Dr. David Russell Hulme
David Russell Hulme’s busy conducting career takes him regularly to major venues throughout Britain and Ireland and across the world. In 2001 he toured Australia and New Zealand where orchestras he conducted included the State Orchestra of Victoria, the Auckland Philharmonia and the Sydney Opera House Orchestra. He works regularly for the renowned Carl Rosa Opera Company, the world’s foremost English language operetta company, as conductor and chorus-master and, in 2004 and 2006, toured the United States and Canada as principal conductor with the company.
A native of Machynlleth, David studied music at UCW Aberystwyth and conducting with the great Sir Adrian Boult. Gaining MA and Ph.D degrees for his research into British Music, he has published extensively, including articles for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians and the BBC Proms. Described in ‘Opera’ as “our leading authority on Sullivan’s manuscripts”, he has been closely involved in productions by leading British opera companies – Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, New Sadler’s Wells and Opera, D’Oyly Carte and Carl Rosa – as well as others in America and Australia. He edited Sullivan’s music and was advisor for Mike Leigh’s Oscar-winning film 'Topsy-Turvy'. His ground-breaking and critically acclaimed edition of 'Ruddigore', published by Oxford University Press, was used for the highly acclaimed new production by Opera North. Other editing for OUP ranges from Haydn’s 'Paukenmesse' to Walton’s Second Symphony. David has attracted a good deal attention for his performances of neglected British music – for example, he has conducted Edward German’s music at both Edward German Music Festivals in Shropshire and his recording of the composer’s light opera ‘Tom Jones’ for Naxos has received international critical praise, including selection as a Recording of the Year, and reached No. 3 in the classical charts.
Appointed as Aberystwyth University’s first Director of Music in 1992, Dr Russell Hulme established the University Music Centre and led its highly successful programme for nearly three decades. On his retirement in 2020, he was appointed Emeritus Reader in Music. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, David was awarded the Glyndŵr Medal in 2012 for his outstanding contribution to the arts in Wales.
Dr. David Russell Hulme
Mae gyrfa brysur David Russell Hulme fel arweinydd yn mynd ag ef yn rheolaidd i theatrau a neuaddau cyngerdd mawr ledled Prydain, Iwerddon, Awstralia, Seland Newydd, yr Unol Daleithiau a Chanada, yn perfformio gyda Chwmni Opera Brenhinol Canada, Gŵyl Christchurch (Seland Newydd) a Gŵyl Ryngwladol G&S Buxton, lle'r arweiniodd adfywiad proffesiynol prin o Princess Ida. Yn 2001 aeth ar daith i Awstralia a Seland Newydd lle yr arweiniodd gerddorfeydd Talaith Victoria, Philharmonia Auckland, a Thŷ Opera Sydney, ymhlith eraill. Mae’n gweithio yn rheolaidd gyda Chwmni Opera enwog Carl Rosa, un o gwmnïau opereta Saesneg pennaf y byd, fel arweinydd a chôr-feistr. Yn 2004 a 2006 aeth ar deithiau i’r Unol Daleithiau a Chanada gyda’r cwmni.
Brodor o Fachynlleth yw David, ac astudiodd gerddoriaeth yng Ngholeg Prifysgol Cymru Aberystwyth a dysgodd grefft arweinydd gan y meistr Syr Adrian Boult. Enillodd raddau MA a PhD am ei waith ymchwil i gerddoriaeth gan gyfansoddwyr Prydeinig ac mae wedi cyhoeddi’n helaeth, gan gynnwys erthyglau i’r New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians a Proms y BBC. Disgrifiwyd ef yn y cylchgrawn Opera fel “ein hawdurdod pennaf ar lawysgrifau Sullivan”, ac mae wedi ymwneud yn agos iawn â chynyrchiadau cwmnïau opera blaenllaw megis Cwmni Opera Cenedlaethol Cymru, Cwmni Cenedlaethol Lloegr, Cwmni Opera Newydd Sadler’s Wells, Cwmni D’Oyly Carte, ynghyd ag eraill yn America ac Awstralia. Mae wedi golygu cerddoriaeth Sullivan ac yr oedd yn ymgynghorydd i ffilm Mike Leigh, Topsy-Turvy, a enillodd Oscar. Cyhoeddodd Gwasg Prifysgol Rhydychen ei argraffiad o Ruddigore a dorrodd dir newydd ac a gafodd ganmoliaeth gan yr adolygwyr. Bu cwmni Opera North yn perfformio’r argraffiad hwn. Mae gweithiau eraill a olygwyd ganddo i’r un wasg yn amrywio o’r Paukenmesse gan Haydn i Ail Symffoni Walton. Mae David wedi ennyn cryn ddiddordeb a chanmoliaeth yn genedlaethol am ei berfformiadau o gerddoriaeth gan gyfansoddwyr Prydeinig a esgeuluswyd – er enghraifft, bu’n arwain Cerddorfa’r National Festival mewn cyngerdd gyfan o gerddoriaeth gan German yng Ngŵyl Edward German a recordiodd opereta German, Tom Jones, gyda chast o unawdwyr rhyngwladol. Fe’i cyhoeddwyd gan Naxos a’i ddewis yn Recordiad y Flwyddyn gan dderbyn canmoliaeth aruthrol.
Penodwyd Dr Russell Hulme yn Gyfarwyddwr Cerdd cyntaf Prifysgol Aberystwyth yn 1992, gan sefydlu Canolfan Gerdd y Brifysgol ac arwain ei rhaglen hynod lwyddiannus am bron i dri degawd. Ar ei ymddeoliad yn 2020, fe’i penodwyd yn Ddarllenydd Emeritws mewn Cerddoriaeth. Yn Gymrawd Cymdeithas Frenhinol y Celfyddydau, dyfarnwyd iddo Fedal Glyndŵr yn 2012 am ei gyfraniad eithriadol i’r celfyddydau yng Nghymru
