Richard Bratby

Richard Bratby is a critic for The Spectator, Gramophone, Bachtrack and The Birmingham Post, and writes on music for the BBC, the Salzburg Festival and concert promoters around the world. Formerly an rchestral cellist in the now-defunct Sri Lanka Philharmonic, he worked as concerts manager for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and later the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, where he founded and managed the CBSO Youth Orchestra. His books include Forward: 100 Years of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra ("a gem": The Oldie) and Classical Music: An Illustrated History. Born in Wirral, he now lives in Lichfield with his wife the theatre historian Dr Annette Rubery, as well as their cat Rusty and a collection of miniature steam locomotives.