EarlyMusicNews.Org

“Capriola recorder quartet is playing early and modern music. Capriola gives own concerts and concerts with other instrumentalists and chamber choirs. The members of Capriola are Irene Hooimeijer, Kees Konings, Joost de Ridder and Frans Schröder.

Capriola has performed in many concerts in and outside the Netherlands. Capriola strives after a consort sound inspired by Renaissance ideas, also practiced on modern music.

The ensemble plays on a broad collection of mainly after historical examples handmade instruments (a=440 and 415), including except for many recorders also a bass dulcian (renaissance bassoon) and a baroque bassoon.“

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 191

“Ensemble Rossignol (nightingale) owes its name to iths first series of performances in 1998 built around 'De virtuoze zang van het Engels Nachtegaeltje' (The virtuoso song of the Englisch Nightingale) by Jr. Jacob van Eyck (Amsterdam, 1648).

The virtuosity and the refined, musical, playful and inspiring performance of the ensemble immediately call to mind the nightingale's song.

Combining the chitarrone (theorbe) / liuto (lute) and the flauto dolce (recorder) results in a special mix of sounds. The sound of the flute together with the strings, combined with the varying pitch, is what makes the harmonization so special.”

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 158

“The Ex Novo Ensemble was founded in Venice in 1979 by the composer Claudio Ambrosini and seven young musicians, who have remained with the Ensemble over since. The Ex Novo Ensemble now represents a point of reference on the international panorama of new music.The continuity obtained by working together, its artistic and professional coherence, have bequeathed a certain character, a "sound", which both public and critics of the major European festivals recognize to the Ensemble.

Their commitment to exploring the language of contemporary music later became the basis for re interpreting classical repertory, particulary those scores composed for rare instrumental sets that, although very beautiful, remain little known.

Many world premieres and works dedicated to the Ex Novo Ensemble have also been presented in recordings of the major European broadcasting corporations.

The Ensemble's contribution to the chamber music of the early Italian nineteen hundreds, as seen by its long collaboration with large recording companies, is significant.”

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Added on: Nov 20, 2011 | Hits: 229

“Since its formation in 2006, multi award-winning Ensemble Meridiana has established itself as one of Europe’s finest Baroque ensembles of it’s generation. The five members of Ensemble Meridiana come from four different countries and met during their studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland where they specialised in early music.

Added on: Nov 20, 2011 | Hits: 236

“Canty, Scotland’s only professional Medieval music group, was formed by Rebecca Tavener in 1998, the 900th anniversary of the birth of Hildegard of Bingen, and it comprises the regular female singers with Cappella Nova, Scotland’s leading early music vocal ensemble.  As individuals, the singers bring to the group a wealth of experience, both as soloists and as members of other distinguished ensembles.  Together with regular collaborator, harpist William Taylor, they explore a unique repertoire combining Medieval music and contemporary works written specially for them, along with ongoing research and experimentation in performance practice for Medieval music from Celtic homelands.   Canty has nurtured close relationships with a number of leading musicologists specialising in medieval sacred music and, as a result, enjoys access to a considerable amount of rare or unique material.

Canty’s debut CD, Wings of Wisdom, features chant by Hildegard von Bingen and from medieval Scotland and was released on the Dorian label.  Flame of Ireland (Sanctuary Gaudeamus), their second recording, features world premiere recordings of 15thc Irish chant for St Brigit of Kildare.  Their third disc, Felix Femina – medieval Scottish polyphony (Sanctuary Gaudeamus) was described by Andrew McGregor as having a ‘transcendental quality that absolutely suits the music’ (CD Review, BBC Radio 3).  A fourth CD, Apostle of Ireland, featuring Medieval Irish chant for St Patrick, has just been released on the Divine Art label.   The latest CD, to be released by Linn Records in 2010, combines medieval repertoire with new works written specially for the group including pieces by James Macmillan and Sir John Tavener.

