Biography
British conductor David Murphy holds an unparalleled position in today’s international music scene. Defying categorisation, his work centres on creating human connection through sound. Transcending boundaries he seamlessly weaves cultural, scientific and wellness perspectives to create vibrant, revelatory performances.
Through a balance of classical, commercial, and multi-genre music, his work integrates cutting-edge technology, film, gaming, visual arts, traditional, classical and contemporary elements. A musical pioneer, his projects redefine the limits of the musical experience, with his Deep Listening Project bringing audience engagement to a new level through multi-sensory experiences combining the traditional western orchestra with electronics and projection alongside musicians, dancers and acrobats from a range of global traditions.
In collaboration with Sound Artist Satya Hinduja, Murphy contributes to the groundbreaking Alchemic Sonic Environment (ASE) project, merging symphonic performances with emerging technology and ancient sonic practices to create immersive, healing sound environments.
David completed the score for the world’s first East-West Opera: Ravi Shankar’s Sukanya, and conducted the world premiere performances of the opera at Curve, Leicester, The Lowry in Salford, Symphony Hall Birmingham and Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. He was invited to open the Southbank Centre’s Shankar100 Festival in January 2020 performing Sukanya with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom he also recorded the work.
His pioneering journey was inspired by the combined forces of five musical greats: legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin (leading to an exploration of Indian music and philosophy) Léon Barzin (giving him a direct line to the great conductors of the early Twentieth Century notably Toscanini, Furtwängler and Kleiber) “the Godfather of World Music” Pandit Ravi Shankar with whom David had a close performing and composing relationship, legendary sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and “musician’s musician” conductor Sir Charles Mackerras.
David Murphy was born in Pembrokeshire, trained as a violinist at The Purcell School and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and performed widely as a soloist and chamber musician. He subsequently spent two years in research and teaching at Wichita State University, then studied conducting with Jay Decker, Gustav Meier, Seiji Ozawa and Léon Barzin.
On returning to the UK he began his long association with Indian music through working with Wajahat Khan, the inspirational start of a journey that included world premieres, international tours and projects and resulted in collaborations with many other legendary maestros of Indian music. His conducting career began as assistant to Sir Charles Mackerras at both English National Opera and the Royal Opera House, and as conductor at Longborough Festival Opera. He is a regular guest conductor with orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra (with whom he gave the world premiere of Ravi Shankar’s Symphony in 2010, recorded for the LPO Label), the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (including the world premiere of Amjad Ali Khan’s sarod concerto Samaagam, recorded for Harmonia Mundi), the Residentie Orkest (including the European premiere of Holst’s Indra), the London Sinfonietta (including Holst’s Savitri), the Philharmonia Orchestra (including the London premiere of Indra), the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Britten Sinfonia. He is Musical Director of Sinfonia Verdi and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Conductor David Murphy, who completed and orchestrated the work, masterfully brought the ingredients together: the London Philharmonic Orchestra, choir, classically trained singers and Indian musicians Simon Broughton, London Evening Standard