EarlyMusicNews.Org

" The Coro Dell'Aventino belongs to the Musical Association “ROMAinCANTO”, and was founded with the aim of studying and performing masterpieces of Italian and foreign composers of sacred music, with a special predilection for the authors of the XVII and the XVIII centuries. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 25, 2008 | Hits: 375

“Since its debut in 1998, ODHECATON has won many prestigious prizes for its recordings, reflecting critical recognition of the group's having pioneered a new interpretative approach to the performance of polyphonic music: a fluid and expressive reading based on textual declamation. The name of the group is taken from the Harmonice Musices Odhecaton, the first printed book of polyphony published in 1501 by Ottaviano Petrucci in Venice. Their core repertoire encompasses the work of Italian, French, Flemish and Spanish composers of the 15th century. Directed by Paolo Da Col, Odhecaton brings together some of the best Italian male voices specialized in the performance of Renaissance and baroque music. The ensemble has made recordings dedicated to the music of Gombert, Isaac, Josquin, Peñalosa and Compère, and has helped rediscover the repertoire of 17th-century Spanish and Portuguese composers active in the Canary Islands. These programmes have seen Odhecaton being invited to appear in the leading European festivals, and won them important recognition in the world of recording: "Diapason d'or de l'année", "5 diapasons", "Choc" (Le Monde de la Musique), "Disco del mese" (Amadeus and CD Classics), and "CD of the Year" (Goldberg). Beyond its central repertoire, Odhecaton has also presented a semi-staged production of Orazio Vecchi's Amfiparnaso (directed by Enrico Bonavera, with scenery by Lele Luzzati), and a production of sacred music by Gesualdo da Venosa. Since 2008, Odhecaton has paid particular attention to the music of Palestrina. The group also works occasionally with instrumentalists specialized in their repertoire, including Bruce Dickey and Concerto Palatino, Gabriele Cassone, Liuwe Tamminga, Paolo Pandolfo, Jakob Lindberg and La Reverdie.“

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Added on: May 17, 2009 | Hits: 375

Ludus Modalis -- vocal ensemble of twelve singers singing the repertoire of the profane and religious music of the Renaissance and pre-Baroque. Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2009 | Hits: 371

“Valeria Mignaco began her singing studies in Argentina and obtained her classical and baroque singing Masters degree at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Holland. She participated in workshops and masterclasses with Gabriel Garrido, Gustav Leonhardt, Richard Egarr, Elly Ameling, Jill Feldman, Carolyn Watkinson and Margreet Honig.

Finalist of the International Baroque Singing Competition of the Chateau de Chimay 2004 and the International Young Artists Presentation in Anvers (with ensemble Via Artis), she also received an Honorable Mention at the Soloists Competition of the Flemish Early Music Festival in Brugge 2005. Her duo with Alfonso Marín had a Special Mention at the Alte Musik Treff, Berlin 2005.

She has perfomed as soloist amongst others with Bachkoor Holland and Concertgebouw Kamerorkest, Cappella Amsterdam, Monteverdikoor Utrecht, Orquesta de Cámara de Rosario and Pro Música Rosario under the direction of Gabriel Garrido, Paul van Nevel, Paul McCreesh, Daniel Reuss, Charles de Wolff, Jan Willem de Vriend, Daan Admiraal and Cristián Hernández Larguía .She also collaborates with well-known vocal ensembles like Cappella Amsterdam, Huelgas ensemble and Deutsche Kammerchor.

With ensemble Via Artis she participated in the Caixa Forum Early Music Festival (Barcelona 2005); with Alfonso Marín she performed in the Burgos Early Music Festival 2005, Festival A-de-vant-garde Munchen (2005) and Leicester Early Music Festival (2006), giving many concerts in Holland, Spain, Belgium, England, Portugal, Switzerland and Argentina.“

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Added on: Dec 27, 2009 | Hits: 369

"In 2006, Romain Bischoff has brought together a unique group of professional singers: five soloists, each with his or her own colour and personality, reflecting the eloquent and versatile character of Compagnie Bischoff.