Canty has appeared in many distinguished festivals and venues at home and abroad, including the Edinburgh Festival, Galway Early Music Festival, Spitalfields Festival, Edinburgh International Harp Festival, the International Celtic Congress (Bonn) and the National Centre for Early Music in York.  Future projects include commissions from Gabriel Jackson, Joanne Metcalf and other composers, leading to the recording in 2009 of a new CD of contemporary and medieval music for Linn Records. …”

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Added on: Nov 20, 2011 | Hits: 209

“Winners of the 2008 Midem Baroque Award and the 2007 Classic FM Gramophone Award for Best Baroque Vocal Album for their recording of Handel’s Dublin Messiah (Linn CKD 285), Dunedin Consort & Players, under the combined Artistic Direction of John Butt, Susan Hamilton and Philip Hobbs, performs throughout Scotland and Europe

Under the musical direction of John Butt the group has consolidated its existing strength in the Baroque repertoire. Dunedin's commitment to excellence in both live performances and recordings, coupled with the latest research in historical performance, is complemented by its strong belief in supporting new music. As part of its contemporary strand, Dunedin has commissioned and performed works by living composers - including William Sweeney, Errollyn Wallen, Peter Nelson and Sally Beamish - to complement and enhance the meaning of the old masterpieces.

Dunedin has performed at music festivals in Scotland - including the Edinburgh International Festival -, Canada, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Israel and France, and broadcasts frequently on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Scotland.  …”

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Added on: Nov 20, 2011 | Hits: 297

“Arianna Ensemble is a professional ensemble of baroque music. Founded in 2000 around the harpsichordist Marie-Paule Nounou, it presents the works of European heritage to discover the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and some masterpieces of the repertoire.”

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Added on: Nov 17, 2011 | Hits: 206

“We are a string quartet that plays on original instruments and forms the core of an ensemble of varying combinations; like faces on dice, alea’s numbers can change.

In 2000, we decided to join paths in a wish to explore the chamber music repertory and performance practice of the Classical and Romantic periods.

The four of us each have extensive experience in the field of ancient music, which we play regularly as section leaders of various ensembles (Europa Galante, I Barocchisti, Accademia Bizantina, Les Talens Lyriques, Le Concert d`Astrée). For this reason we find ourselves sometimes taking on projects with Alea that stretch back to the 17^th Century or the first half of the 18^th Century, but our main interest lies in the music of later epochs.

It is our conviction that the study of source material – treatises and early editions – as well as the use of various types of historical instruments and bows, still provide new interpretive insights. This is the reason we share our experience with musicologists, luthiers and bowmakers who are driven by a similar passion.  …”

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Added on: Nov 16, 2011 | Hits: 413

“Founded in 2009 by François Joubert-Caillet, L’Achéron is constituted of a variable number of musicians, coming from all around the world, a young generation already performing with renowned ensembles and feeling the need to affirm their artistic personality in a more intimate context.

Focused on Renaissance, baroque and contemporary music, l’Acheron’s interpretation of ancient repertoire is an attempt to bring forth its fundamental characteristics, reinterpreting with the greatest respect original works, being as authentic but also as readable as possible for today’s audience. The marriage between musical research and the live interpretation feed the intellectual and sensorial curiosity of the audience.

L’Acheron is a laboratory for new ideas, concepts and artistic practices: improvisations as well as contemporary music are an integral part of what we hope will be the continually evolving approach of the ensemble.

In Greek mythology, the Acheron is the river of the Underworld on which Charon ferries the souls of the Dead to Hell, the very river Orpheus crosses to look for Eurydice. Nourished by this symbol, l’Acheron is willing to open up a way in between two apparently opposed worlds: the living and the dead, the past and present, ideal and reality.“

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Added on: Nov 16, 2011 | Hits: 354

“La Ritirata performs in prestigious festivals as Musika‐Música in the Palacio Euskalduna of Bilbao, Festival de Música Antigua 2009 of CNART in Mexico City, Fringe Early Music Festival Utrecht and Internacional Music Festival of Jaca among others. Recently awarded in the renowned Sitges music competition, La Ritirata looks forward to new projects of wider scope. In the words of a recently published press review on Diario de Menorca while their Balearic Islands Tour, “the mastery of its instrumentalists delighted the audience with exquisite sonority, great agility, example of technical control and perfection of the German baroque music” [Arcadio Gomila]

The objective of the group is to combine the accurate historical awareness with the highest levels of artistic quality, together with a surprising musicality and astonishing performances. All this under the vision of their artistic leader, Josetxu Obregón, who while visiting the stages of Miami, Tokio and Mexico DF in the next couple of months, a musician who focused on Early Music after playing in some of the best ensembles of the world like Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, has the purpose of showing the world how the interpretation, together with the knowledge of the instruments and aesthetics of a composer’s time, is without any doubt the key to the musical future of our society.”

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Added on: Nov 14, 2011 | Hits: 198

“Since 1992, a small team of loyal and passionate musicians recreates, around Antoine Guerber, extraordinary music of the period so remote, intriguing, fascinating, which has shaped our culture, our language, our society: the Middle Ages.”

