EarlyMusicNews.Org

In just a few years, Concerto Soave has become a leading reference in the interpretation of Italian music of the Seicento. Born from the meeting of soprano Maria Cristina Kiehr and harpsichordist Jean-Marc Aymes, the ensemble draws together soloists specialised in the 17th century repertoire, essentially Italian. The ensemble takes the form of a Concerto in the historical sense:  « an instrumental jewel case richly coloured (archlute, harp, viola da gamba, violins, harpsichord, organ...) destined to enshrine one or more voices ».

Every concert and recording of Concerto Soave, with L’Empreinte Digitale and now under an exclusive contract with Harmonia Mundi, has been unanimously praised by audiences and critics alike. The ensemble is regularly invited to the most prestigious festivals: Utrecht, Ambronay, Montreux, Bruges, Innsbruck, Nantes (« La Folle Journée »), and performs in major European cities: Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon, London, Brussels, Berlin…as well as in the USA and Canada.

María Cristina Kiehr, soprano
Over a number of years, María Cristina Kiehr has come to be recognised as one of the greatest interpreters of baroque music. She combines suavity of timbre with an accurate respect for text, which she defends with humility and warmth. Perhaps it is her Argentine nationality and her Danish origins which create a magical combination of warm Latin sensuality and great musical and stylistic rigour?

Following study with René Jacobs, she has participated in countless concerts and opera productions with the most renowned conductors (René Jacobs, Philippe Herreweghe, Franz Bruggen, Jordi Savall, Gustav Leonhardt, Nikolaus Harnoncourt...), and with the most prestigious ensembles (Hesperion XXI, Concerto Köln, Ensemble 415, Seminario Musicale, Concerto Vocale, Elyma, La Fenice...). She has travelled around the world (Europe, Japan, Australia, Central and South America..) and has taken part in more than one hundred recordings. Her passion for Italian monody of the 17th Century is fully expressed with Concerto Soave, of which she is co-founder with Jean-Marc Aymes. Maria Cristina Kiehr reveals her talents as a story-teller, careful to express the most minute details of the nuova musica, which makes her not only a singer with a unique timbre, but an accomplished artist.

Jean-Marc Aymes, organ, harpsichord & direction
Jean-Marc Aymes is one of the most brilliant harpsichordists of his generation. He has recorded Girolamo Frescobaldi’s entire music for keyboard, all the volumes of which (Primo Libro delle Toccate and Capricci) have been greeted with critical acclaim in the international specialised press (Diapason d’Or, Joker from Belgian magazine Crescendo, 5 Goldberg…).

Jean-Marc Aymes is the artistic director of Concerto Soave. He founded the group, now considered a reference for the interpretation of early Italian baroque music, with the Argentinian soprano, Maria Cristina Kiehr. Recordings for the Harmonia Mundi label have won a succession of international prizes. He travels the world with Concerto Soave (U.K, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Austria, U.S.A, Canada...) performing in some of the most prestigious early music festivals. He has played with a wide range of early music groups (Janequin, Talens Lyriques, Grande Ecurie, Daedalus, Akademia...) and still performs regularly with the ensemble La Fenice, conducted by his great friend Jean Tubéry, also an Italian music specialist. He has participated in more than sixty recordings and innumerable concerts and radio broadcasts. He is also known for his contributions to the word of contemporary music as a concert and recording artist with Marseille’ ensemble Musicatreize. He is now the artistic director of the “Mars en baroque” festival in Marseille.

Added on: Jan 20, 2011 | Hits: 282

“L’Astrée was born in Turin in 1991 and specializes in early music instrumental repertoire with the use of original instruments.

The ensemble takes its name from a combination of François Couperin Le Grand  and that of the one of his trio sonatas called L'Astrée.”

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Tags: Fondazione Academia Montis Regalis Onlus

Added on: Apr 24, 2011 | Hits: 282

“Art's Delight is a duo that performs popular music of the 18th century, at historic sites, re-enactments and special events of every kind. It consists of Bobbie Wayne and Dan Mozell who have been performing together for the past 24 years. Their 18th century repertoire combines dance music and airs with revolutionary songs, love ballads, drinking songs and more.“

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Added on: May 16, 2009 | Hits: 283

