“fantastic touch and élan”
Gramophone
Steven Devine combines a career as a conductor and director of orchestral, choral and opera repertoire with that of a solo harpsichordist and fortepianist. He is Conductor and Artistic Advisor of The English Haydn Festival; Music Director of New Chamber Opera, Oxford and Director of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s “Bach the Universe & Everything” series.
On the concert platform he has directed Purcell, Blow, Bach, Handel and Mozart with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; Bach Easter Oratorio with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Haydn, Handel, CPE Bach, JC Bach, Ditterdorf and Viotti with the English Haydn Orchestra; Handel, Vivaldi and Porpora with Ann Hallenberg and Trondheim Barokk; Bach Christmas Oratorio with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble; Handel Solomon with Victoria Baroque Players, British Columbia and Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks with Arion Baroque Ensemble, Montreal; He has also directed programmes with the Academy of Ancient Music, Academie d’Ambronay, the Mozart Festival Orchestra and St Paul’s Chamber Orchestra,
Devine’s opera repertoire includes works by Purcell, Cavalli, Handel, Haydn and Mozart as well as rarities by Galuppi, Salieri and Cimarosa. His recordings include Dido & Aeneas with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Sarah Connolly in the title role.
As a keyboard player, he is the Principal Keyboard Player with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and also the principal keyboard player for The Gonzaga Band, The Mozartists and performs regularly with many other groups around Europe. He has recorded over thirty discs with other artists and ensembles and made many solo recordings. His recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations (Chandos Records) has received critical acclaim – including Gramophone magazine describing it as “among the best”. The complete harpsichord works of Rameau (Resonus) has received five-star reviews from BBC Music Magazine. Steven has recently released Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (“it’s the one of all I’ve heard in the past ten years that I am happiest to live with.” Early Music Review). He is currently engaged in recording the complete harpsichord works of Johann Ludwig Krebs, Bach’s favourite student.
Steven Devine was educated at Chetham’s School of Music before reading Music at St Peter’s College, Oxford. He was Director of Opera Restor’d from 2002-2010 and Kurator and Conductor of the Norwegian Wind Ensemble from 2016-2018.
Academy of Ancient Music – Handel & Bach – Madrid “Stupendous performance by the harpsichordist Devine, clear in his articulation and ornamentation, precise and successfully executed, used with sensitivity and intelligence, and impeccable adaptation to the diverse nature of the music performed.”
Scherzo.es, 23 March 2023
OAE – Handel Aci, Galatea e Polifemo – Valetta Baroque Festival “The instrumentalists threw themselves into the score with a pleasingly festive and self-confident verve appropriate for the occasion. Their theatricality never boisterous with Devine controlling the most coherent expression and tempi with an unerring sense of direction…”
Bachtrack, 23 January 2023
OAE – Rime of the Ancient Marine “… the OAE, with their period forces, acting very much as a chamber ensemble, or a meeting of like-minded soloists gathered under director Steven Devine’s watchful eyes and stylish harpsichord continuo.”
Planet Hugill, 5 October 2022
“He proved to be inspired, directing a performance full of vigour and forward movement and some excellent singing. Church Times May 2019
“one cannot ignore the immensely intelligent and impeccably placed keyboard continuo work of Steven Devine.” International Record Review, January 2012
“He’s building a reputation as an outstanding recitalist; this completion of his ‘48’ is a highly satisfying account.” BBC Music Magzine November 2020