EarlyMusicNews.Org

“Founded in 1986, The Four Nations Ensemble brings together soloists who are leading exponents of period instrument and vocal performance to present great music from the Renaissance through the Viennese Classical masterpieces of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. For two decades, Four Nations has developed a leading presence on the early music scene in New York and across the country. With a core ensemble of harpsichord or fortepiano, violin(s), flute, and cello, the Ensemble explores and performs the major masterpieces of the 17th and 18th centuries, from trio sonata to piano trio and quartet. Four Nations has performed at major houses and series throughout the United States including The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. The Ensemble has participated in festivals including The Boston Early Music Festival, New York's Mostly Mozart, Amherst Festival, New Haven's International Festival of Arts & Ideas, Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival, Chautauqua, The Indiana Early Music Festival, The Redwoods Festival in Santa Rosa, California, and Brasilseguridade in Rio de Janeiro.”

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Tags: New York

Added on: Jan 29, 2012 | Hits: 190

“Wayward Sisters is Beth Wenstrom (baroque violin), Anne Timberlake (recorders), Anna Steinhoff (baroque cello), and John Lenti (theorbo and guitar). In 2011, Wayward Sisters won the Early Music America/Naxos recording competition, and will record their debut CD with Naxos during the 2011-2012 season. Critics have praised Wayward Sisters' "imaginative program and alert, stylish performances," as well as the group's "polished and spirited playing and well-balanced ensemble" (Chicago Classical Review).

Since debuting in 2009, Wayward Sisters has excited and inspired audiences across the United States, including appearing as Emerging Artists on the Newberry Consort's 2010-2011 concert season. Members of Wayward Sisters have studied historical performance at Oberlin Conservatory, Indiana University, and The Juilliard School.

The name "Wayward Sisters" refers not only to Henry Purcell's vivid conjuring of Shakespeare's witches, but to the group members' scattered lives and continuing commitment to making music together.”

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Added on: Jan 21, 2012 | Hits: 206

“Delighting audiences around the country with their spirited performances, Armonia Celeste (ar-mo-NEE-ache-LES-tay) is an emerging ensemble specializing in rarely heard repertoire from the Italian Renaissance and early Baroque. The group is comprised of three distinct female voices accompanied by period instruments: lute, theorbo, guitar, and the rare arpa doppia (Baroque triple harp). Each of the five members of the ensemble is a highly experienced solo performer in their own right; together, the musicians create an unforgettable combination of varied vocal and instrumental colors, florid ornamentation, expressiveness, and a noticeable passion for this repertoire.

The idea for Armonia Celeste came about in 2008 when the musicians performed together at the Misiones de Chiquitos International American Renaissance and Baroque Music Festival in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Since then, the ensemble has been featured in a concert of Monteverdi’s Il settimo Libro di Madrigali with the Dallas Bach Society, performed at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth in conjunction with the museum’s exhibit, “Art and Love in Renaissance Italy,” and has offered many concerts throughout Texas and Oklahoma. At the 2009 Boston Early Music Festival, Armonia Celeste presented an extremely well-received fringe concert entitled “Love and Longing.” Early in 2010, the group appeared in, and provided music for, an educational PBS documentary presented by Early Music Television entitled “Culture Wars of Venice and the Birth of Public Opera.” Eugene Enrico, Early Music Television organizer and professor of Musicology at the Oklahoma School of Music, commented, “[The] new professional ensemble Armonia Celeste is the finest group I’ve heard performing early baroque Italian music.””

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Added on: Jan 21, 2012 | Hits: 204

“ Agave Baroque is a period instrument ensemble dedicated to the diverse and compelling repertoire of the seventeenth Century. Founded in 2007, Agave Baroque delivers expressive, thoughtful interpretations colored with imagination, wit, and humor. In 2009, Agave Baroque was chosen through a competitive application process to represent Early Music America at the APAP Conference in New York City, where they performed twice. Members of this engaging young ensemble also perform with some of the nation's leading baroque orchestras and ensembles, including Philharmonica Baroque, American Bach Soloists, Musica Angelica, and Ensemble Mirable, as well as the New Century Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Master Chorale.“

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Added on: Jan 21, 2012 | Hits: 205

“Praised for their “well-thought-out articulation and phrasing” (Early Music Review) and “elegant string playing that was immaculate in tuning and balance” (Early Music Today), the Sebastian Chamber Players (Sebastians) specialize in music of the Baroque and Classical eras and newly commissioned works for period instruments. Since their founding in 2001, the ensemble has performed throughout the United States. The group is comprised of members who have studied at the Historical Performance Program at the Juilliard School and as post-graduate fellows in early music at Yale University. The Sebastians were recently named the artists-in-residence at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Manchester, CT. They were finalists of the 2011 York International Early Music Competition and the 2011 Early Music America/Naxos Recording Competition.”

