Nicholas McGegan

Conductor

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  Described by The Independent as “one of the finest baroque conductors of his generation”, Nicholas McGegan was educated at Cambridge, Oxford and RAM. In his capacity as Music Director of San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque he has established the group as the leading period band in America. He was artistic director at the International Handel Festival Göttingen 1991 - 2011. He is also the Principal Guest Conductor of Pasadena Symphony.

  Active in opera as well as the concert hall, he has been Principal Guest Conductor of Scottish Opera and Principal Conductor of Sweden’s 18th Century theatre in Drottingholm, running the annual festival there. He has been a pioneer in the process of exporting historically informed practice beyond the world of period instruments to wider conventional symphonic forces, guest-conducting with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Houston, Concertgebouw, Royal Scottish National, BBC Scottish Symphony, Scottish Chamber, Northern Sinfonia, City of Birmingham Symphony, Halle and the symphony orchestras of Toronto, Montreal and Sydney. Opera companies he works with include Royal Opera House Covent Garden, San Francisco, Santa Fe and Washington. He has broken new ground in experimental dance-collaborations with Mark Morris, notably at festivals like Edinburgh International and Ravinia.

  His discography of over 100 releases includes the world premiere recording of Handel’s Susanna, which attracted both a Gramophone Award and Grammy nomination. Among his other rediscoveries is the first performance in modern times of Handel’s masterly but mislaid Gloria.

  Nicholas McGegan is represented in the UK and Ireland by Andrew Rosner at Rayfield Allied.
  This biography is for information only and should not be reproduced.

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  • Teseo
    Philharmonia Baroque

    On Thursday evening the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, led by Nicholas McGegan, gave a performance of Handel’s Teseo at the Herbst Theater here that confirmed its leading position in the field. For the most part it was the irrepressible positive energy of the orchestra that breathed life into this three-and-a-half-hour performance.

    Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim, The New York Times (April 2013)

  • Messiah
    Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

    Handel would utilize whatever forces were available when performing his Messiah and likely to have an orchestra of the size so expertly directed by Nicholas McGegan here. McGegan’s balancing act was so astutely deployed that the BSO were never compromised, all solo accompaniments beautifully poised.

    Bournemouth Echo

  • Messiah
    BBC Proms

    I have never heard a more uplifting Messiah, or a choral event which more perfectly answered the requirements of the auditorium's vast space. McGegan may be a period-performance man, but what he brought out was the sheer drama of the work, in which almost every chorus and aria is an emotional roller-coaster.

    Michael Church, Independent

    In terms of expression, too, the singing was sensitively conceived and brilliantly executed. Much of the credit should go to Nicholas McGegan, who led with even judgment mixed with infectious enthusiasm.

    Guy Dammann, Guardian

    Something amazing happened at the Proms last night – a performance of Handel’s Messiah that was fresh, edgy and exciting.

    Petroc Trelawny, Daily Telegraph

  • Orlando
    Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

    McGegan conducted with animation and ease, a strong rapport between the entire orchestra. Clearly McGegan’s twenty-five years conducting Philharmonia Baroque have created an enviable connection among musicians, allowing them to achieve such coherent and masterful performances. Everyone on stage seemed engaged, excited, and delighted to be present and performing. […] This exciting and lively production is a testament to the calibre of artistry of Nicholas McGegan and his Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.

    Cashman Kerr Prince, The Boston Musical Intelligencer

    The magician-in-chief was Nicholas McGegan, who conducted his Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra Sunday afternoon with unflagging energy and led five exemplary singers through their gruelling paces in the solo roles.

    Mike Silverman, Huffington Post

    From the opening notes, McGegan gave off a smile that remained in place for the entire performance and, through the final chorus some three-and-one-quarter hours later, the fusion of 18th-century music and drama was a sheer delight at every turn.

    Dennis Polkow, Chicago Classical Review

    McGegan presided with genial vigor, encouraging and enjoying the extravagance.

    Matthew Guerrieri, Boston Globe

    The hero was Nicholas McGegan, who guided his Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra of San Francisco through the operatic cabals, curlicues and convolutions, anno 1733, with gusto and savoir-faire, also infectious affection.

    Matrin Bernheimer, Financial Times

  • Feature in Early Music Today
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    Reasons to be cheerful

    Andrew Stewart

• Nicholas McGegan Discography

  • Discography

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    Photographer Credit: Steve J. Sherman

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  • 
    Photographer Credit: Steve J. Sherman

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  • 
    Photographer Credit: Steve J. Sherman

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  • 
    Photographer Credit: Steve J. Sherman

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  • 
    Photographer Credit: Steve J. Sherman

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