Born: August 28, 1913 - Winchester, England
Died: September 13, 1991 - Winchester, England

The English conductor, Robert {Augustine) Irving, studied at Winchester College from 1926 to 1932, at New College, Oxford {B.A., 1935), and with Malcolm Sargent and Constant Lambert at the Royal College of Music in London (1934-1936).

Robert Irving was associate conductor of the BBC Scottish Orchestra in Glasgow (1945-1948). From 1948 to 1958 he served as principal conductor of the Sadler's Wells (later Royal) Ballet in London. He was music director of the New York City Ballet from 1958 to 1989, including its heyday in the 1960’s when the company was under the direction of its founder, the great choreographer George Blancine. He also conducted for the Martha Graham Dance Company in New York (1960-1965; 1974-1977). Although he appeared as a guest conductor with various orchsestras in England and the USA, it was as an exemplary conductor of ballet that he secured his reputation. He also wrote music for the theater and for films.

Source: Mostly from Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20^th Century Classical Musicians (1997)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2003)

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Robert Irving

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The Wise Virgins, suite from the ballet (arranged music of J.S. Bach)

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