Martin Isepp

Accompanist, harpsichordist and conductor; born 30 September 1930, Vienna, died 25 December 2011, London.

Biography

Martin and his family emigrated to England in 1938 after the annexation of Austria, initially settling in Oxford. There, Martin studied the piano with Leonie Gombrich. He was subsequently educated at St Paul's School, then at Lincoln College, Oxford and later at the Royal College of Music.

He accompanied many leading singers including his mother, the singer, Helene Isepp. Other musical partners included Dame Janet Baker, Elizabeth Söderström, John Shirley Quirk, Sheila Armstrong, Hans Hotter, Jessye Norman, Richard Law, Frederica von Stade and Dame Elizabeth Schwarzkopf. Isepp worked for many notable arts organisations such as the English Opera Group at Aldeburgh, Glyndebourne in Sussex, The National Opera Studio, the Juillard School in New York and the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen.

Martin's work as a conductor was mainly in the opera house. He regularly fronted Glyndebourne Touring Opera productions, and he was also Associate Conductor of New York's Metropolitan Opera. He was also an adept continuo player, and he regularly took part in the festivals organised by the Handel Opera Society of New York.

In 1966 Martin married Rose Harris and they had three sons.