"The Haydn Lute Trio was formed in 2000 and has been delighting audiences since with its widely varied programmes featuring the 18th century lute and theorbo in ensemble. Following the critically acclaimed ‘Lute music for a Princess’ CD (for ASV Gaudeamus) the trio have regularly featured in arts festival, music society and educational programmes contrasting rarely heard early classical Lute trios by Haydn and his contemporaries with the great violin sonatas of Bach, Handel and Corelli, using the theorbo as continuo. The Trio also include French 18th century repertoire in their concerts, with the pièces de théorbe en partition taken from the 1716 publication of Louis 14th’s court theorbist, Robert de Visée. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 17, 2008 | Hits: 284

“Drawn from three continents, musicians from My Lady's Chamber have studied in New York, Brisbane and Toronto as well as in London at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music. The group aims to communicate the passion of the Baroque, whilst retaining its essential poise and elegance. ..“

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Added on: Apr 18, 2010 | Hits: 284

"Charivari Agréable is recognized as ‘one of the classiest baroque bands’ (The Observer), and ‘certainly one of the most original and versatile groups on the Early Music scene today’ (Hexachord), whose musical ‘intuitions are always captivating’ (Goldberg). The group has been hailed for its ‘thinking musicians who treat music of the past more creatively’ via their arrangements of music, ‘based on a greater knowledge of the historical and social contexts for the music’. They represent ‘a new and very exciting phase of the early music revival, one that enriches the existing repertory and can bring us ever closer to the spirit of the original music’ (Gramophone).

Under the artistic direction of Susanne Heinrich and the musical leadership of Kah-Ming Ng, the ensemble specializes in the ingenious use of period instruments to produce ‘ravishing sonorities and full-bodied textures’ (Gramophone) with ‘their powerful cohesion, warm sound, and their eloquent authority’ (Diapason). The group has ‘carved something of a niche for itself in imaginative and well-thought-out programming’; ‘its work is the fruit of both scholarly research and charismatic musicianship, a combination that puts it at the forefront of period-instrument ensembles’ (BBC Music Magazine). With a chronological remit spanning epochs from the Renaissance to the early classical, the ensemble appears in many guises, from a continuo band (accompanying the recitals of such artists as Emma Kirkby, John Holloway and Simon Standage), a viol consort, and an Elizabethan mixed consort, to a baroque orchestra and many other surprising - yet historical - combinations. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 23, 2008 | Hits: 285

Kotchnak, founded in 1976, performs traditional Armenian folk songs as well as songs by ashoughs, or troubadours, especially those of Sayat Nova who lived in the 18th century.

Kotchnak has performed in numerous cities of Europe and North America.

Kotchnak specializes in the modal and monophonic interpretation of Armenian music.

Ensemble based in Paris.

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Added on: Jan 08, 2011 | Hits: 285

"The ensemble anima mea, founded by the Berlin Barocktrompeterin Ute Hartwich, is composed of internationally popular soloists. The goal of the young ensemble is to perform little-known works of chamber music for trumpet and strings. The first CD of Anima Mea - Musik der Hofkapelle zu Kremsier - gained international excellent reviews and awards. " (Google tranlsation) Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 03, 2008 | Hits: 287

“La Nuova Musica is a vocal and instrumental ensemble dedicated to the music of the European Renaissance and Baroque. In less than five years since its foundation by counter-tenor David Bates, it has shot to prominence in the UK and abroad. Already a regular guest at the foremost Early Music venues and festivals, including King’s Place, Wigmore Hall and the Aldeburgh, Spitalfields and London Handel festivals, La Nuova Musica is establishing itself amongst critics and audiences as both a fixture and a breath of fresh air. …”

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Added on: Feb 08, 2012 | Hits: 288

"The Athestis Chorus & Academia de li Musici is the only permanent, large-scale vocal and instrumental ensemble in Italy that specialises in the performance practice of baroque and classical masses, oratories and cantatas. Established in 1993 by its conductor, Filippo Maria Bressan, the ensemble has an extensive repertoire that encompasses composers from the early 17th century to the early 19th century. Committed to researching its repertoire, developing its performance practice and revitalising the early music of Europe, the ensemble has given numerous modern-day performances of long-forgotten masterpieces such as Francesco Cavalli’s Vespro della Beata Vergine and Grande Messa Concertata, Benedetto Marcello’s Miserere, Requiem and Arianna, and Baldassarre Galuppi’s Messa per San Marco. Recordings of these performances have been enthusiastically received in the UK, France, Germany, Canada and Japan. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 24, 2008 | Hits: 289

“Baroque flutist Mary Oleskiewicz and harpsichordist David Schulenberg have been performing together since 1997. Specialists in Baroque music for flute and keyboard, each has an international reputation not only as a performer but as a scholar. They have presented recitals, public lectures, and demonstrations throughout Europe, North America, and Japan.

