Mrs Maestro moves into Red House
mainSarah Bardwell, director of the Handel House Museum, has been announced as the new general director of the Britten-Pears Foundation at Aldeburgh.
Ms Bardwell is married to the conductor Rumon Gamba, music director of NorrlandsOperan and chief conductor at Aalborg Symfoniorkester.
press release:
NEW GENERAL DIRECTOR FOR THE BRITTEN–PEARS FOUNDATION
Sarah Bardwell appointed to key role at The Red House
The Britten–Pears Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Bardwell as its new General Director. Sarah is currently Director of Handel House Museum, where she has been since 2004. Welcoming the news BPF Chairman Nicholas Prettejohn said: “Sarah will bring a strong combination of music and heritage experience to the Foundation, having developed the Museum’s role in education and supported new music through its Composer in Residence scheme.”
Responding, Sarah said: “Following the highly successful celebrations of Britten’s centenary in 2013 it is an enormous honour to be joining the Britten–Pears Foundation and to have the opportunity to work in such a distinguished and creative environment.”
She will take up her new role in October, following the retirement this summer of Richard Jarman. “On behalf of everyone at The Red House,” added Nick Prettejohn, “I would like to thank Richard for transforming BPF over the past thirteen years, particularly through the worldwide Britten 100 celebrations. We all look forward to working with Sarah to build on these great achievements.”
It matters not one jot who she is married to. ‘Mrs Maestro’? Really? She is a talented and respected human in her own right. This sort of dinosaur sexism is unacceptable Mr Lebrecht. I have no idea who your partner is or even if you have one, but that doesn’t matter because my opinion if your worth is based on you and your achievments. There is no need to hang your reputation on a partners hook, but apparently you think there is that need for a woman. How very outdated and sad.
No sexism intended. I would have used a similar headline if the husband of a woman music director had landed a job of that kind.