“Glyndebourne opera chief David Pickard has been appointed as the new director of the BBC Proms, the world’s biggest classical music festival,” writes John Plunkett in Tuesday’s (5/26) Guardian (London). “Pickard, who has been general director of Glyndebourne for the last 14 years, will report to Radio 3 controller Alan Davey, who succeeded Roger Wright in the role last year. The BBC’s director of radio Helen Boaden said Pickard had an ‘outstanding track record in bringing new audiences to classical music, as well as a background in both orchestral and operatic music.’ Pickard started his career at the Royal Opera House ‘after a degree in music and an early realization that a performing career was best left to others’ before going on to work at the New Shakespeare Company, Kent Opera, the Japan Festival, the European Arts Festival and as chief executive of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.… Glyndebourne is best known for its summer festival which started in 1934, hosting about 80 performances.… This year’s season of BBC Proms is being overseen by Edward Blakeman, with Pickard due to join the BBC later this year.”
Posted May 28, 2015
