[1] He subsequently studied with Gervase de Peyer, supported by a scholarship to the Mannes College of Music in New York City.
He then founded the Brereton International Music Symposium, and served as its director from 1990 to 1997 working with artists such as Thomas Hampson, Birgit Nilsson and Brigitte Fassbaender.
[3][4] Berry championed major American composers during his time, including John Adams, Philip Glass and Nico Muhly.
A good example of this new approach was the success of Mike Leigh's production of The Pirates of Penzance, which broke box office records.
[8][9] Other developments led by Berry at the company included, in 2014, a new relationship with restaurateur Ben Warner and Benugo for the redevelopment of the London Coliseum foyer spaces, and a new commercial relationship with Lord Grade and Michael Linnit (the GradeLinnit Company) to produce semi-staged musicals,[10] beginning with the critically acclaimed Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim, featuring actress Emma Thompson and opera singer Bryn Terfel.
[16] In 2011, for the first time, a live opera, Mike Figgis' production of Lucrezia Borgia, was aired in 3D and broadcast by Sky TV.
[39][40][41][42] Future projects include The Galloping Cure, an opera about the opioid addiction crisis, composed by Missy Mazzoli to a story by Karen Russell and Royce Vavrek, directed by Tom Morris.
[43] In November 2018 he officially launched a commercial theatre production company, Scenario 2, together with co-director Anthony Lilley OBE.
[44][45] Its first production is The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel featuring Renée Fleming and Disney artist Dove Cameron, premiered at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall in London on 14 June 2019 with performances until 6 July 2019.
Scenario Two is also preparing a new staged musical production about the life of the late Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, directed by Hollywood film director and creator of The Greatest Showman, Michael Gracey.
[53][54] Terry Gilliam's production of Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim opened at the Theatre Royal Bath in August 2022 to 3, 4 and 5 star reviews.