Grant Llewellyn

Grant Llewellyn is renowned for his exceptional charisma, energy, and effortless authority in music of all styles and periods. Born in Tenby, South Wales, Llewellyn’s early promise was recognized with a Conducting Fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts in 1985 where he worked with Bernstein, Ozawa, Masur, and Previn.

After an eight-year tenure as Music Director of the Orchestre National de Bretagne, Llewellyn returned last season, showcasing works by Hoddinott, Walton, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3. Under his direction, the orchestra performed the world premiere of Sarah Lianne Lewis’ L’Île des jamais trop tard, a symphonic tale exploring and reflecting upon the sounds of seascapes and the looming threats of climate change – a piece that continues to resonate in performances this season. Other standout moments included a spectacular concert at Festival Saint Denis in Paris featuring Beethoven’s Celtic songs with Bryn Terfel and Carlos Nunez as well as tours of venues and festivals across Brittany. Llewellyn also played a key role initiating and strengthening the collaboration between the Orchestre National de Bretagne and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Llewellyn maintains a close relationship with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, whom he led on tour to Patagonia and South America, as well as joining their 90th anniversary celebrations and conducting their Proms in the Park in September 2018. His extensive experience across Europe includes guest engagements and previous conducting positions with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Stavanger Symphony amongst others.

In North America, after a distinguished seventeen-year tenure as Music Director of the North Carolina Symphony, Llewellyn returned last season for a symphonic program and an education project. His conducting portfolio spans many of the continent’s leading orchestras, including those of Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Milwaukee, Montreal, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Toronto, as well as an appearance at the Caramoor Festival with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. During his time as Music Director of the Handel and Haydn Society, America’s premier period orchestra, he earned a formidable reputation as an interpreter of Baroque and Classical repertoire.

An accomplished opera conductor, Llewellyn has graced the stages of English National Opera, Opera North, and the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, conducting a diverse repertoire from The Magic Flute to Alexander Goehr’s Arianna. Notable productions include the US premiere of Handel’s Richard the Lionheart with the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Fidelio with the Opéra de Rennes, where his recent direction of Mathieu Bauer’s production of Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress earned the Claude Rostand prize from the Syndicat Français de la Critique for Best Opera Outside of Paris.

Llewellyn’s discography includes notable recordings with the North Carolina Symphony, such as American Spectrum, featuring 20th-century works with saxophonist Branford Marsalis, and a recording of Britten’s Cello Symphony and Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante with cellist Zuill Bailey. His collaboration with the BBC Symphony Orchestra resulted in a critically acclaimed recording of Lowell Liebermann’s orchestral works.

Deeply committed and passionate about engaging young people with music, Llewellyn regularly leads education and outreach projects; in 2017 he led the first ever “relaxed” BBC Prom with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a concert specially designed for those with autism, sensory and communication impairments, and learning disabilities.

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