Compagnie Bischoff is a vocal quintet that combines the most recent and the most ancient polyphonic music in its programmes: from Ars Nova to Adriaansz. Leaving specialisms behind, the ensemble aims at a musical dialogue within the rich vocal repertoire of seven centuries.

The Compagnie has found its own esthetics in the characteristics of the individual singers, and uses these in unexpected metamorphoses and combinations, ranging from solo and duet to quintet.

Compagnie Bischoff made its debut during the Holland Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht in August 2006, in two concerts in Vredenburg. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 16, 2008 | Hits: 365

"Il Concento Ecclesiastico is an ensemble devoted to choral music operating in Genoa (Italy) from 1995 under the direction of Luca Franco Ferrari. The repertoire is mainly, but not only, based on baroque music performed according to philological criteria as regards both the interpretation and the use of original instruments. Il Concento Ecclesiastico uses to propose to the audience, among others, compositions of Italian musicians seldom performed or which have never been performed in modern age. "

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Added on: Jul 30, 2008 | Hits: 363

"The vocal group Dimensione Polifonica was founded in 1984. It is specialized in the execution of sacred and secular polyphony of the renaissance and baroque repertoire. The concert activity of the group is considerable. It has participated to the most important national and international events among which the XV Edition of the International Polyphonyc Examination G. D'Arezzo, the XXXIII International Happening of Musical Chapels of Loreto, the XVII Edition of Polyphonyc Meetings of Pescara and the II International Musical Tournment of Rome. The vocal group has performed in a world preview L. Leo's unpublished "Dixit Dominus" for choir, violins and thorough bass only. The group has done many radio recordings and it has regularly cooperated with the archiepiscopal Curia of Naples, the University "Federico II" and the Academy of Musical "S. Pietro a Majella". The vocal group "Dimensione Polifonica" has been founded by Maestro Biagio Terracciano, who is also its permanent Director. ... " Visite website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 20, 2008 | Hits: 362

“The ensemble Encantar was founded end 2006 by four young female singers.

They set themselves a target to study the rich polyfonic repertoire of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries in order to present it in a contemporary way to the public. The ensemble investigates the possibility to perform with female voices this repertoire that was written originally for men’s voices.  

Encantar mainly focusses on religious repertoire of Flemish, Spanish and Italian composers, next to anonymous works and French and English compositions of the same period. Encantar made a special program for ‘Jeugd & Muziek‘ entitled “Mix Méditerrané“ featuring some great works of southern polyphonists such as Cristobal de Morales, Francisco Guerrero, Bernardo Pisano, Costanzo Festa and Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina. Encantar cooperated for this production with Hendrik De Smedt (actor) under direction of Maja Jantar.

Recently, Encantar has been on tour with “La déclinaison de la femme“ a program featuring Marguerite of Austria (1480-1530).

In 2009, Encantar won the Klara Tandemtrofee 2009, together with the Audience Prize and the Radio Klara Prize.

Encantar followed masterclasses with Erik Van Nevel, Jean Tubéry and Marcel Pérès. Every year, the ensemble travels to Arezzo (Italy) to be coached by Jill Feldman and Kees Boeke.

Two recordings have been made so far, one together with the recorder consort Flanders Recorder Quartet (Aeolus) (release December 2010) and one with two lutes and renaissance harp for the label Phaedra (release May 2011).

