Richard has rapidly become one of the most sought after horn players of his generation and is well-known as a concerto soloist and chamber music player. He was Principal Horn of the Philharmonia Orchestra from 1985 - 1996, a position he relinquished to devote more time to his solo career. He has recently been appointed a member of the Nash Ensemble.
Richard is closely associated with promoting contemporary music for the horn; Sir Peter Maxwell Davis wrote 'Sea Eagle' for him in 1983 and, since then, Richard has given the world premières of David Matthews' 'Capriccio' at the Wigmore Hall, Nigel Osborne's 'The Sun of Venice' with the Philharmonia and Colin Matthews' Horn Concerto at the Royal Festival Hall.
Recent recordings include Sir Malcolm Arnold's two Horn Concertos (Conifer), Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante with the Philharmonia (DG), Mozart's Horn Concertos with Richard Hickox (Pickwick), Glière's rarely performed Horn Concerto with Sir Edward Downes (Chandos) and Dame Ethel Smyth's Concerto for Horn and Violin (Chandos).
Richard is in great demand for masterclasses both in this country and abroad; he is visiting Professor of Horn at the Royal College of Music and holds the Dennis Brain Chair of Horn Playing at Royal Academy of Music, where he was made a fellow in 1992.