Gary Cooper (musician)

Gary Cooper (born London, 1968)[1] is an English conductor and classical keyboardist who specialises in the harpsichord[2] and fortepiano.[3] He is known as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Bach and Mozart, and as a conductor of historically informed performances of music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods.

Career

Gary Cooper studied organ and harpsichord at Chetham's School of Music, the John Loosemore Centre, and was an organ scholar at New College, Oxford, where he graduated with First Class Honours.[4] In 1990 while still a student at Oxford, he co-founded New Chamber Opera, and has conducted many of their performances, including a complete recording of Rameau's cantatas[5] and a new production of Handel's rarely performed opera, Orlando, at Sadler's Wells Theatre in 2006.[6] Between 1992 and 2000, he was a member of the baroque ensemble, Trio Sonnerie, with whom he performed regularly throughout Europe and the United States.[7]

Cooper made his Wigmore Hall solo recital debut on 1 December 2000 with a performance of Bach's complete Well-Tempered Clavier,[8] and has frequently appeared as a recitalist both in the UK and in Europe. Several of his performances have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, including his 22 November 2004 recital at the Cosmo Rodewald Concert Hall in Manchester[9] and his 29 January 2006 Wigmore Hall performance of Mozart's sonatas for piano and violin with violinist Rachel Podger, broadcast live as part of the European Broadcasting Union's Mozart Day.[10]

Gary Cooper has conducted for many ensembles including, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Hanover Band, and English Touring Opera (Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail[11] and Handel's Alcina[12]). He also teaches harpsichord and fortepiano at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Birmingham Conservatoire, and is Visiting Professor of fortepiano at the Royal College of Music.

Selected recordings
  • Haydn: Late Piano Works (Sonata in C, Hob, xvi:48), Sonata in Eb, Hob, xvi:49, and Sonata in Eb, Hob.xvi:52) – Gary Cooper (fortepiano). Label: Channel Classics
  • Haydn: Symphonies 41, 44, and 49 – Arion Baroque Orchestra, Gary Cooper (conductor). Label: Early-Music
  • Rameau: Complete Cantatas – New Chamber Opera, Gary Cooper (conductor). Label: 2 CD Gaudeamus 1999
  • Charpentier: Andromède H.504, Le Ballet de Polieucte H.498 – Giles Underwood, bass, James Gilchrist, tenor, Thomas Guthrie, baritone, Rachel Elliott, soprano, The Band of Instruments, Chorus, New Chamber Opera, Gary Cooper (conductor). Label: Gaudeamus 2002
  • Charpentier: Le Mariage forcé H.494, Les Fous divertissants H.500 – John Bernays, bass, Nicolas Hurndall Smith, tenor, Rachel Elliott, soprano, Christoph Wittmann, countertenor, The Band of Instruments, Chorus, New Chamber Opera, Gary Cooper (conductor). Label: ASV Gaudeamus 1997
  • Mozart: Sonatas for Keyboard & Violin – Gary Cooper (fortepiano), Rachel Podger (violin). Label: Channel Classics (in 8 volumes).
  • Weelkes: Anthems – Oxford Camerata – Jeremy Summerly (conductor), Gary Cooper (organ). Label: Naxos
  • Shakespeare's Musick – Gary Cooper (virginal), Gary Cooper (harpsichord), Jacob Heringman (lute), Jeanette Ager (mezzo-soprano). Label: Philips Classics
  • Victoria: Requiem – Gary Cooper (organ), Keith McGowan (bajan), The Sixteen. Label: Coro
  • Charles Avison: Sonatas for Harpsichord Opp. 5 and 7 – The Avison Ensemble, Gary Cooper (harpsichord). Label: Divine Art
  • John Garth: Accompanied Keyboard Sonatas Opp. 2 and 4 – The Avison Ensemble, Gary Cooper (harpsichord, spinet, square piano & organ). Label: Divine Art

Notes and references
  1. "Gary Cooper Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  2. Fairclough (30 March 2004)
  3. Beaucage (20 November 2008)
  4. GoldbergWeb
  5. Griffiths (7 April 2000)
  6. Monk (January 2007)
  7. Strini (22 March 1997)
  8. Crankshaw (March 2001)
  9. BBC Radio 3 (19 December 2004)
  10. BBC Radio 3 (29 January 2006)
  11. Holden (25 March 2007)
  12. Thicknesse (18 October 2005)
  • Artist's page Gary Cooper official web site on LoganArts Management
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