In July 2011, Encantar won the York Early Music Festival Friends ‘ Prize.“

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Added on: Jul 21, 2011 | Hits: 354

“Amor Artis is a distinctive chamber chorus and orchestra, featuring dynamically balanced programs of well-known favorites together with important works rarely heard. The ensemble has achieved considerable rcognition internationally through its many concerts and extensive discography, encompassing more than fifty recordings. One of the first and foremost presenters in New York of lesser-known Baroque masterpieces, Amor Artis has distinguished itself through authentic versions in style and setting, paving the way for performances of these works given in the U.S. today.“

Added on: Jan 22, 2011 | Hits: 352

“Montserrat Figueras is an outstanding performer in a vast vocal repertoire which spans the Mediaeval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.  Born in Barcelona into a family of music-lovers, she performed while still very young with Enric Gispert and Ars Musicae, studying singing with Jordi Albareda as well as dramatic interpretation. In 1966, she began studying early singing techniques, from the troubadours to the Baroque, developing a highly individual approach which draws directly on original sources, both historical and traditional, unfettered by the influences of the post-Romantic school. Her artistic and personal union with Jordi Savall, which has proved so fruitful in the couple’s multiple teaching, research and creative activities, dates from 1967. …”

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Added on: Oct 01, 2011 | Hits: 348

“The Prague baroque orchestra Collegium 1704 and vocal ensemble Collegium Vocale 1704 were founded by harpsichordist and conductor Václav Luks in 2005 on the occasion of the BACH – PRAHA – 2005 project. This marked the beginning of their regular collaboration with the Prague Spring International Music Festival.

Since 2007 Collegium 1704 and Collegium Vocale 1704 have been residential ensembles of the Saint Wenceslas Music Festival in Ostrava. The year 2007 was dedicated to the composer Jan Dismas Zelenka and his Missa votiva for which the ensembles received critical acclaim at La Chaise-Dieu and Sablé festivals in France. Collegium 1704 and Collegium Vocale 1704 are also frequent guests of festivals such as the Festival de Festival de Musique de Sully & du Loiret, Festival Baroque de Pontoise, Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay.  …”

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Added on: Apr 24, 2011 | Hits: 345

“Since its founding in 2001, Chantry has enchanted audiences throughout the Washington area with what The Washington Post has called the "unfettered joy" of its singing, the "moving" quality of its performance, and the "acute stylistic awareness," "nuance and lyricism," and "gut-level understanding of the idiom" which it brings to early music. Ionarts Music called Chantry's performance with the world-renowned Renaissance wind band Piffaro for the 2005 Washington Early Music Festival "an evening of extraordinary singing, poised, with impeccable diction and intonation, and cleansingly pure in tone from Chantry."

Chantry's 10-16 professional early music voices are dedicated to fresh, vibrant, historically informed performance of neglected masterpieces of Renaissance polyphony and music of the Baroque era. Chantry was featured in the inaugural concert of the first Washington Early Music Festival in 2004. Chantry has performed with other major early music ensembles including Modern Musick, the Orchestra of the 17th Century, and the Washington Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, and has appeared on a number of important Washington concert series, including the Church of the Epiphany's Tuesday Noon Concert Series and the concert series of the Cosmos Club, St. Patrick's Catholic Church (DC), Saint Luke Catholic Church (McLean), and Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church (Bethesda). Most of Chantry's members maintain active professional singing careers.

The name "Chantry" comes from the old French chanterie, meaning "to sing." In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, a chantry was a chapel (often a small chapel inside a large cathedral) dedicated to the singing of masses for someone's soul, or an endowment for the singing of such masses. …”

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Added on: Sep 26, 2011 | Hits: 320

Countertenor

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Added on: Sep 25, 2009 | Hits: 316

“Stephanie Prewitt has performed in theaters, cathedrals, and concert halls throughout the United States and Europe, in repertoire spanning eight centuries. A resident of Europe for two years after completing her university training, she soloed regularly with the renowned Clemencic Consort in Vienna and Paris. She was a member of the six-voice ensemble La Cappella, and toured with them extensively throughout Austria, Italy, and Scandinavia, in eclectic repertory ranging from obscure masterpieces of the Austrian Renaissance to American spirituals.

