Jeffrey Tate

Jeffrey Tate, born in Salisbury in 1943, was an extraordinary English conductor whose life was marked by resilience and an unyielding passion for music. Despite being born with spina bifida and kyphosis, Tate pursued a medical degree at the University of Cambridge before turning his full attention to music. He began his musical career under the tutelage of Georg Solti at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and made his conducting debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1979. Tate held prestigious conducting appointments with the English Chamber Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, among others. He was the first to be appointed principal conductor of the Royal Opera House and was knighted in 2017 for his immense contributions to the world of classical music. Tate's legacy is one of inspiration and artistic brilliance, showcasing his ability to overcome adversity and achieve greatness in the realm of opera and classical music.