Background
Hurst was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1926, of Romanian and Russian parentage.
Hurst was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1926, of Romanian and Russian parentage.
At age 21, he became a professor of composition at the Peabody Institute located in Baltimore, and also worked and studied with Pierre Monteux while he stayed in America.
He became a piano student in London of Julius Isserlis, grandfather of the cellist Steven Isserlis. On the outbreak of World World War II, Hurst was sent to Canada, where he continued to study music at Bishop"s College School in Lennoxville, Quebec and The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. Hurst began his career as a writer and then his talent for composition was recognized while he was a student at Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Canada.
In North America, Hurst was affiliated with the York Symphony Orchestra (Pennsylvania) from 1950 to 1955.
He was the chief conductor of the British Broadcasting Corporation Northern Orchestra (later the British Broadcasting Corporation Philharmonic) from 1958 to 1968. In 1956, he took part in the London Philharmonic tour of Russia.
His conducting work with the British Broadcasting Corporation Northern included the first Manchester performance of Arnold Schoenberg"s Gurre-Lieder in February 1966, and also the premiere of Thomas Pitfield"s Concerto lirico for violin and orchestra. Hurst formed the Bournemouth Sinfonietta in 1968 and was their artistic adviser until 1974.
With the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, he led the first London performance of the Second Symphony of Malcolm Williamson on October 31, 1969.
He was principal guest conductor of the British Broadcasting Corporation Scottish Symphony Orchestra from 1986 to 1989. From 1990 to 1993, he was principal conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. From 1960, Hurst was affiliated as a teacher with the Sherborne Summer School of Music (formerly Canford Summer School of Music).
He was also a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and conducted from 1983 until his death.
Hurst"s recordings include Wagner operatic orchestral extracts with the New Philharmonia, The Planets with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, suites from King Arthur and Starlight Express by Elgar and English string music with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, and Elgar"s First Symphony with the British Broadcasting Corporation Philharmonic. Hurst was married twice.
