Pinnock, Trevor (David)

Pinnock, Trevor (David), outstanding English harpsichordist and conductor; b. Canterbury, Dec. 16, 1946. He became a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral when he was 7, and after receiving instruction in piano and organ, he served as a church organist. At 19, he entered the Royal Coll. of Music in London, where he took courses in organ and later harpsichord. While still a student, he organized the Gailliard Harpsichord Trio (1966); also toured Europe with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the Fields. In 1973 he founded the English Concert, an ensemble devoted to the performance of early music on original instruments; through numerous tours and recordings, his ensemble acquired an international reputation; toured North America with it for the first time in 1983. He also pursued a distinguished career as a harpsichord virtuoso. On Sept. 27, 1988, he made his Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. conducting Giulio Cesare. In 1989 he founded the Classical Band of N.Y., which he led in performances of the Classical repertoire from Haydn to Mendelssohn on period instruments until resigning unexpectedly in 1990. In 1991 he was named artistic director and principal conductor of the National Arts Centre Orch. in Ottawa. In 1995 he conducted it on a critically acclaimed tour of Europe. In 1996 he stepped down from his post but served as its artistic advisor during the 1996–97 season. In 1992 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire