Anthony Halstead's prominence as a Conductor and Director in the period-instrument movement increasingly takes him to those ‘modern’ orchestras whose players, using conventional instruments, wish to develop a stylistic awareness of authentic practice in the baroque, classical and romantic eras. He has had a long association with The Hanover Band, and also has a special empathy with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra. Outside his work in the UK he makes regular return visits to Scandinavia, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand as well as making guest appearances world-wide for concerts or recordings. On CD, Anthony Halstead has conducted or directed over 50 recordings. These include the Beethoven and the Dvorak Violin Concerti with Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the symphonies of JM Kraus and concertos by JH Roman for Musica Sveciae, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and concertos by Vivaldi for EMI (re-released in June 2004 on ‘Classics for Pleasure’) , plus the complete Drottningholm Music by JH Roman and all Boccherini's Cello Concertos, with Tim Hugh as soloist, for Naxos. On his last visit to Sweden, he was presented with a ‘gold disc’ by Naxos to commemorate the sale of over 40,000 CDs of the ‘Drottningholm Music’ in Sweden alone.

Anthony recently completed a 7-year project with The Hanover Band, recording, on 22 CDs, all the orchestral music of JC Bach for the German company cpo, during the course of which he played solo harpsichord or fortepiano in the 27 concertos, whilst directing the orchestra from the keyboard. Another current long-term project continues with the Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, recording neglected Dutch Symphonies of the 18th and 19th centuries. Anthony Halstead was born in Manchester, attending Chetham’s School and the Royal Manchester College of Music where he studied piano, horn, organ and composition. Subsequently he studied the harpsichord with George Malcolm and conducting with Sir Charles Mackerras and Michael Rose. As a horn player he has held Principal positions with the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, The Academy of Ancient Music, the English Concert, The Hanover Band and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He now enjoys a varied career as a conductor and director/harpsichordist, as well as being a renowned horn soloist and teacher of international repute. Future engagements include a debut conducting Mozart with Opera North, and UK concerts including Stravinsky’s ‘The Rite of Spring’ and Mahler’s 6th Symphony.

(July 2004)