Garsington Opera has announced that Douglas Boyd is to take up the post of artistic director immediately. He will succeed Whitworth-Jones, the company’s general director who has announced his retirement.
Originally an oboist, Boyd was one of the founder members of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and, until recently, was music director at the Manchester Camerata. He has also guest conducted orchestras including the City of London Sinfonia and the Colorado Symphony.
At Garsington, he has previously conducted Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni and Beethoven’s Fidelio. He will be conducting Beethoven’s opera again for the company in 2014.
‘I am thrilled to become artistic director of Garsington Opera,’ said Boyd in a statement. ‘I am passionate about the ethos of the company and have enjoyed wonderful collaborations in the past few years, conducting Fidelio, Figaro and Don Giovanni. I hope to be able to continue the brilliant and extraordinary work of Anthony Whitworth-Jones. I believe we have a very exciting future.’
In addition, Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, principal of the Royal Academy of Music, has been appointed as chair of the Garsington Opera Artistic Committee, and Nicola Creed will become executive director.
Garsington Opera’s 2013 season opens on 7 June with Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail and also includes performances of Rossini’s Maometto II and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel.
Jack Flanagan