Richard Tunnicliffe
[cello]
Richard Tunnicliffe studied cello and viola da gamba at the Royal College of Music, and now plays music ranging from the Renaissance to the present day on a number of instruments. He is a member of the viol consort “Fretwork”, who have travelled widely, had over 20 works written for them, and made numerous recordings. In 2007 they become Ensemble in Residence at Sydney Sussex College, Cambridge.
He is also principal cello of the Avison Ensemble and a guest principal of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He has been much in demand as a continuo cellist, playing for Opera productions in Glyndebourne and Salzburg (with OAE) and can be heard in this capacity in many orchestral and chamber recordings. (with Renee Fleming, Elizabeth Wallfisch, Lisa Beznosiuk, Pavlo Beznosiuk, among others). He has received praise for his many performances of the 6 Solo Suites of Bach, in such venues as London’s Wigmore Hall and Purcell Rooms, Warsaw Philharmonie and Berlin Schauspielhaus. He often presents these along with contemporary works, and has performed the 5 th Suite as a dance work, using elements of baroque and modern dance, with Elizabeth Lea.
Other recordings include a solo disc of early 17 th Century cello works along with the complete works of Domenico Gabrielli, widely regarded as the first significant virtuoso cellist/composer, for the Cello Classics label. He has also recorded John Joubert’s “Kontakion” for cello and piano, with pianist John McCabe, which will be released to celebrate the composer’s 80 th Birthday in 2007.
He teaches Baroque Cello at the Royal College of Music, London, at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, and at CEMPR, Birmingham University, with whom he directed a performance of Bach’s “St John Passion” in St. Phillip’s Cathedral, Birmingham at Easter 2007.
