Julian Smith has been associated with 91Èȱ¬ Cardiff Singer of the World since its inception in 1983. For the first three competitions he was one of the official accompanists, and in 1988 he became music adviser. Since 1993 he has been responsible for selecting the competitors, and every two years has undertaken a world tour, auditioning singers wishing to take part in the competition. He has auditioned in more than fifty different cities, hearing in excess of five thousand singers.
Julian was head of music at Welsh National Opera for 21 years, during which time he conducted nearly 40 operas for the company, specializing in Puccini, Verdi and the bel canto school, but also including operas by Handel and Britten. He has also conducted for Scottish Opera, Glyndebourne Touring Opera, San Francisco Opera, Opera Australia, Vancouver Opera, Icelandic Opera, Oper Zuid and New Zealand Opera.
Other orchestras he has conducted include the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, 91Èȱ¬ National Orchestra of Wales, London Sinfonietta, English Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
At the invitation of the Ricordi publishing house, Julian Smith edited and reconstructed the first version of Madama Butterfly, restoring many sections replaced by Puccini. The version was subsequently performed in Venice, Paris and New York, and, by Opera North, in Great Britain. It has also been recorded.
