Stephen Layton wins a Gramophone Award

Conductor Stephen Layton received a Gramophone Award on Friday 19 October for his recording of Britten on Hyperion with his choir, Polyphony.

The disc, his second release this year for Hyperion, features Britten's Sacred and Profane, Five Flower Songs and Choral Dances from Gloriana. The recording was made during 1999 and 2000 at The Temple Church, London, where Stephen is the Director of Music.

The Director of Polyphony since its formation in 1986, Stephen has developed a reputation as a fine conductor with an affinity for repertoire of all periods. The Principal Guest Conductor of the Danish National Choir/DR, he has also developed a close relationship with the Netherlands Chamber Choir and has guest conducted choirs and orchestras across Europe, USA, Hong Kong and Japan. In the UK, he has conducted the annual sell-out performances of Messiah and St John Passion at St John's, Smith Square for several years, working with soloists including Emma Kirkby, Ian Bostridge and John Mark Ainsley. Stephen is also the Music Director of the Holst Singers.

Stephen made his debut at English National Opera last year conducting Deborah Warner's controversial production of St John Passion, a work he will conduct again at ENO in Spring 2002. Recently he returned from a highly successful second tour of Australia with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, culminating in performances in the Sydney Opera House and later this season he conducts the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Real Orquesta Sinfonica de Sevilla.

Stephen and Polyphony will be in the studio again early in 2002, recording Walton for their next release on Hyperion.

Stephen conducts his annual performance of Messiah at St John's, Smith Square on Sunday 23 December this year, with Polyphony and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

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