HOWARD
BEACH is one of the UK's most versatile and sought-after keyboardists. Aged
36 he has already acquired vast experience in many areas of music making, from
early music to the most recent commissions, working with a wide range of soloists
and ensembles.
He began his professional career as a concert harpsichordist, performing as concerto soloist with the Apollo Chamber Orchestra (including an acclaimed London debut in St. John`s, Smith Square) and with the Milton Keynes City Orchestra. His skill as a continuo player was noticed by William Christie who invited him to join his world famous award-winning ensemble Les Arts Florissants on a tour of France and in a recording of Handel`s Messiah, released on Harmonia Mundi France and broadcast on NBC Television. He has also performed as continuo harpsichordist with the London Mozart Players.
It was in the guise of harpsichordist that Howard Beach first teamed up with recorder virtuoso Piers Adams, in what has proven to be a long-standing and fruitful musical partnership. The duo has given hundreds of concerts throughout the UK as well as in Europe, Canada, and the Far East, with TV and radio broadcasts (including a number of live relays for BBC Radio 3) and CD recordings for Albany, Factory and Upbeat. Following Howard's decision in 1997 to concentrate on the piano, the duo developed a unique style and repertoire encompassing genuine nineteenth century salon music, 20th century works (often composed especially for them) and their own arrangements and compositions - such as the "The Carnival of Venice Fantasy" which was premiered in 1997 in their third very successful recital at London's Wigmore Hall. Howard also worked in this period as accompanist to many prize-winning singers and instrumentalists, with regular appearances in the Wigmore Hall.
In 2000 Howard rerturned to the harpsichord to join Piers in the celebrated baroque supergroup Red Priest, which currently gives over 70 performances a year throughout the USA, Europe and Australia, and has recorded three CDs for Dorian, USA.