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Added on: Jan 21, 2012 | Hits: 250

“Recordare consists of four inspired musicians who began playing together in 2010.

Under the guidance of McGill University’s world-renowned Early Music department, they discovered a wonderful rapport with one another and common approach to expression. Always looking for diverse sonorities and textures, Recordare has explored and performed a wide variety of styles and composers. Though they have focused on Italian music of the seventeenth century, the ensemble recently found an affinity with the music of Giuseppe Sammartini. Committed to a performance more thrilling than the printed page leads us to believe, the ensemble strives to reflect the “science, originality and fire” that Charles Burney found so striking in these works.

With their proposal of recording Sammartini’s chamber music, Recordare has been named one of the six finalist groups of the Early Music America/Naxos 2011 Recording Competition. The ensemble was also awarded 2nd place in the 2011 Festival de Musique Classique de Pierre-De Saurel chamber music competition.”

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Added on: Jan 21, 2012 | Hits: 225

“The Sydney Consort is one of Australia’s most energetic music ensembles devoted to early music of the 17th and 18th Century. Originally consisting of three members the group brings together Australia’s finest musicians and singers to a small chamber orchestra of up to fifteen performers. Formed in 1997 and led by artistic directors Monika and Stan Kornel, the Sydney Consort is an ensemble dedicated to bringing beauty and wisdom of Baroque music to a rapidly growing audience. The ensemble has performed music ranging from the 16th to 18th Century, as well as contemporary Australian music, and with concert themes such as English, French, German and Italian Baroque, Music and Poetry, and the Johann Sebastian Bach concertos.”

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Added on: Jan 15, 2012 | Hits: 245

“Since 1977, Adelaide Baroque has established a tradition of leadership in the field of authentic early music performance, revitalising known Baroque repertoire, and bringing to light freshly discovered works with a vivacity, integrity and spirit they so richly deserve. Adelaide Baroque is renowned for its uncompromising standard of excellence, and for the ongoing development of emerging professional musicians.“

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Added on: Jan 15, 2012 | Hits: 231

“Founded in 1977 by Dr. J. Reilly Lewis, the Washington Bach Consort is committed to the study and performance of the complete vocal and instrumental works of Johann Sebastian Bach and his contemporaries. The mission of the Washington Bach Consort is to 1) Perform to the highest artistic standards the music of J.S. Bach and his Baroque contemporaries, 2) Expand its audience through concerts, collaborations with other performing ensembles, media appearances, marketable recordings and tours, and 3) Promote current and future appreciation of J.S. Bach in our community through compelling music education programs presented by members of the Consort.

As one of the nation's critically acclaimed and widely recognized performing arts institutions, it has appeared at numerous festivals and has made three European tours. Recordings include the Bach's complete motets, both J.S. and C.P.E. Bach's Magnificats, the first American recording of the F Major and G minor masses, and three solo soprano cantatas featuring opera superstar Elizabeth Futral. “

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Added on: Jan 15, 2012 | Hits: 175

“Minstrels Gallery were formed to bring early music to a new audience. It has been our experience that there is a genuine interest amongst people would not normally attend a "classical" music concert. The often lively and rhythmic vivacity of the music along with the unusual sound and appearance of the many instruments we play sparks the imagination of our listeners. This was born out by a series of informal concerts held in the Great Hall of the British Museum. A very diverse and mixed audience showed a lot of interest and asked many questions about the music and its performance.

This experience has led Minstrels Gallery to develop a number of concert formats where we not only perform but also explain the music, instruments and their historic setting. This along with our school visits, where children are given the opportunity to play on the many instruments we bring, has convinced us of the enduring delight that early music can create.  …“

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Added on: Dec 28, 2011 | Hits: 147

“The early music ensemble Mean Time was founded in 2003 in Greenwich, with the aim of creating innovative and varied programmes of music which are accessible, and appeal to a wide range of audiences.  Specialising in work with the recorder they are also proficient at singing and playing the baroque flute and harpsichord.  Often praised for their versatility they cover repertoire spanning the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods as well as a little contemporary music. 