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Added on: Nov 13, 2011 | Hits: 374

“Ensemble created in 2007, led by Damien Pouvreau, "Children of the Court" includes professional musicians who specialize in early music, whose approach is to explore the different facets of their music trade and by partnering with other personalities from the arts and culture (musicians, actors, singers, dancers, visual artists, graphic designers, photographers, writers).”

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Added on: Nov 13, 2011 | Hits: 233

“Accademia del Piacere was founded in 2004. His organicum varies from the trio to the small chamber orchestra. Accademia del Piacere is presented as one of the young Andalusian groups with more presence on the international scene of early music. Its members, who combine the strength of youth and the wisdom of experience, have performed at festivals and theatres worldwide. Accademia del Piacere has performed at prestigious events such as the National Auditorium of Spain, Luxembourg Grand Theater, Festival of Ravello (Italy), FEMAS (Sevilla), Festival Las Piedras Cantan, Radovlijka Festival (Slovenia), Early Music Festival of Peñíscola, Early Music Festival Aracena, Cantatas Cycle of Johann Sebastian Bach (Madrid), Festival Camino de Santiago, Early Music Festival in Malaga, Spanish Music Festival in Cadiz, Early Music Festival of Úbeda and Baeza, Cultural Almeria 2006, Teatro Villamarta ... Their concerts are usually transmitted by the most prestigious media such as Radio Clásica, of RNE”

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Added on: Nov 13, 2011 | Hits: 201

“In 2000, some brilliant instrumentalists French decide to give substance to their spirit of innovation, and create Les Folies Francoise. This group’s mission, led by violinist Patrick Cohën-Akenine, is to revisit the baroque of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, in the spirit of freedom, diversity and creativity that inspired the musicians of the Grand Siècle.”

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Added on: Nov 13, 2011 | Hits: 219

“… Ensemble Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien explores with the same curiosity of little-known music, such as airs de cour (Et la fleur vole), the former Scottish music (For ever Fortune), brunettes (À l’ombre d’un ormeau) and pages of "grand repertoire "(Lully, Charpentier, Bach, Telemann) in search of natural musical phrasing, instrumental color and spirit of the dance. …”

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Added on: Nov 13, 2011 | Hits: 179

“Amarillis is now one of Europe's most original Baroque ensembles. The ensemble is well known for its fine sound and excellent instrumental technique. Audiences are always delighted with the ensemble's concerts, which are regularly acclaimed by the national and international press. The group, counselled by Pierre Hantaï, Christophe Rousset and Christophe Coin, has won several competitions : first prize in the York Early Music Competition in 1995, first prize in the FNAPEC 'Musique d'Ensemble' Competition in April 1997, and first prize and the public prize in the Sinfonia Competition (chaired by Gustav Leonhardt) in September 1997. In 1999 the trio was distinguished by the 'Révélations classiques' (Adami).

According to the requirements of the repertoire, the basic nucleus is joined by musicians of recognised talent. Amarillis works regularly with the finest singers of the younger generation, including Patricia Petibon, Sandrine Piau, Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Raffaella Milanesi, Valérie Gabail, Robert Getchell, Arnaud Marzorati, Emiliano Gonzalez-Toro…  “

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Added on: Nov 13, 2011 | Hits: 253

“Guido Morini and Marco Beasley founded Accordone in 1984, motivated by a great passion for the music before Bach, for original instruments and for a new musicological approach to problems of interpretation. At the heart of their work is Italian music for voice and basso continuo from the 16th and 17th centuries. The voice of Marco Beasley, immediately recognizable for its beautiful timbre, in perfect stylistic balance with the instruments which accompany him, is the ideal companion for the profound knowledge of instrumental, improvisational and compositional questions cultivated by Guido Morini, and make Accordone a unique ensemble on the European scene.”

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Added on: Oct 14, 2011 | Hits: 291

“Founded in 1997 in Toulouse, the chamber choir elements, led by its founder Joel Suhubiette. The choir performs regularly on the French stages and has also been invited to Canada, the United States, Lebanon, Egypt, Spain, Germany, Italy, Greece, Great Britain, Switzerland and the Netherlands .  ” (transl.)

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Tags: Catherine Kauffmann-Saint-Martin

Added on: Oct 10, 2011 | Hits: 253

“La Compañia formed in 1997 to perform music of the renaissance and early baroque. Directed by Danny Lucin, the ensemble brings together Australia's leading specialists on period instruments, creating a consort rich in possibilities.

