Born into a distinguished Oxford family which was musical as well as academic, from the age of ten Roger Norrington studied the violin and was a keen amateur singer. He won a choral scholarship to Clare College, Cambridge, where he studied English Literature and participated in the university’s vigorous musical life: in addition to singing he was active as an instrumentalist and conductor, and studied conducting with Sir Adrian Boult at the Royal College of Music. After graduating from Cambridge he went into publishing but continued to conduct, forming the Schütz Choir in 1962. His musical activities were halted when his employers sent him to work in Africa; but here he decided to make his future career in music and after returning to England he became a...