All members studied early music at Trinity College of Music or The Royal College of Music under the direction of Philip Thorby and Ashley Solomon.  Since leaving college they have all enthusiastically entered the teaching profession and enjoy enriching the lives of young people through music.  They also enjoy delivering workshops and are committed to charity work having particularly enjoyed a project which took music into hospitals.  Performing regularly all over the country the group has played in venues such as Wistow Church as part of The Leicester Early Music Festival, Charlton House, The Greenwich Maritime Museum and St. Alfege Church.“

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Added on: Dec 28, 2011 | Hits: 177

“Fires of Love, the critically acclaimed early music quartet specialising in innovative programmes of Renaissance and early Baroque chamber music,  combining a stunning array of instruments with soprano and baritone voices. …

Fires of Love present music of the period 1500-1700 in an accessible and historically informed style. The music is colourful, dramatic and lively.  Informative programmes focus on lute and guitar songs, set amongst instrumental ensembles, solos, recent discoveries and the group’s own arrangements.   The repertoire spans the breadth of Europe; the unique voice of the Spanish renaissance, the royal courts of war torn 17th century France, the flowering of the Italian baroque and the golden age of Elizabethan lute song.  Instruments include lutes, archlute, theorbo, vihuela, baroque guitar, four-course guitar, recorders (from bass to garklein) and percussion.”

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Added on: Dec 28, 2011 | Hits: 241

“A Companye of Strangers performs Medieval and Tudor music, song and dance, as yeomen and women, or as courtiers. We are based in Kent, and have been taking part in all manner of events in England, France and Germany since 1993, and can provide entertainment for Medieval or Tudor banquets, re-enactment events, festivals, markets, ceilidhs, weddings and parties. We are also happy to teach the audience some of our simpler dances so that they may join in the fun.

Please note that we are not a living history group – our primary aim is to entertain!

We are always happy to welcome new members, men or women – no experience required.”

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Added on: Dec 15, 2011 | Hits: 198

“The Longslade Consort is a small group of musicians dedicated to bringing the highest standards of small consort music to the widest possible audience. Members of the group have performed on local radio, in nineteen Cathedrals, stately homes and numerous Parish Churches. They have also devised many Baroque dinners with 18thC food and music. The group has performed in the Barbican foyer, at the Edinburgh and Glasgow Early Music Festival Fringes and has appeared several times at the International Music Festival at Sidmouth. They make regular appearances at the annual Leicester Castle Park Festival. They are particularly noted for their lighthearted introduction to the World of Early Music.

The Longslade Consort's collection of early musical instruments includes a set of Renaissance recorders, crumhorns, cornamuse, gemshorn, rauschpfeife, rackett, shawm, sordune, spinet, harpsichord, viol da gamba, an assortment of percussion including nakers and timbrel and a vast number of Baroque recorders. Apart from the recorders, most were made by the group's Director, John Bence. The woodwind are mostly based on originals in the Brussels' Collection and the spinet is a copy of an early 18th century original in a private collection.

The group's first CD - "Music from the Mists of Time" is a lighthearted look at the World of Early Music with a wide-ranging selection of instruments from the Consort's collection, coupled with some great pieces from the Baroque, featuring Handel, Scarlatti and Telemann. A second CD, "A Window to the Past," presents a further selection of music from the group's vast repertoire.

"The members of the consort are remarkably versatile and accomplished musicians adept at performing on all manner of early instruments - many of which were made by John Bence, the group’s founder.” Leicester Mercury, August 2007.

"The second half concentrated on the Baroque with works by Vivaldi, Handel and Loeillet, all stylishly played by the Consort. John Bence, the Consort’s founder and director, introduced the music with his customary mixture of wit and erudition.” Leicester Mercury August 2008 - Neil Crutchley

"With informative narration by John Bence, this was an absorbing musical and educational experience. This concert was entertaining, informative, displayed fine musicianship and ably demonstrated some of the Genius of the Baroque composers. " Leicester Mercury 2011.”

