Hall).
History
Founded in 1912, giving its first concert on 16 ...
, and concluded his Gävle tenure in May 2009.
In 2007, Ticciati became music director of
Glyndebourne on Tour, and held the post through December 2009.
Ticciati conducted the
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is an Edinburgh-based UK chamber orchestra. One of Scotland's five National Performing Arts Companies, the SCO performs throughout Scotland, including annual tours of the Scottish Highlands and Islands and S ...
(SCO) for the first time at
Strathpeffer Pavilion, at the start of a summer 2008 Highlands concert tour. In October 2008, the SCO announced the appointment of Ticciati as the orchestra's next
principal conductor, effective as of the 2009–2010 season.
In October 2010, the SCO announced the extension of Ticciati's contract as principal conductor for an additional 3 years, through the 2014–2015 season. In March 2013, the SCO further extended Ticciati's contract as principal conductor to 2018. He concluded his SCO tenure at the close of the 2017–2018 season. In July 2011, Ticciati was announced as the seventh music director of
Glyndebourne Festival Opera
Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an annual opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England.
History
Under the supervision of the Christie family, the festival has been held annually since 1934, e ...
, effective January 2014, the first former music director of Glyndebourne on Tour to be named music director of the full Glyndebourne Opera company.
Outside of the UK, Ticciati served as Principal Guest Conductor of the
Bamberg Symphony
The Bamberg Symphony (German: Bamberger Symphoniker – Bayerische Staatsphilharmonie) is a German orchestra based in Bamberg. It is one of the most prestigious orchestras in Germany. The orchestra was formed in 1946 mainly from German musicians e ...
from 2010 to 2013. He first guest-conducted the
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
The Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DSO) is a German broadcast orchestra based in Berlin. The orchestra performs its concerts principally in the Philharmonie Berlin. The orchestra is administratively based at the ''Rundfunk Berlin-Branden ...
(DSO Berlin) in October 2014. In October 2015, the DSO Berlin named Ticciati its next principal conductor, effective with the 2017–2018 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. In September 2020, the DSO Berlin announced the extension of Ticciati's contract through 2027.
Ticcati and the SCO have recorded commercially for
Linn Records
Linn Records is a Glasgow-based record label which specialises in classical music, jazz and Scottish music. It is part of Linn Products.
History
While Linn engineers were testing their flagship product, the Sondek LP12 turntable, they became fr ...
, as ''
Les Nuits d'été
''Les nuits d'été'' (''Summer Nights''), Op. 7, is a song cycle by the French composer Hector Berlioz. It is a setting of six poems by Théophile Gautier. The cycle, completed in 1841, was originally for soloist and piano accompaniment. Berlio ...
,
La mort de Cléopâtre, La Symphonie Fantastique'' and ''
L'Enfance du Christ
''L'enfance du Christ'' (''The Childhood of Christ''), Opus 25, is an oratorio by the French composer Hector Berlioz, based on the Holy Family's flight into Egypt (see Gospel of Matthew 2:13). Berlioz wrote his own words for the piece. Most of it ...
'', ''
Roméo et Juliette'', (with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Swedish Radio Chor), by
Berlioz. Ticciati received an Honorary Doctorate from
Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University ( gd, Oilthigh Heriot-Watt) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and subsequently granted univ ...
in 2012.
Ticciati was appointed
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(OBE) in the
2019 Birthday Honours
The 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as ...
for services to music.
References
External links
Askonas Holt agency biography of TicciatiDeutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin English-language page on Robin TicciatiClare College alumni page on Ticciati
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ticciati, Robin
1983 births
English conductors (music)
British male conductors (music)
People educated at St Paul's School, London
Alumni of Clare College, Cambridge
Living people
English people of Italian descent
21st-century English musicians
21st-century British conductors (music)
21st-century British male musicians
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Musicians from London