The world-premiere recording of the Six Flute Quartets by Johann Joachim Quantz by the Oleskiewicz-Schulenberg Duo and Friends was released in 2004. ..“

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Added on: Feb 08, 2010 | Hits: 289

"Since its founding in 1979, Music's Re-creation has performed to high acclaim in both Europe and America, including appearances at the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music in London, York Early Music Festival (U.K.), Kilkenny Festival (Ireland), the Music in Old Krakow Festival (Poland), Carmel Bach Festival, and the Berkeley Festivals. Their CD recordings of music by Clerambault, Telemann, and Leclair on London's Meridian label have received praise from critics worldwide. Their four newest recordings on the Centaur label feature the music of C.P.E. Bach, Marin Marais, Georg Philipp Telemann, and William Lawes.

Well known for their performances of trios, quartets, and chamber cantatas from the Baroque era, the group has also expanded in size to perform such large-scale works as Monteverdi's Vespers of the Blessed Virgin, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, famous operatic arias by Handel, and concerti by J.S. Bach. Over the years Music's Re-creation has collaborated in concert with a long list of distinguished guest artists, including Jaap Schroder, Stanley Ritchie, Andrew Parrott, Nicholas McGegan, Nancy Argenta, James Bowman, Judith Nelson, Derek Lee Ragin, Jennifer Lane, and Julianne Baird.

Music's Re-creation has held artistic residencies with the University of Washington in Seattle and the Renaissance and Baroque Society of Pittsburgh and is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The ensemble's name was inspired by Jean-Marie Leclair's Recreation de Musique (1736), and John Playford's Musick's Recreation on the Viol (1682).

Added on: Mar 02, 2008 | Hits: 290

"The baroque ensemble was founded in 1999 in basel, where all the members of the group studied early music at the schola cantorum basiliensis. The repertoire of la cecchina goes from the end of XVI century until the end of XVII century, during this period the poliphony leaves the protagonism to the accompanied modody, and that offers the possibility to create bridges between two different styles that always appeared clearly separated: the renaissance and the baroque. The ensemble tries to express the way the music of this period developed.
since the founding of la cecchina the ensemble has appeared at various festivals in france, spain, italy, belgium and switzerland. in 2005 the swiss radio drs recorded the group's interpretation of francesca caccini's compositions. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 18, 2008 | Hits: 291

"Bel Fiore Dança is dedicated to ancient music repertoire and popular music, both instrumental and voice ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 18, 2008 | Hits: 291

“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: 293

"Les Nations, founded by Maria Luisa Baldassari, is a musical group composed by musicians trained in historical performance of baroque and renaissance music, with an improved experience both in practical music, research fields and teaching in conservatories, musical schools, stages and masterclasses. Les Nations has played in many Italian and European festivals. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 01, 2008 | Hits: 294

“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: 294

" German viol player, Peter Wendland and English harpsichordist, David Roblou, are long-established international artists, known on CD through their work with leading early music ensembles: The Rose Consort of Viols and The New London Consort, as well as numerous individual solo appearances worldwide.

After 10 years' giving occasional concerts together, Peter and David have decided to create a new ensemble and are currently offering three innovative programmes: Bach, and two new mixed programmes demonstrating the extraordinary variety of the repertoire, as well as the versatility and imagination of the artists. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 08, 2008 | Hits: 295

"With music of the 18th and early 19th centuries, the orchestra, founded in 1985, has earned itself a unique image. Every musician of this independent ensemble may contribute his or her own ideas and each piece is worked through in detail by all involved, This concertanre, or "co-operative collaboration" is the trademark of Concerto Köln. On e can hear it and experience it! " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 17, 2008 | Hits: 295

“Vision:

Publick Musick seeks to be America's premier period instrument orchestra and choir dedicated to the performance of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Mission:

Publick Musick seeks to achieve its vision through consummate performances of passion and power; devoting equal attention to both vocal and instrumental development and deriving inspiration from the work of the greatest figures of the Early Music revival. All vocal soloists are drawn from the choir, giving Publick Musick's sound a unique combination of clarity and strength. Instrumentalists are leading specialists in period instrument performance and all members share not only a passion for bringing Bach's music to the widest possible audience, but also a dedication to a performance tradition that combines great music making with historical research. ..“

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Added on: Apr 19, 2009 | Hits: 295

"Pro Musica Antiqua Oslo was formed in 1969. Using period instruments and performing in an historically informed style, they make medieval and renaissance music come to life in spontaneous and thrilling performances. PMA has toured in Scandinavia and Germany (Musikfestival Schleswig-Holstein, Festival for medieval music in Montalbane), and has recorded two CDs: "Valravnen", renaissance music from Denmark-Norway was well recieved by the press in 1995. "Cantio", church and school songs from Piae Cantiones (1999 - Simax classics) was called "the most successful recording of medieval music ever from a Norwegian ensemble".