In the USA, she has sung with many festivals and ensembles: Aspen Music Festival; Carmel Bach Festival; New Texas Music Works; Round Top Early Music Festival; Victoria Bach Festival; New York Ensemble for Early Music; Texas Early Music Project; and La Follia Austin Baroque. Her most recent honors include an Austin Critics Table Award (2001) and the Adams Vocal Master Class Fellowship (2001) from the internationally acclaimed Carmel Bach Festival. She is featured on a recording of Koch International, singing 12th-century polyphonic chant with Heliotrope, an ensemble based in California. In Europe, she has recorded for Preiser and Nuovo Era.“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 316

“The Egidius Quartet was founded in 1995 by four members of Ton Koopman's Amsterdam Baroque Choir. From the outset the objective was clear: the singing of Renaissance and contemporary music from the Low Countries (in the widest sense). The quartet is named Egidius, a singer in one of the most famous poems from the Middle Dutch Manuscript Gruythuyse known. ..” (Google translate)

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Added on: Apr 25, 2010 | Hits: 315

" The versatility and agility of Sophia Brumfitt's voice has enabled her to work in areas spanning the entire spectrum of early music; from Medieval to Early Classical. She has performed as a soloist in oratorio, through renaissance and medieval music, to traditional Celtic and Sephardic song.

In 2002 she founded Rosa Mundi with Australian Lutenist, Rosemary Hodgson. She is also a member of medieval ensembles Bardos Band, and Daughters of Elvin, has appeared in Dartington Festival Baroque Opera, and sung with baroque consorts Phoenix Rising, Hanbarne Ensemble and with The Dolmetsch Ensemble. She has sung with the Chorus of Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Canonbury Chamber Choir and Gabriel Garrido's Ensemble Elyma at many prestigious venues. She has made a huge variety of appearances from Radio 4's Woman's Hour talking about the enduring love song, performing at WitchFest at Fairfield Halls, and her acting debut at DownPatrick Opera Fringe Festival, Northern Ireland, in Anthony Blatchworth's 'Demetrius, Prince of Tuscany'. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 313

“Andrew received his Master of Music in Vocal Literature and Performance from the University of Western Ontario, and then proceeded to the Royal College of Music, London, England where he obtained his graduate diploma, studying with Ashley Stafford. He has coached with such notable experts in the vocal Baroque as Dame Emma Kirkby, James Bowman, Michael Chance and Daniel Taylor.

His repertoire includes performance roles in operas by Monteverdi, Alessandro Scarlatti, Hasse, Handel, Purcell and the contemporary composer Jonathan Dove. He is a founding member of The 1607 Ensemble vocal consort and My Lady’s Chamber period ensemble, was Lay Clerk in the Manchester Cathedral Choir and, from 2000–2004, a member of the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir. He has been a soloist in concert choral works by Purcell, Charpentier, Handel, Orff, and Bach (Mass in B Minor and St. John Passion) in the UK, France, and Canada. He was a Britten-Pears Young Artist and Brighton Early Music Festival Young Artist.

Work in 2009 includes Sorceress/Mercury in Dido and Aeneas for Opera Erratica, Toronto, and Nerone in Handel Agrippina for the Barber Opera, Birmingham.“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 308

"Altus Vocare is a project that initially started as an Early Music chamber ensemble. It underwent some drastic changes early on and transitioned into a strong a capella trio. The trio had almost immediate success. The trio went on hiatus while individual members worked on solo projects.

The trio has now reformed Altus Vocare and it is back in rehearsal. The trio performs public and private concerts is now available for hire for your private or corporate event. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 25, 2008 | Hits: 297

“Ferran Savall was born in Basel in 1979, the son of Montserrat Figueras and Jordi Savall. From earliest childhood his everyday life at home was permeated by the atmosphere of musical study, rehearsals and concerts with members of his family. He started his musical training at the age of seven.

At the age of 15 he began to study guitar at the Escola Luthier under Xavier Coll. At the same time, he studied performance using early instruments and the practice of bass continuo in private classes with Rolf Lislevand, under whom he continues to study to the present day. Since 2000 he has worked on modern song, continuing his studies under Dolors Aldea and Petter Johansen.

Ferran Savall is a self-taught musician in search of a natural voice. His essential quality is a highly spontaneous approach to singing, his music springing from the individual moment and its intrinsic emotion, from his personality and the resources at his disposal at any particular moment.

