Dr David Russell Hulme

Director of Music
BA (Hons), MA, PhD, PGCE Photograph of Dr David Russell Hulme.

Contact

Email: drh@aber.ac.uk
Phone: 01970 622744

Biography

David Russell Hulme was appointed Director of Music in 1992. In demand as a conductor, his schedule has taken him to major venues throughout Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada, with appearances as far-flung as the Royal Canada Opera, Christchurch Festival (New Zealand) and Buxton International G&S Festival. He works regularly with the renowned Carl Rosa Opera Company, the world’s foremost English language operetta company, and in 2001 toured Australia and New Zealand, conducting the State Orchestra of Victoria, the Auckland Philharmonia and the Sydney Opera House Orchestra, followed by tours of the United States and Canada in 2004 and 2006.

David studied music at Aberystwyth under Ian Parrott, and conducting with the great Sir Adrian Boult. Gaining MA and PhD degrees for his research into British Music, he has published extensively, including articles for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and the BBC Proms. Described in Opera as ‘our leading authority on Sullivan’s manuscripts’, he has been closely involved in productions by leading opera companies including WNO, ENO, New Sadler’s Wells and D’Oyly Carte, as well as others in America and Australia. He edited Sullivan’s music and advised for Mike Leigh’s Oscar-winning film Topsy-Turvy and his ground-breaking and critically acclaimed edition of Ruddigore, published by Oxford University Press, was recently staged by Opera North. Other editing for OUP ranges from Haydn’s Paukenmesse to Walton’s Second Symphony.

David attracts much attention and praise for his performances of neglected British music. For example, he has conducted the National Festival Orchestra in performances of Edward German’s music at the Edward German Festivals and recently recorded the composer’s light opera Tom Jones with a cast of international soloists. Released on the Naxos label, it shot immediately to No. 3 in the classical charts. Chosen as a Recording of the Year, it has attracted outstanding critical praise.