Renowned Conductor Roger Norrington Passes Away at 91

Roger Norrington, a distinguished conductor celebrated for his historically informed performances, has died at the age of 91. Norrington passed away on July 19, 2025, at his home outside Exeter, England, as confirmed by his son, Tom. Over the course of his more than fifty-year career, Norrington led orchestras in both Europe and the United States, leaving an indelible mark on the classical music scene.

Born on March 16, 1934, Norrington was the son of Arthur Norrington, who served as president of Trinity College, Oxford, and Edith Carver. He began his musical journey as a boy soprano and later took up the violin, eventually studying at prestigious institutions such as The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Westminster School, Cambridge, and the Royal College of Music under the tutelage of renowned conductor Adrian Boult.

Norrington's career was characterized by his commitment to historical authenticity in music performance. He founded the Schütz Choir in 1962, initially focused on the works of the Baroque composer Heinrich Schütz. His innovative approach often included conducting both period-instruments and modern orchestras, with a preference for performances devoid of vibrato and at faster tempos than conventionally practiced. "He was an extraordinary dramatist. He made things happen emotionally,” remarked Myron Lutzke, a cellist with the Orchestra of St. Luke's. “He got the music off the page. He made the concert experience transformative.”

Throughout his career, Norrington held significant positions, including music director of Kent Opera from 1969 to 1984, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta from 1985 to 1989, and New York's Orchestra of St. Luke's from 1990 to 1994. He also served as principal conductor for several prominent orchestras, including Camerata Salzburg, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, and Zurich Chamber Orchestra. His dedication to historically informed performance was evident in his statement to The Guardian in 2007 regarding the use of vibrato: "Orchestras didn’t generally use vibrato until the 1930s. It is a fashion, like smoking, which came in at about the same time. Maybe vibrato will too."

Norrington's contributions to music have been recognized with four Grammy Award nominations, culminating in a win in 2001 for a recording of Nicholas Maw's Violin Concerto featuring violinist Joshua Bell and the London Philharmonic. His final concert took place on November 18, 2021, when he conducted the Royal Northern Sinfonia in an all-Haydn program. He expressed gratitude for his extensive career, stating, “I have enjoyed every minute of over 50 years of making music with some of the most wonderful and talented musicians in the world. The time has come to step off the podium.”

Norrington's personal life included two marriages, the first to Susan McLean May, which ended in divorce in 1982, and later to choreographer Kay Lawrence, who passed away the previous year. He is survived by his son Tom and two children from his first marriage, Ben and Amy. In recognition of his contributions to music, Norrington was made a Knight Bachelor in 1997. His passing marks the end of an era for those who cherished his unique approach to conducting and his dedication to the art of music performance.