Keith Hartley

Keith Hartley was sub-principal double bass in the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House for 32 years, being presented with the ROH Long Service Medal in 2013. Earlier in his career, he had been a member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Northern & BBC Concert Orchestras. The Radio 3 programme: Building a Library made the Jascha Horenstein recording of Mahler “Das Lied von der Erde” with the BBC Northern Symphony and Alfreda Hodgson (alto) / John Mitchinson (tenor) it’s First Choice Recommendation. This recording was made over 45 years ago!

Keith was fortunate to record the same work with Rudolf Kempe & Janet Baker in 1975. Many of these old recordings are available on the BBC Legends label. Rudolf Kempe will also be remembered for his Ein Heldenleben, with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (BBC Proms 1974)

Particularly during the thirteen years (1974-87) as a member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Keith toured and recorded extensively. Here is a selection of his latest recordings:
ROH CD’s  ·  ROH DVD’s

For many years, Keith was also the bass player with the London Harpsichord Ensemble, and can be heard on the CDs of Albinoni, Telemann and Handel oboe concertos with Sarah Francis.
(These recordings are rated 3 and 4 stars in the Penquin Guide.)