Hopkinson Smith

Bio

Hopkinson Smith is an American lutenist based in Switzerland, recognized for his performances and recordings of early music on the lute, theorbo, and related instruments. Born in New York in 1946, he has specialized in repertoire spanning the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, often performing both solo works and chamber music. He studied at Harvard University and later in Europe, where he developed a deep engagement with historical performance practice. Smith has released numerous recordings on labels such as Astrée and Naïve, featuring music by composers including John Dowland, Sylvius Leopold Weiss, and Johann Sebastian Bach. In addition to his concert career, he has taught masterclasses and contributed to the revival of historically informed performance on plucked-string instruments. His work is documented through extensive discographies and is available on major streaming platforms.