CONDUCTOR
Mike has arranged and conducted all of his own studio output since he began in 1968 *(except his first single "Mr Poem" arranged and conducted by Richard Hewson), but did not make his concert debut as a conductor until 1984 when he was invited by the London Symphony Orchestra to conduct them at the Barbican. The first concert included such works as Bizet: Carmen Suite, Brahms: Hungarian Dances, Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice. He has since conducted that orchestra live on two other occasions at The Barbican, in traditional classical and also light repertoire including the premiere of "The Hunting Of The Snark". He also conducted the LSO in the more developed concert version of the piece at the Royal Albert Hall on 1987 (see link)
Guild Records recently released his version of Holst: "The Planets" Suite recorded with the Royal Philharmonic in 1994 at Watford Town Hall,- the first ever 24 bit recording of the piece. Reviews can be found below. The recording had lain unreleased fir 25 years due to contractual reasons.
Batt was also Artist In Residence at the Melbourne Summer Music Festival in 1990, during which he conducted and curated concerts with the State Orchestra Of Victoria. The opening (classical) concert featured Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherezade and other classics, and other concerts included a further development of The Hunting Of The Snark, with Michael Parkinson as narrator and Keith Michel as the Bellman.
He was invited by the Stuttgart Philharmonic to conduct them on two occasions for the Stuttgart Jazz Open Festival. The first time was a concert solely of his own works, and the second one, entitled, "Mike Batt's Starry, Starry Night" featured guests Curtis Stigers, Katie Melua, Ana-Maria Kauffmann and trumpeter Till Bronner. Both were televised.
The list of orchestras he has worked with as a conductor includes the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Opera Orchestra, Amsterdam Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, State Orchestra Of Victoria, BBC Concert Orchestra, Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra and The Docklands Sinfonia, National Symphony Orchestra f Ireland, Irish Film Orchestra..
The Planets Suite
Cadogan Hall
On Watership Down
Katie Melua - I will Be There
Men Who March Away
The Hunting Of The Snark
Bob Blakeley
Robert Meadmore - EPK