- Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, April 19th 2009
It is through his association with the works of Benjamin Britten that Steuart Bedford is best known. One of the Artistic Directors of the Aldeburgh Festival for many years, his former collaboration with Britten (and particularly his operas) and the English Opera has taken him all over the world. He has an extensive operatic repertoire and has worked with many of the world's greatest opera companies including English National Opera, the Royal Opera Covent Garden, San Diego Opera, New York City Opera, Royal Danish Opera, and the Teatro Colon.
Bedford is highly regarded for his interpretations of the works of Mozart and his conducting recent performances of Idomeneo, Lucio Silla, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni and La Finta Giardiniera, Il re pastore and Cosi fan Tutte, all for Garsington Opera, have been widely acclaimed. Most recent successes have included Peter Grimes with San Diego Opera, Owen Wingrave with Chicago Opera Theatre and Don Pasquale with Norske Opera. Upcoming highlights include new productions of Midsummer Night’s Dream in Garsington, Death in Venice with the Canadian Opera Company, and Salome at San Diego Opera.
Artistic Director of the highly acclaimed series of recordings, “The Britten Edition”, Bedford has made many recordings for Collins Classics, as well as discs for EMI, Decca, Philips and Chandos