MEET THE CONDUCTOR: Nicholas McGegan

Nicholas McGegan conducts JEREMY DENK PLAYS MOZART
October 13 at 6:30PM & October 14 at 8PM

Background: In his sixth decade on the podium, Nic McGegan—long hailed as “one of the finest baroque conductors of his generation” (The Independent) and “an expert in 18th-century style” (The New Yorker)—is recognized for his probing and revelatory explorations of music of all periods. Following a 34-year tenure as Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, he is now Music Director Laureate. He is also Principal Guest Conductor of Hungary’s Capella Savaria. At home in opera houses, McGegan shone new light on close to 20 Handel operas as the Artistic Director and conductor at Germany’s International Handel Festival Göttingen for 20 years (1991–2001), and the Mozart canon as Principal Guest Conductor at Scottish Opera in the 1990s. He was also Principal Conductor of Sweden’s Drottningholm Court Theatre from 1993 to 1996. 

Best known as a Baroque and Classical specialist, McGegan’s approach—intelligent, infused with joy, and never dogmatic, along with an ability to engage players and audiences alike—has made him a pioneer in broadening the reach of historically informed practice beyond the world of period ensembles to conventional symphonic forces. His guest-conducting appearances with major orchestras—including the New York, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong philharmonics; the Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, Toronto, Sydney, and New Zealand symphonies; the Philadelphia Orchestra; the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Scottish Chamber orchestras; and the orchestras of London's Royal Opera House and Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw—often feature Baroque repertoire alongside Classical, Romantic, 20th-century, and even brand-new works.

Highlights of his 23/24 orchestral bookings include performances at the Aspen Music Festival and School; leading the Cleveland Orchestra in a program of Mozart and Mendelssohn at the 2023 Blossom Music Festival; a return to the Hollywood Bowl in a “Mozart Under the Stars” concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; two programs with the Bay Area’s Cantata Collective; engagements with the Detroit Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, and Rhode Island Philharmonic; and performances of Handel’s Messiah with the Philadelphia Orchestra; Calgary Philharmonic; and the Grand Rapids, Edmonton, and New Jersey Symphonies.

On the operatic front this season, McGegan will conduct performances of two Handel operas: L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato at the Curtis Institute of Music; and Giulio Cesare at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in Lismore, Ireland as well as concert performances of Handel’s Deborah with the NDR Radiophilharmonie in Herrenhausen and Göttingen, Germany.

English-born, McGegan was educated at Cambridge and Oxford. He was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) “for services to music overseas.” Other awards include the Halle Handel Prize; the Order of Merit of the State of Lower Saxony (Germany); the Medal of Honour of the City of Göttingen; and a declaration of Nicholas McGegan Day by the Mayor of San Francisco, in recognition of his work with Philharmonia Baroque.

Tickets start at $20! Click HERE or call 401-248-7000 to purchase today!