Brian Large

Brian Large has enjoyed a career of more than five decades with almost a thousand programs of opera, symphony, and ballet to his credit. Born in London, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the University of London where he graduated with Doctorate degrees in both Music and Philosophy. His post-graduate work brought him to Vienna and Prague, where his interest in Czech and Slavic music led him to write and publish definitive books on the music of Smetana and Martinů. He has also contributed to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and The Grove Dictionary of Opera. In 2017 the International Martinů Society in Prague recognized Dr. Large with the prestigious Martinů medal.

Recipient of numerous awards, in 1987 Dr. Large received a Peabody Award for the historic Horowitz return to Moscow transmitted “live” in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. He received an Emmy Award in 1993 for the live transmission of Tosca to 80 million around the globe at the time and in the locations specified by Puccini. His other Emmy Award came in 1991-92 for the MET Gala celebrating its Silver Anniversary at Lincoln Center.

The British Television Society recognized him as "Best Television Director" in 1981 for the Chereau/Boulez Der Ring der Nibelungen; in 1990 for first "The Three Tenors" concert from Rome’s Baths of Caracalla; and in 1993 BAFTA with its Judges’ Award for outstanding achievement in the field of television direction.
Among the highlights of Brian Large’s extensive career include: two complete cycles of Wagner’s Ring -- one from Bayreuth, the second from the Metropolitan Opera; the world premiere of Lorin Maazel’s opera 1984 from the Royal Opera, Covent Garden; the world premieres of John Corigliano’s The Ghost of Versailles and Tan Dun’s The Last Emperor as well as the MET “farewell” telecasts of Birgit Nilsson, Leontyne Price and Mirella Freni. Dr. Large has also televised the “live” Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Day concerts on 20 occasions -- a record.
In 2017 the Golden Prague Festival recognized Dr. Large with a special “Tribute” for his contributions to the television industry. The French Government named Dr. Large, a Fellow at London’s Royal Academy of music, a “Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters.”
Dr. Large’s career have brought him to European and North American audiences in opera, concerts, recitals, galas, and special events in traditional venues as well as unique locales – some for HD broadcast or DVD distribution -- thereby reaching significantly expanded audiences around the world.