Arts Global

As a twelve-year old boy soprano Michael Letchford sang with the Westminster Abbey Special Choir in performances of Bach's St Matthew Passion, still remembered with fondness and with awe: to be involved with such great music in such a place! A few years later, with a deeper voice, he made his stage debut as Long Tom in Edward German's Merry England, followed by Sir Richard Cholmondeley in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Yeomen of the Guard. After winning an exhibition to Guildhall School of Music, at 17 years old, he had two years study with the distinguished English bass Norman Walker.

In 1967 Mr Letchford joined EMI and for the next 34 years he was involved with the marketing, and later making, of classical records for EMI, Decca and finally for Warner Classics International as General Manager and later as Director of Artist and Repertoire Development. During his years at Warner Classics he was executive producer for many recordings notably with José Carreras, José Cura, Sir Andrew Davis, Plácido Domingo, Thomas Hampson, Sharon Kam, Sir Neville Marriner, the Choir of New College, Oxford and many others.

In 2001 Michael Letchford Artists was formed and represents singers, conductors and instrumentalists from the United Kingdom and abroad. Today, Mr Letchford also serves as Casting Manager for Opera South. Apart from his work with artists Michael writes about great singers of the past, supervises and produces recordings with the singers he represents and organizes musical events, such as a concert to celebrate the 80th birthday of Sir Charles Mackerras in November 2005.