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Added on: Dec 12, 2011 | Hits: 235

Luca Mereu: baroque mandoline
Elisabetta Fardelli:  harpsichord

“The Pizzico Ensemble was created with the intent to promote a repertoire dedicated to compositions for harpsichord, mandolin, vocals and strings now forgotten. The repertoire experienced its heyday in the eighteenth century along with a lot of mandolin composers such as: Paganini, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, Vivaldi and others. …”

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Added on: Dec 03, 2011 | Hits: 205

“… ANIMA – musica mundana humana et instrumentalis is now nearing its twentieth anniversary. The group's concerts are the result of intensive research into performance based on the music of non-lettered communities located far from urban centers in Brazil, and the music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance in Europe. ANIMA constantly weaves dialog between ethnomusicology, historical musicology, and contemporary hermeneutics and theater, thus staging a musical story in which time is non- linear, with presentation and stage as ritualized space-time for musical realization in the full sense of the term. Europe's Middle Ages and Renaissance come together on the stage in the music of Brazil's non-urban oral tradition, with arrangements devised by the performers themselves, or proposed by members of the group and their guests. Their repertoire is structured and arranged on the basis of a central theme in a space-time-instrument intersection, using the language of chamber music to stage ongoing dialog between past and present, popular and classical culture.

The group has recorded the following CDs: Espiral do Tempo, winner of the 1997 Brazilian Popular Music Award in the category 'best instrumental CD', and the (1998) São Paulo Art Critics Association (APCA) award in the category 'best chamber-music ensemble'. In 1999, as part of the commemorations of the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Brazil, Anima recorded the CD Teatro do Descobrimento, conceived and directed by singer Anna Maria Kieffer. In 2000, Especiarias (CD) won the 5th Carlos Gomes Award for classical music (made by the State of São Paulo Secretariat for Culture) in the category 'best chamber-music ensemble'. Amares (CD) was sponsored by REDE electric company in 2003. Espelho (CD and DVD) was produced 2006 – 2008 and both were sponsored exclusively by PETROBRAS. …”

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Added on: Nov 28, 2011 | Hits: 225

“The Hungarian early music group Affetti Musicali, founded by the Hungarian musicologist János Malina in 1984, specialises in the historic performance of 17th- and 18th-century (and, in a few cases, later) vocal chamber music, both sacred and secular. Cantatas, duets, solo motets etc. alternate in their programs with contemporary sonatas and trio sonatas. The repertoire of the ensemble is extremely rich and exciting: they often unearth and perform virtually unknown masterpieces of great composers from Carissimi to Hasse. Their creed is that the music of past centuries, once revived and given proper performance, will become organic part of our modern culture. Affetti Musicali propagates this belief, live and through their records, across Europe.”

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Added on: Nov 28, 2011 | Hits: 155

“Palladians (formerly the Palladian Ensemble) is a quartet of the highest calibre, firmly established on the international music scene since 1991. They present baroque chamber music infused with style, uninhibited virtuosity and intelligent musicianship.

The original members of the Palladian Ensemble (Rachel Podger, Pamela Thorby, Joanna Levine and William Carter) met during their studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) where they specialised in virtuoso chamber music of the baroque period. In 1991 they won the Early Music Centre International Young Artists' Competition, in 1992 they won the South East Arts Young Artists' Platform and by 1993 they had released their first album (An Excess of Pleasure) and made their Wigmore Hall debut.

Gamba player Susanne Heinrich replaced cellist Joanna Levine in 1995 and the Palladian Ensemble went on to tour extensively throughout the UK, South America, the US and Europe, enjoying consistent popularity with audiences and critics worldwide. They recorded six more albums on the way. By 2003 Rachel Podger decided to pursue a solo career and thus stepped in the prize-winning violinist Rodolfo Richter. The Ensemble made two more albums Les Elemens and Sonatas and Chorales - J.S. Bach.

The Palladian Ensemble's award-winning series of recordings for Linn Records have received unanimous praise. An Excess of Pleasure, A Choice Collection and Held by the Ears won the prestigious Diapason d'Or, with others winning Gramophone Magazine 'Editor's Choice' plaudits.

In 2007 Pamela Thorby left the Ensemble in order to pursue new performance opportunities. Nowadays, the Palladian Ensemble is known as "Palladians" allowing more artistic freedom for players to come and go as required, depending on the programme being performed.

In 2008 the Ensemble won a further two Diapason d'Or awards for "The London Collection: A Choice Collection / Held by the Ears" and "The Venice Collection: An Excess of Pleasure / The Winged Lion".  The winning albums are part of four double albums re-issued as the Collector's Series in September 2008.  These two new awards brings the Ensemble's total number of Diapason d'Or accolades to seven! “

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Added on: Nov 25, 2011 | Hits: 232

“La Serenissima was formed in 1994 for a performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s La Senna festeggiante (RV 693) and has now firmly established itself as one of the leading exponents of the music of Antonio Vivaldi and his Italian contemporaries.

