John Hardy (composer)

John Hardy (born 1957) is an English-born composer who has been commissioned by the Arts Council/National Lottery, the BBC, Welsh National Opera and the BBC National Orchestra Of Wales, among others. His work includes opera, choral and orchestral pieces, site-specific theatre events and film.

Hardy studied at Oxford University and Guildhall School of Music & Drama before directing music at Cardiff Laboratory Theatre, Edington Festival then Welsh performance group Brith Gof, whose 1988 production Gododdin was performed with percussion group Test Dept and described by The Independent as “elemental, wild and exhilarating… an exceptional achievement.”

In 1994 Hardy won the first of his five BAFTA Cymru awards for the soundtrack to Hedd Wyn, an Oscar-nominated film about the Welsh poet. At this time he began collaborating with playwright Ed Thomas, composing music for Song From A Forgotten City (1995), House Of America (1996), Gas Station Angel (1998) and Stone City Blue (2004).

Music Theatre Wales commissioned and in 1994 premiered Flowers, a chamber opera described as “rich and evocative” by Opera, “communicating… the whole gamut of human emotions” by The Times and by Steven Walsh in The Independent as "a strong piece that seems to do what it sets out to… with terrific conviction, with a flair for torturous sonic imagery, and with no hint that the composer is not in complete control of his materials."

Further opera commissions followed with The Roswell Incident for Music Theatre Wales and Mis Du Bach/Black February for Welsh National Opera, produced and performed at Abergwaun/Fishguard, the site of the last invasion of Britain, in collaboration with the local community.

In 1998 De Profundis was commissioned for Westminster Abbey Choir, BBC Singers and London Brass to end a concert celebrating the unveiling of ten new statues of international martyrs. Fever was commissioned for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic at Last Night of the Welsh Proms in 2000.

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