He takes his inspiration from a variety of musical styles such as soul, black music and world music, especially from the Eastern Mediterranean and India, as well as early and contemporary music. …”

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Added on: Oct 03, 2011 | Hits: 296

"One of the world's leading countertenors for nearly 30 years; James Bowman's career spans Opera, Oratorio, Contemporary music and Solo recitals. He was born in Oxford on 6 November 1941 and began singing as a boy chorister at Ely Cathedral. He later went to New College, Oxford. He was a member of the New College and Christ Church choirs. ...

In May 1996 James Bowman received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.James is also President of the Holst Singers.He was made a CBE in the Queen's birthday honours list in June 1997. In November 1998 James was made an Honorary Fellow of New College Oxford. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 08, 2008 | Hits: 290

"Grayson is a soloist and member of various ensembles, holding degrees in vocal performance, 19th Century English Literature, Painting and Printmaking. Having studied at many institutions including Indiana University, University of Montevallo, International Baroque Institute at Longy and the Vancouver Early Music Programme at the School of Music, University of British Columbia, this brilliant musician has brought her skill and expertise in her performances to audiences in the United States and Canada. Plans are currently in progress to expand to venues in Scotland in the next year.

Although extremely versatile, Grayson specialises in the German repertoire of the Romantic and Early Music periods. Grayson's tone is lovely, deep, resonant, and round, with a very low range that extends up 3 octaves. The warmth and timbre of Grayson's voice is extremely well suited for instrumental chamber music with solo voice, cantatas, oratorios, and one-on-a-part vocal ensembles. Grayson has regularly performed Bach and various other cantatas and oratorios as a soloist. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 25, 2008 | Hits: 288

“ The Ensemble was founded in the Galilee region of Israel by the bass and harpsichordist Elam Rotem. It is currently based in Switzerland, where all its members undertook further study at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. The ensemble has benefited both individually and collectively from the expertise of leading musicians, amongst them Evelyn Tubb, Anthony Rooley, Gerd Türk and Dominique Vellard. …”

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Added on: Jul 21, 2011 | Hits: 288

“Vocal Ensemble Capella Hafniensis was founded in March 1990 on the initiative of musicologist and church musician Ole Kongsted. Capella Hafniensis is the most specialized ensemble for early music in Northern Europe and the only professional vocal group in Denmark, working exclusively with Renaissance Music. It has a nucleus of 7 singers who can be expanded as needed.”

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Added on: Feb 23, 2012 | Hits: 277

“With a voice reviewed as “arresting, haunting, expressive, clear-toned, and sweet,” soprano Phoebe Jevtović Alexander performs chamber music, early opera, and experimental music in the United States and abroad. She has appeared as a soloist with the Waverly Consort, American Bach Soloists, Musica Angelica, Magnificat, and North Holland Opera. Roles performed include Despina in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Amphitrite in Locke’s Tempest, Cupid in Purcell’s Timon of Athens, and the title role in Rossi’s Orfeo.
    
Among Phoebe’s varied collaborations are the baroque ensemble La Monica; medieval ensemble Cançionèr; art song with celebrated pianist Robert Thies; and early music and dance with Italy’s visionary Art Monastery Project. She has also toured the US and Indonesia with Gamelan X (Balinese-inspired hybrid world music ensemble); and sings Balkan folk music with Kitka. Phoebe has recorded for Dorian, Nonesuch, Wave, and Gothic Records, and was interviewed in the November 2009 issue of Classical Singer Magazine.

Phoebe completed her Master of Arts degree in Early Music Performance at the University of Southern California, and has edited a book of 17th century solo songs by Tarquinio Merula that is due to be published by A&R Editions.”

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Added on: Feb 07, 2011 | Hits: 274

“The Maryland Cantabile is a community chorus dedicated to exploring music from the early to contemporary period.  Our current focus is early music and we welcome the opportunity to collaborate with other music groups.”

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Added on: Nov 12, 2012 | Hits: 270