La Serenissima has been universally applauded by publications such as Gramophone Magazine, The Sunday Times, BBC Music Magazine, Diapason, Fanfare Magazine, American Record Guide, The Independent, The Strad, La Stampa, Gaudisc, Goldberg Magazine and the London Evening Standard for its performances and recordings on the AVIE label. They have made nine recordings to date and received Gramophone Award nominations in 2008, 2009 and 2010. 2009 also saw ‘Vivaldi — The French Connection’ selected for Gramophone Magazine’s Editor’s Choice and in 2010 this record won a Gramophone Award. Their latest recording, ‘Vivaldi — Gods, Emperors & Angels’ was Record of the Week on Classic FM and on US stations WQXR and KDFC. Both albums reached the top ten of the US Billboard (Classical) Charts in 2010.”

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Added on: Nov 25, 2011 | Hits: 278

“Rachel Podger is one of the most creative talents to emerge in the field of period performance. Over the last two decades she has established herself as a leading interpreter of the music of the Baroque and Classical periods and holds numerous recordings to her name ranging from early seventeenth century music to Mozart. She was educated in Germany and in England at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she studied with David Takeno and Micaela Comberti.

Added on: Nov 25, 2011 | Hits: 204

“The William Byrd Vocal Ensemble was founded in 1981. The choirperforms a cappella music, though occasionally with accompaniment (piano, baroque ensemble) are used. The repertoire includes the entire choral literature of the last five hundred years.“

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 165

“Conducted by Fritz Heller, the ensemble's repertoire focuses on music of the 16th century, including music from the Middle Ages and the early baroque period.

Repertoire by several big name composers like Josquin Desprez, Heinrich Isaac, Ludwig Senfl as well as lesser known ones, such as Johan Stokes, Lambertus de Monte de Ponta Adamus, are included in the programmes of the ensemble.

The main genres of music Rabaskadol perform are Motets, madrigals, instrumental fantasias, dance music.”

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 180

“La Barca Leyden derives its name from the two songs 'La Barca' ('the boat') and 'Fortuna guida' of 1611 of the Leiden composer, musician and organist of the city and Peter Hooglandse church Schuyt Cornelis (1557-1616). Together, the songs are a blessing and also an allusion to his own name: 'May the boat send Fortuna!'

This Baroque ensemble was founded in 2007 by flutist Raymond Honing and consists of prominent musicians who have specialised in authentic performance practice of early music and has a home in Leiden. La Barca Leyden joins the rich musical history of the city and revitalises Leiden as a residence by choice. La Barca Leyden starts where Cornelis Schuyt ended: in the early Baroque and occurs in both small and large occupation. “

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 175

“The mezzo-soprano Anne Marieke Evers and the blockflute player Anita Orme Della Marta met at the beginning of their musical studies at the Conservatorium of Amsterdam in September 1997. They formed a duo shortly after, specializing in both contemporary music as well as medieval and renaissance music. Later in their careers, their paths led them to pursue further studies in medieval music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Switzerland, where they met the other ensemble members of Grand Désir. It was here that a common interest in the late-medieval music brought the group together in December 2004. Aside a few fixed members, Grand Désir likes to work with different musicians for each individual programme, thus creating the flexibility to obtain the perfect instrumentation for each project. Grand Désir performed their premiere in the ‘Fringe’ programme of the Utrecht Early Music Festival 2005. The ensemble has given numerous performances since in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Australia.”

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 220

“Fortuna presents a fresh approach to late medieval polyphony – brilliant voices, high-pitched instruments and vivacious tempi – thus Fortuna creates the distinctive sound the ensemble achieved critical acclaim for, both in The Netherlands and abroad.

 Fortuna performs Ars Nova from unknown manuscripts like Utrecht 6E37II as well as the works of famous composers like Guillaume de Machaut, Guillaume Dufay and Johannes Ciconia. Thereby always transforming meticulous research into the spontaneous music making that established the ensemble’s reputation in the field of Early Music – a performance today’s audiences can relate to: Early Music in Context.

Fortuna has participated in Early Music Festivals and chamber music festivals in The Netherlands and abroad, such as the Festival of Flanders Antwerp (Laus Polyphoniae), the Early Music Festival SEVIQC (Slovenia), the Festival de Musique Ancienne (Paris), and the Holland Early Music Festival (Utrecht). Concerts by Fortuna are broadcast by Dutch radio and television.”

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Added on: Nov 24, 2011 | Hits: 166