Richard Adeney was born the son of the painter
Bernard Adeney (1878–1966). He was determined early in life, to "become the best flute player in the world", as he stated in his autobiography. He was educated at
Dartington Hall School and subsequently studied at the
Royal College of Music, where one of his contemporaries and close friends was
Malcolm Arnold, In his student days in the late 1930s Adeney worked with
Vaughan Williams and
Sir Malcolm Sargent. In the
Second World War he was unconditionally exempted from
military service as a
conscientious objector. He joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1941, initially as second flute, and played with them until 1950 and again from 1961 to 1970, He was one of the founding members of the
Melos Ensemble, principal flautist of the
English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) until the 1970s when he was succeeded by
William Bennett, and also regularly performed as a soloist. Malcolm Arnold composed a
Divertimento for Flute, Oboe and Clarinet for him and other particular friends. Richard Adeney,
Sidney Sutcliffe and Stephen Waters gave the work its first performance in 1952. In 1954 Malcolm Arnold wrote a
Concerto for Flute and Strings for his friend, who recorded it in 1979, together with the concerto for flute and orchestra (1972). Richard Adeney was closely associated with
Benjamin Britten, and performed in many performances and recordings of the composer's works, notably in 1962 with the Melos Ensemble in the premiere and recording of the
War Requiem that Britten conducted himself. He participated in the premiere and first recording of Britten's
Curlew River in 1964. He recalled: "Curlew River had more rehearsal time than any other new work that I have ever played". In 1967 he participated in a concert in the
Royal Albert Hall including Britten's
The Burning Fiery Furnace. Richard Adeney performed in notable recordings, such as
Johann Sebastian Bach's
Brandenburg Concertos, which was recorded under Britten's baton, or in his
St Matthew Passion conducted by
David Willcocks. He premiered the
Elegy for flute, harp and string orchestra by
John Veale in 1951. With the
Melos Ensemble he recorded
chamber music for both woodwinds and
strings, such as Ravel's Introduction and Allegro along with
Osian Ellis (harp),
Gervase de Peyer (clarinet),
Emanuel Hurwitz and
Ivor McMahon (violin),
Cecil Aronowitz (viola) and
Terence Weil (cello). both 1961 and 1967. Adeney performed regularly at the
Aldeburgh Festival. After having played under conductors as
Sergiu Celibidache,
Bruno Walter,
Sir Thomas Beecham and
Claudio Abbado, he ended his professional career in 1990. A concert to celebrate his life was held on 6 May 2011 including performances by his colleague
William Bennett. == Career outside music ==