A line up of historically important instruments, including; cornetto, sackbuts, dulcian, shawm, viola da gamba, lute and percussion, allows for exciting sound combinations reflecting the various instrumental groupings of the period. The group follows the sixteenth century performance practice of ornamentation, diminution and embellishment. Their vibrant musicianship combined with their improvisatory skills has established La Compañia's reputation with both audiences and critics for presenting innovative programs and dynamic performances.

La Compañia's credits include concert performances, major Australian arts festivals, international feature films, television appearances, live radio broadcasts, Musica Viva CountryWide, CD recordings including El fuego on ABC Classics and their current subscription series at Melbourne Recital Centre.

Director Danny Lucin

Musicians
Danny Lucin:  cornetto & mute cornetto
Mitchell Cross:  shawm & tenor dulcian
Glenn Bardwell:  sackbut
Bob Collins:  sackbut
Julian Bain:  sackbut
Brock Imison:  alto and bass dulcian
Simon Rickard:  bass dulcian
Rachael Beesley:  baroque violin
Lizzie Pogson:  baroque violin
Victoria Watts:  viola da gamba
Laura Vaughan:  viola da gamba
Rosemary Hodgson:  vihuela, guitar, lute & theorbo
Linda Kent:  chamber organ & harpsichord
Christine Baker:  percussion
Denis Close:  percussion”

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Added on: Oct 10, 2011 | Hits: 256

“United by a common goal – the study and interpretation of ancient music according to new, modern criteria – and fascinated by the immense richness of the Hispanic and European musical repertoire before 1800, in 1974 Jordi Savall, Montserrat Figueras, Lorenzo Alpert and Hopkinson Smith founded the ensemble Hespèrion XX. In its thirty years of existence, the group has, in collaboration with other outstanding performers, rescued numerous works and programmes from oblivion, thus contributing to a major reappraisal of the fundamental aspects of the Mediaeval, Renaissance and baroque repertoires. From the moment it was created, Hespèrion XX has carried out an intense schedule of concert performances and regularly appears at the main international music festivals. …”

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Added on: Oct 03, 2011 | Hits: 251

“Convinced that a country’s cultural roots and traditions always have a decisive influence on the expression of its musical language, in 1987 Jordi Savall and Montserrat Figueras founded La Capella Reial, one of the first vocal ensembles devoted to the interpretation of Hispanic Golden Age music according to historical principles and consisting exclusively of Hispanic and Latin voices.

Following the model of the famous “royal chapels” for which the great masterpieces of both religious and secular music were composed in the Iberian peninsula, this new “Capella Reial”, which in 1990 took the name of Capella Reial de Catalunya, was born as the result of more than 13 years of research and interpretation in the field of early music. Together with Hespèrion XX (founded in 1974), its main objective is to extend and deepen the fields of research into the specific characteristics of the Hispanic and European polyphonic vocal legacy before 1800. The hallmark of this ensemble is its approach to performance, which balances meticulous vocal sound quality and appropriateness to the style of the period with expressive diction and projection of the poetic text, always striving above all to convey the spiritual and artistic dimension peculiar to each individual work. Under the direction of Jordi Savall, it has an intense schedule of concert performances and recordings and regularly takes part in the principal music festivals around the world. …”

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Added on: Oct 03, 2011 | Hits: 314

“Essencia Qvinta aware of the crucial role of Spanish polyphony in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, takes as its main objective the revaluation of this repertoire. …“

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Added on: Oct 01, 2011 | Hits: 193

“Demus group Ensemble, is named after the treatise 'De musica' de San Agustin, part of his philosophical dialogues written during the fourth century. It is a dialogue of Neoplatonic inspiration had much impact on Renaissance composers. …

Created in 2009 by its director, Maria Angeles Zapata, has highly experienced musicians, each with an interesting career in the field of early music, and also in the interpretation of other styles and eras. …“

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Added on: Oct 01, 2011 | Hits: 359

“Ensemble Il Ballo was founded in 2002. It is dedicated to interpreting the music of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with a particular interest in Renaissance music and Italian music of the early seventeenth century.”

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Added on: Sep 30, 2011 | Hits: 212

“In choosing the name Akadêmia, Françoise Laserre gave her approach to music deep roots in a consciously humanistic tradition, inherited from the Platonic garden and the Italian Renaissance. ...

Finally, Akadêmia has an ongoing commitment to the discovery and nurturing of young vocal and instrumental talents through the organisation of professional training programmes which culminiate in a series of concerts.”

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Added on: Sep 30, 2011 | Hits: 222