Hans Olav Gorset, the director of the ensemble, co-founded the original PMA, Oslo, and teaches flute, recorder, and performance practice at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo. He also performs regularly as a soloist and in other groups, has made hundreds of radio programs about early music for the Norwegian radio, builds historical instruments, and for more than 20 years he taught students from all over the world at the Ringve Museum International Summer Course for Early Music. His research into the popular music of Denmark-Norway in the 17th and 18th century has been fruitful: The CD "For Citizens and Peasants", Norwegian popular music from 18th century manuscripts, was nominated to the Norwegian Gramophone Prize for 1990 (Spellemannsprisen). His solo recording of the flute music of the French composer Pierre Philidor (1681-1731) has received excellent reviews in the international music periodicals.

PRO MUSICA ANTIQUA, OSLO is a flexible group, from three to 7 musicians and singers. For certain projects they also invite choirs and local performers to join them. For the most part they are 2 singers and 3-5 instrumentalists. The current line-up is Marit Isaksen Solstrand, soprano and Staale Ytterli, baritone, Gisela Attinger and Elizabeth Gaver, fiddles and rebec, Vegard Lund, lutes and Hans Olav Gorset, flutes and recorders. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 12, 2008 | Hits: 296

"The mythic figure of Orpheus – who moved men, beasts, woods, and rocks with the music of his lyre – is considered the patron saint of all musicians. When Claudio Monteverdi wrote his opera “L’Orfeo: in 1607, he introduced a completely new style of music which influenced generations of composers after him. La Gente D’Orfeo (The People of Orpheus) was formed in 2001 to play the chamber music repertoire of 17th century Italy, the time when Monteverdi’s new style began to flourish in the works of other composers as well.

La Gente has performed at the University of Michigan’s Museum of Art in connection with its exhibit “Women Who Ruled: Queens, Goddesses, Amazons 1500-1650,” and at the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Fine Arts Friday Series, and has recently collaborated with the vocal ensemble, Vox, at the DIA for the opening of the exhibit “Magnificenza! The Medici, Michelangelo, and the Art of Late Renaissance Florence,” as well as on the Academy of Early Music’s 2002-2003 concert series in Ann Arbor. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 03, 2008 | Hits: 296

"Brooklyn Baroque debuted in the fall of 2000, when cellist David Bakamjian joined the long-standing duo of baroque flutist Andrew Bolotowsky and harpsichordist Rebecca Pechefsky. Since then, the group has performed frequently in the New York area and has been invited to play in other states across the country. The trio is the ensemble-in-residence at the eighteenth-century Morris-Jumel Mansion, where it performs in a yearly series. Brooklyn Baroque specializes in the music of Bach and his contemporaries, but its concerts often range further back into the seventeenth century or as far forward as Beethoven. About the ensemble’s debut CD, Northern Lights (QC 1005), Christopher Chaffee in the American Record Guide has written: “I cannot stop listening to this recording . . . The playing is fantastic—sensitive, well shaped, and engaging.” Brooklyn Baroque’s second recording, The Pleasures of the French (QC 1007), also won critical acclaim. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Aug 06, 2008 | Hits: 296

"Il Circolo delle Quinte Vuote”is a vocal and instrumental group which was formed in 1992 by musicians who share the same interest for ancient music.

Italian Renaissance and Baroque music, played with copies of original instruments, and according to a filologic lecture, is the main activity of the ensemble

The group gives several concerts every year, in Italy as well as abroad, always meeting the extreme favour of all kind of spectators.

“Il Circolo” took part in theatrical performances, as well as in international festivals such as the International Music Campus in Latina; the Festival Latina Musica Oggi; the second edition of the International Festival of Ancient Music in Avellino; the International Ferrara Buskers’ Festival; in Germany, Dachau and Munchen; in Prague, in the beautiful baroque frame of Nostilz Palace, at the presence of some members of both the italian and the czech Embassies, and of the Italian Culture Institute; in the International Ancient Music Festival in Var in France, etc. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jun 29, 2008 | Hits: 297

“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