About Barry Wordsworth
Born 1948. Barry Wordsworth is a British conductor, musician and conductor (music).
Barry Wordsworth (born 20 February 1948) is a British conductor.
Biography Wordsworth was appointed assistant conductor to the touring orchestra of The Royal Ballet in 1972. In 1973, he became principal conductor of the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, and held the same title after the company moved to Birmingham to become the Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB). He served as music director of the Royal Ballet from 1990 to 1995, and again from 2006 to 2015. He returned to BRB as its music director from 2005 to 2008. Wordsworth is currently principal guest conductor of The Royal Ballet.
From 1989 to 2006, he was principal conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra, becoming conductor laureate in 2006. From 1989 to 2015, Wordsworth was music director and the Principal Conductor of the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Wordsworth's discography includes works by lesser-known British composers alongside more mainstream pieces. In his career Wordsworth has appeared with orchestras in the UK and overseas. He has made appearances at the BBC Proms and conducted the Last Night of the Proms in 1993 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In 2003, he was the first conductor to record commercially all nine surviving movements of Constant Lambert's ballet Horoscope (only a suite of five movements had previously been recorded).
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Important facts
People in Barry Wordsworth's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Barry Wordsworth's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Barry Wordsworth?
British conductor
When was Barry Wordsworth born?
Barry Wordsworth was born on 20 February 1948 in Surrey, Worcester Park.
What is Barry Wordsworth's occupation?
Barry Wordsworth is a conductor, musician and conductor (music).
What nationality is Barry Wordsworth?
Barry Wordsworth is British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Barry Wordsworth. https://biography.guide/barry-wordsworth/
MLA: "Barry Wordsworth." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/barry-wordsworth/.
Chicago: "Barry Wordsworth." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/barry-wordsworth/.
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