British conductor Steuart
Bedford made his San Diego Opera debut on the podium for
Albert Herring in 1991 and returned in
2009 for Peter Grimes. Recognized
today as one of the leading experts on the works of Benjamin Britten, as a
result of his work with the composer, he has conducted Britten’s operas around
the world including the world premiere of
Death in Venice in 1973. Notable recent engagements include
Thaïs with Boston Lyric Opera, Death
in Venice at Teatro Colon and Canadian Opera Company,
Owen Wingrave with Chicago Opera Theatre,
Midsummer Night’s Dream with Opéra de Toulon,
The Picture of Dorian Gray at Florentine Opera,
The Tale of Genji and Gloriana with
the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, La
traviata with New York City Opera and
Vanessa with Oper du Rhin. Bedford is highly regarded for interpretations of
the works of Mozart and has conducted
Idomeneo: King of Crete, Lucio Silla,
The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni,
La Finta Giardiniera,
Così fan tutte and
Il re pastore for Garsington Opera. Other recent performances include
Thais with Boston Lyric Opera,
Peter Grimes,
The Turn of the Screw and
The Rape of Lucretia with Royal Danish
Opera, The Magic Flute with the
Bolshoi Theatre, The Turn of the Screw
with Opéra Royale de Wallonie, The Barber
of Seville with Atlanta Opera and Paul
Bunyan at the Bregenz Festival. He was artistic director of the highly
acclaimed series of recordings “The Britten Edition” and appears on numerous
recordings.