Colin Bradbury

Colin Bradbury was principal clarinet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra for over thirty years, playing concertos in the studio, the Royal Festival Hall and at Henry Wood Promenade Concerts. He took a prominent role under Pierre Boulez in performing both the avant-garde and the classical repertoire of the twentieth century, and as a recital soloist has given many first broadcast performances, including sonatas by Draeseke, Karg-Elert, Koechlin and Castelnuovo-Tedesco and works by Cavallini, Fibich and Caplet.

In the 1980s he began, with Oliver Davies, to research and perform little known music of the nineteenth century. Their discoveries led to the recording of four LPs, and since leaving the Orchestra, new research has provided material for two further CDs. More are planned, and in the meantime he has founded Lazarus Edition, which is bringing these masterpieces back into print.

For his first Divine Art recording (25014), Colin Bradbury revived the partnership with Bernard Roberts which dates back to the 1970s when, already professors at the Royal College, the two artists first performed these three works in the many broadcasts and public recitals which they gave together; his second (25025) renews his regular partnership with Oliver Davies.

Colin passed away on May28, 2023. He is survived by Janet and their five children, Keith, Louise, Paul, John and Adrian, and 15 grandchildren.