British conductor, Michael Rosewell, began his career in Germany and Austria, notably in the opera houses of Kassel, Wiesbaden and Mannheim, where he held the position of resident staff conductor. He joined the Vienna State Opera (www.staatsoper.at), assisting Claudio Abbado, and working closely with many of the world’s leading artists and singers, including Pavarotti, Domingo, Gruberova, Freni, and Cappuccilli.

Recent operatic work includes productions of Janacek’s Jenufa and Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Bath and Perth Festivals, Holst’s Savitri at the Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte di Montepulciano in Italy and Mozart’s The Magic Flute in Nick Hytner’s production for English National Opera. As Associate Conductor for the London Handel Society, he has introduced many rarely performed Handel operas to the London stage, performed with leading period instrument ensemble, the London Handel Orchestra.

Michael’s performances of Eugene Onegin, Norma and Katya Kabanova with English Touring Opera, Britain’s largest and most important Arts Council subsidized touring organisation, received accolades in the press for the style and theatricality of his interpretations and the excellence of the orchestral playing, resulting in his appointment as Music Director for the company, in 2009. (www.englishtouringopera.org.uk).

On the concert podium he has appeared with many European ensembles and orchestras, in Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Croatia. He has broadcast on Radio France Musique, Südwestfunk, Baden-Baden and the BBC, and conducted concerts with London Mozart Players at the Mayfield Festival, with internationally renowned baritone, Sir Thomas Allen. His recent recording for Linn Records, with Grammy award winning tenor Alfie Boe, and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, received excellent reviews. (www.linnrecords.com)

At the age of 15, Michael won national prizes for his piano playing, winning both the coveted Associated Board’s Gold Medal, and the Sheila Mossman Memorial Prize. He went on to study at the Royal College of Music, London during which time he was awarded a scholarship and many major prizes in conducting and piano accompaniment.

He is currently Director of Opera at the Royal College of Music, and under his stewardship, the reputation of the opera department has flourished to the extent that it is generally regarded as one of Europe’s leading opera training programs for young singers. Among many others, he has helped launch the careers of Jonathan Lemalu, Christopher Maltman, Andrew Kennedy, Emma Bell and Camilla Tilling.