Donald Hunt
From the mid-20th century, Donald Hunt built a career as one of the more important and distinguished English choral conductors. He was best known for his interpretations of British sacred music and garnered much critical acclaim for his readings of works in that genre by Elgar, Finzi, Holst, Herbert Sumsion, William Llewellyn, Judith Weir, and others. Yet he was by no means limited to the British realm, as his highly praised renditions of choral music by J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn, Liszt, and Bruckner attest.
Hunt was born on July 26, 1930, in Gloucester, England. In his youth, he served as a chorister at Gloucester Cathedral and, from age 13, studied under composer Herbert Sumsion, who was organist there. Hunt became his assistant at age 17 and later earned a doctorate from Leeds University (1975). Hunt's debut concert as a conductor came in 1957 when he led the Halifax Choral Society in Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, a work he became strongly identified with. From 1958-1975, Hunt was organist and choirmaster at Leeds Parish Church. During this period, he held other positions concurrently: from 1961-1975, he was the associate conductor and chorus master of the Leeds Philharmonic Society and held similar posts with the Halifax Choral Society and Leeds Festival Chorus.
From 1976-1996, Hunt served as master of choristers and organist at Worcester Cathedral. During his tenure at Worcester, he developed a close relationship with the Three Choirs Festival, held every August at alternating locations (Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester counties). Hunt served as artistic director and conductor at the festival eight times from 1975-1996. Following his 1996 departure, he remained busy, serving as principal of the Elgar School of Music in Worcester (becoming music advisor after 2007) and leading many choral performances, including several at the 150th Elgar Anniversary Festival at Worcester in 2007.
In 1993, Hunt was given the rank of Officer of the British Empire. He also composed a significant body of choral and organ music, the Hymnus Paschalis (1995), for three choirs, being among his most important large works. He wrote several notable books, including the 1999 Elgar and the Three Choirs Festival (Osborne Books). Hunt also served as a lecturer at Leeds College of Music. In addition, he made a number of recordings, most available from Naxos, Hyperion (Helios), and Priory Records. Hunt died in Worcester on August 4, 2018.
© Robert Cummings /TiVo
Discography
16 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Christmas Carols
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Robert Stringer, Raymond Johnston, Donald Hunt
Classical - Released by Naxos on Oct 29, 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
English Organ Music, Vol. 2
Classical - Released by Naxos on Aug 20, 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Tapestry of English Cathedral Music
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt, Adrian Partington
Classical - Released by imp on Jan 1, 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Joy to the World: Carols from Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Oct 1, 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner & Liszt: Choral Works
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt, Barry Smith
Classical - Released by Priory Records on Dec 12, 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
An English Choral Tradition
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Griffin Records on Apr 27, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Howells: Magnificat Nunc Dimittis Benedictus - Britten: Te Deum - Gibbons: O Clap Your Hands
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Adrian Partington, Donald Hunt
Classical - Released by ImpDigital on Jan 1, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar: The Complete Choral Songs
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt, Donald Hunt Singers
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Dec 1, 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Samuel Sebastian Wesley: Anthems, Vol. 1
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt, Adrian Partington
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Jul 1, 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Green Dolphin Street
Jazz - Released by Donald Hunt on Mar 13, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
English Choral & Organ Music: Elgar, Finzi, Howells & Sumsion
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt
Classical - Released by Hyperion on May 1, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stanford: Cathedral Music
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt
Classical - Released by Hyperion on May 1, 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar: Cathedral Music
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Oct 21, 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Samuel Sebastian Wesley: Anthems, Vol. 2
Worcester Cathedral Choir, Donald Hunt, Adrian Partington
Classical - Released by Hyperion on Jul 1, 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Touch of Your Lips
Jazz - Released by Donald Hunt on May 15, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo