Introducing... Sarah Bardwell, Managing Director
How did you become involved with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO)?
A few people had mentioned the job to me, and I was approached about the role at the beginning of 2024. At first, I wasn’t sure if managing an orchestra was right for me. But, as I was doing my research and listening to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, I became more and more interested. I was both surprised and delighted to be offered the job, and for a moment didn’t know what to say. As soon as I said yes, though, I knew it was the right decision. It is, without doubt, the most rewarding job I have had. I think the Orchestra is world-beating. There is nothing I like more than finally settling down into my seat for a performance and listening to them live. The RPO is very special.
What was your first experience of orchestral music?
When I was a child, my father was very proud of his ‘sound system’. He spent a lot of time fussing over his record player, amplifier and speakers. He taught me how to put the records on and carefully lift the needle into place. We listened to a record each week whilst we ate Sunday lunch, and I was allowed to choose it and put it on. I played Dvořák’s ‘New World’ Symphony most weeks! Imagine my delight a few years later when I got to play it in my youth orchestra as an oboist.
How did you find yourself on this career journey?
I always wanted to work in the arts sector. I realised very quickly that it wasn’t going to be as a performer, but I thought that administration in some form would suit me. In hindsight, it looks a bit like I had a plan, but I really didn’t! I just knew I had to do something I was passionate about, something I believed in and something that is important for society and that makes a difference. The RPO really ticks all my boxes.
What is the best thing about being part of the RPO family?
I love the flexibility and versatility of the organisation. Everyone involved really tries to do their best and to say yes. It isn’t always possible or practical, but we have a group of people (staff and musicians) who are determined, always enthusiastic and will give it their best possible shot. I love that about the RPO.
Tell us about your favourite RPO journey.
I began the role in September 2024 and even in a relatively short space of time, I have had some incredible journeys with the RPO. Highlights so far have included sitting in the front cabin of the RPO truck driving up the A40, walking along the Danube from the hotel to the concert hall in Budapest, and tackling the new metro system in Riyadh. One lowlight was a three-hour delay at the border driving into Serbia; I was in the car with our Music Director, Vasily Petrenko, who remained completely calm whilst I was nearly tearing my hair out!
Do you have any pre-concert rituals?
Before a concert is always a really busy time for me. I like to check in with whichever members of the staff team are working the concert, from the Stage and Orchestra Managers and Librarian to the Marketing team. Importantly, I try to pick the right moment to wish the soloist and conductor well, but that can be tricky – sometimes they are having a nap or are changing! I also like to say hello and check in with a few members of the Orchestra. We often have receptions for supporters and funders before concerts, led by the Development team, so it is important for me to make an appearance at those functions, too, to make sure we say thank you. We couldn’t do all that we do without their support.
Must listens – if you had to recommend one artist or composer, who would it be and why?
Having worked at Handel House in Mayfair, where George Frideric Handel lived and composed, and The Red House in Aldeburgh, where Benjamin Britten lived and composed, I feel somewhat duty-bound to choose them. They are definitely on my desert island disc list, but actually, if I was going to recommend a single piece by one composer, it would be Stravinsky’s The Firebird. It is an amazing piece that features stand-out moments for so many different instruments. I once played triangle in it, and somehow the beater had been mislaid, so we had to resort to a butter knife!
Symphonic crossover – if you could work with any artist on a performance or project, who would you choose?
Cyndi Lauper – I am a secret fan. I think she would really get the Orchestra, and it would be an excellent cross-genre project.
Away from music, tell us two of your favourite hobbies and why they strike such a chord.
I enjoy yoga and swimming, preferably in the sea. They both require my full concentration, which means I can’t think about anything else while I do them!
Dream dinner party – who would you invite, what would you cook?
So, I am not the cook in my house. My husband is a completely amazing cook and can rustle up just about anything. My current favourite thing is lamb (cooked on an outside wood-burning grill) with homemade flatbreads, baba ghanoush (made with aubergines that he smokes in his Big Green Egg), and homegrown green leaves with a pomegranate dressing. I am not a big pudding person, but if pushed, he makes the best sticky toffee pudding I have ever tasted (along with his homemade Seville orange ice cream).
Gobbling up this meal with me would be Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Imogen Holst, Laura Linney, Lucy Mangan, Claudia Winkleman, Stevie Wonder and both my daughters, who make me laugh a lot.
First published May 2025