David Brophy
Born in Dublin, David Brophy, who was appointed Principal Conductor of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in February of this year, is the leading Irish conductor of his generation. His career, while primarily based in Ireland, has taken him to Europe, Africa, America and Canada, from opera to film-scores and collaborations with traditional musicians, as well as the classical repertoire and new music.
David's work with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra has included collaborations with many internationally acclaimed soloists including Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Tasmin Little, Mikhail Rudy and Raphael Wallfisch. He conducted the orchestra in front of over 80,000 people at the spectacular opening ceremony of The Special Olympics World Games in 2003.
He conducted the first-ever opera performance in The Faroe Islands - Co-Opera's production of Madama Butterfly, and he works regularly with the Dublin company, Lyric Opera Productions. His keen interest in new opera has led to productions of Ian Wilson's Hamelin and Daron Hagen's Vera of Las Vegas for Opera Theatre Company. Most recent work has included Mozart's Die Zauberflöte and Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire for Opera Ireland.
David has worked with singer-songwriters including Eleanor McEvoy, Paul Brady, Brian Kennedy and Declan O'Rourke. He has partnered composer Shaun Davey on many projects including performances of his The Brendan Voyage with piper Liam O'Flynn. Other work with O'Flynn has included the world première of Neil Martin's No Tongue Can Tell and David has also enjoyed working with other traditional musicians including Seamus Begley, Nollaig Casey, The Chieftains, Carlos Nunez and Sharon Shannon. In September 2007, David and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra will appear with Altan in Dublin's National Concert Hall.
He has worked in America with the VSO and in Spain with ONCA, while at home he has worked with all the major orchestras in Ireland including the Irish Chamber Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra and the Orchestra of the National Concert Hall, as well as specialist new-music ensembles including Vox21 and the Crash Ensemble. He has given world premières of works by Irish composers including Frank Corcoran, Raymond Deane, Fergus Johnston, Philip Martin and Ian Wilson.
His previous TV appearances include The National Concert Hall's 25th anniversary gala concert Ireland's Finest and film credits include Shaun Davey's score for The Abduction Club.
When not performing, David enjoys his post as EPT Assistant Lecturer at the Dublin Institute of Technology and his doctoral research in the performance practice of eighteenth century orchestral music.
If you'd like to find out about David and the Concert Orchestra's collaboration with the traditional group Altan, go to http://www.nch.ie/whatson/concert_details.asp?EventId=3422&DateId=15978
Find out more about the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at http://www.rte.ie/performinggroups/rteconcertorchestra/
