Timothy Ridout - About

I am so grateful to BBT for its dedication and all-encompassing support. More than ever at this point in time it is invaluable to have a direction and the means to get a project off the ground, and BBT has given me the opportunity to look beyond the next season or two and to develop projects which give new perspectives and a deeper understanding as an artist. Having a regular dialogue with the team has given me the chance to develop and refine creative ideas, and I can’t wait to see my projects come to life!

The internationally recognised British violist, Timothy Ridout – with his 450-year-old instrument by Peregrino di Zanetto which delivers a huge, warm tone and a big heart – was already exciting the classical music world when he received his BBT Fellowship. He has gone on to achieve acclaim both on the concert platform and on disc, and tours worldwide from Japan via Europe to North and South America and Australia, an indefatigable ambassador for his chosen instrument.

Practicalities first: Timothy purchased a piano. His enthusiasm for earlier British violist Lionel Tertis led to a BBT podcast, in which he explored the artist and his contribution to the viola repertoire. And in a similar vein, Timothy was certain about commissioning a concerto and was also definite that his first choice for its composer would be Mark Simpson who, serendipitously, is also a BBT alumnus. In seeking co-commissioners, a connection was made with another alumnus, conductor Robin Ticciati at Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. And so Hold Your Heart in Your Teeth (the title comes from a Romanian proverb), a concerto which “goes right to the centre of your soul” (BBC Radio 3’s New Music Show), was premiered in Berlin by the DSOB, with subsequent performances in Liverpool, Winterthur and the Netherlands. BBT was on hand to film the final week in the run up to the Berlin premiere, for one of its artist profile films.

Timothy – alongside Mark Simpson and many other BBT artists – helped us celebrate our 20th anniversary celebrations at London’s Wigmore Hall.

Timothy was supported with a BBT Fellowship between 2020 and 2025.

For a current biography please visit timothyridout.com or harrisonparrott.com

Press Release: A BBT Hat Trick

Photographs by Jiyang Chen and Kaupo Kikkas