Roger Norrington, a renowned conductor celebrated for his historically informed performances across major orchestras in Europe and the U.S., has passed away at the age of 91. His son Tom confirmed that Norrington died at his home on Friday, near Exeter, England.
Norrington was known for his unique approach, conducting both period and modern orchestras while insisting they play without vibrato and with a quicker tempo than what is commonly practiced today.
Myron Lutzke, a cellist with the St. Luke’s Orchestra who played a role in encouraging Norrington to take on a directorial position, described him as “an extraordinary playwright” who brought deep emotion to music. He acknowledged that while Norrington had his critics—some of whom were friends—it was clear to Lutzke that Norrington had a special knack for transforming the concert experience.
Born on March 16, 1934, Norrington was the son of Arthur, president of Trinity College in Oxford, and Edith Carver. He began his music journey as a violinist and boy soprano, later attending prestigious institutions like the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and the Royal College of Music, where he learned under Adrien Ball.
Norrington established the Schutz Choir in 1962, initially focused on the works of Heinrich Schutz. His roles spanned various orchestras, including Kent Opera from 1969 to 1984, Bournemouth Symphonietta from 1985 to 1989, and St. Luke’s in New York from 1990 to 1994. He led the Cameratasalzburg from 1997 to 2006, conducted the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1998 to 2011, and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra from 2011 to 2016.
In a 2007 interview, Norrington noted that orchestras generally didn’t use vibrato until the 1930s, highlighting his commitment to historical accuracy in performance.
He was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning one in 2001 for a recording of Nicholas Moe’s Violin Concerto featuring Joshua Bell and the London Philharmonic. Norrington’s final performance was with the Royal Northern Symphony on November 18, 2021, after which he expressed his gratitude for over 50 years of making music with exceptional musicians, stating, “It’s time to get off the podium.”
Norrington’s personal life included a first marriage to Susan McLean May, which ended in divorce in 1982. He remarried choreographer Kay Lawrence in the mid-1980s, who passed away last year. Norrington became a Night Bachelor in 1997 and is survived by his son Tom and two children from his first marriage, Ben and Amy.
