The Musikfest Bremen Mourns the Loss of Sir Roger Norrington, Musikfest Prize Laureate of 2004

British conductor and historical performance pioneer Sir Roger Norrington died aged 91 this weekend. Born in Oxford in 1934, he studied history at Westminster School and English literature at Cambridge University, where he also sang in the Clare College choir. At the same time, he studied violin and singing at the Royal College of Music. Norrington became world famous for his contributions to the field of historically informed performance. In 1962, he founded the Schütz Choir, with which he began his exploration of historical performance. From 1978 onwards, he transferred this to the symphonic repertoire, for which he founded the London Classical Players. His ongoing investigation of the playing techniques of the past had a significant influence on the current reception of 19th-century music. Norrington made his Bremen debut in 1992 at the Musikfest in the Glocke with the London Classical Players, performing works by Beethoven and Brahms. This was followed by further appearances with the London Classical Players (1995, 1996) and with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (1997, 1998, and 2001), before he created his own Bremen sound in 2003 with the Musikfest Bremen Symphony Orchestra, which was assembled from the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He also appeared at the Musikfest conducting the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, of which he was principal conductor. Drawing on the insights gained from decades of work, he managed to dispense with »modern« vibrato even on »modern« instruments, captivating audiences with works by Mozart, Berlioz, Wagner, and Stravinsky with the utmost vitality, transparency, verve, and brilliance. In 2004, he was awarded the Musikfest Prize at a festive gala in Bremen City Hall for his services, which had a lasting impact on the profile of the festival. Artistic director Thomas Albert said of the exceptional artist's death: »We have lost a very good friend and an extraordinary musician. Sir Roger's work was always guided by the humanistic potential of music, with respect for composers, their works, and the musicians of the many orchestras he was able to influence so profoundly throughout his life. He always had an unparalleled British sense of humour, with which he countered every academic with a wink. Over many years, he gave the Musikfest Bremen historic premieres, setting international standards very early on. We are very grateful to him and will honour this great legacy. Rest in peace, Roger.«