Acclaimed British conductor Robert King, together with his orchestra The King’s Consort, is in Malta for the Valletta International Baroque Festival and will be performing Handel’s Heroines tonight at the Manoel Theatre.
Mr King, 52, has performed for the British Proms seven times. His Hollywood repertoire includes Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, The Chronicles of Narnia, Kingdom of Heaven and Flushed Away.
He assisted award-winning composer Hans Zimmer on The Da Vinci Code and he played the harpsichord for the soundtrack of Shrek 2.
Mr King founded the period music orchestra and choir The King’s Consort, which he set up in 1980 when at the Cambridge University.
During his career, Mr King has made 95 recordings, which sold about 1.5 million CDs, and won many international awards.
Although he is especially renowned for his interpretation of Baroque music, he also conducts a wide spread of classical and early Romantic works, both symphonic and choral.
He is specialised in early 20th century English composers and is widely regarded as a leading expert on the music of 17th century English composer Henry Purcell. Moreover, he is a frequent broadcaster for the BBC, writing and presenting diverse programmes.
“Music is very democratic: audiences vote with their feet and with their wallets,” he said. “If audiences like what a performer does, they come to the concerts and they buy the CDs.
“Audiences often remark on the spirit that is so evident on stage – that we are passionate about our music but that we are also having such fun performing. That’s so important. You must connect with your audience.”