EarlyMusicNews.Org

"The Bach Players is a collective of like-minded musicians who are drawn together by their passion for the music of J.S. Bach: our enduring inspiration and the apotheosis of the Baroque. We play on original instruments and all vocal music is sung in its original language. We play without a conductor, and with forces that are as small as possible (mostly single strings and single voices). A genuine spirit of enquiry and reassessment pervades all aspects of our performance. Founded in 1996, we established a series of programmes of Bach cantatas in St John’s Wood Parish Church in London. There we began to introduce some of these lesser-known works to a wider audience. As a result of this we have been invited to play all over Britain and have built up a faithful following. In 1999 we were invited to perform the St John Passion for the opening of the Berliner Bachtage. We have recently started to make programmes in which Bach is linked to other composers. " View website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 09, 2008 | Hits: 499

"La Stravanganza Köln was founded in 1988. After a formative phase the orchestra found an important partner in the English violinist Andrew Manze who directed it for six years. His growing commitments with The Academy of Ancient Music forced his departure and led to a series of exciting projects under various leaders. International invitations led the orchestra to Holland, France, Austria, Italy, Spain and the USA. The internationally renowned violinist Veronika Skuplik has led the orchestra since 1999. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 495

"Contrasto Armonico is an orchestra which focuses on early music, especially music composed in the Italian style. It was founded in 2004 by Marta Semkiw and Marco Vitale (artistic director and conductor), and established with the support of De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek. The orchestra is made up of young professional musicians from all over the world who meet regularly in Holland. The birth of the orchestra was celebrated in Delft (NL) with two productions of Handel operas: “Siroe, Re di Persia” and “Lotario”. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 484

“London Early Opera  is a new baroque ensemble whose members are leading exponents of early music and consist of a flexible number of singers, soloists and instrumentalists. The aim is to showcase treasures of the baroque era using a fine balance of instrumentalists and singers, which can be tailored to suit a particular space or venue. LEO links dramatic music and singing with narration and art history to create magical performances.  
 
The group is directed by harpsichordist, conductor and early music specialist Bridget Cunningham and has performed to acclaim at Southwark Cathedral and in a programme for Advent at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Their recent 'Handel in Italy' concert at St James' Church, Piccadilly was met with great success. …”

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Added on: Sep 07, 2011 | Hits: 483

"The Bach Collegium Japan was founded in 1990 by Masaaki Suzuki, who remains its music Director, with the aim of introducing Japanese audiences to period instrument performances of great works from the baroque period. BCJ is comprised of both baroque orchestra and chorus, and their major activities include an annual concert series of Bach’s cantatas and a number of instrumental programs. " ...

Added on: Aug 14, 2007 | Hits: 481

Al Ayre Español was founded in 1988 by Eduardo López Banzo with the objective of avoiding the mistaken clichés that often surrounded the performance of Spanish baroque music. The spirit of the ensemble made this possible thanks to musicological rigor, performance excellence and with the main purpose of giving new breath to music from the past, making them appear as recent compositions, and then offering them to the contemporary audience.

The name of the ensemble was inspired by the title for a guitar Fugue of the Calanda (Aragón) composer, Gaspar Sanz. In this Fugue he indicated the musician to play with "ayre español" (in the Spanish way). Unfortunately, precisely what that meant has remained in the 17th Century.

With the passing of the time, Al Ayre Español has become not only a prestigious ensemble, but moreover a performance philosophy, finally giving meaning to the Gaspar Sanz's indication. This has been achieved through lot of reflection, performance and mastery. Al Ayre Español is now a way of performing and enjoying music that Eduardo López Banzo has being creating as a work-in-progress, recognisable, requested and acclaimed all over the world, and for all these reasons was awarded the 2004 Spanish National Music Prize.

The fact that Al Ayre Español is more than a specialised early music ensemble, that represents the musical philosophy "al ayre español", has allowed the project to be flexible. This has made it possible to adapt itself to different formats, as a baroque orchestra -acknowledged by its performances of Handel and Bach- and lately as a classical-romantic orchestra -with opera and concert performances of Haydn and Mozart.

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Added on: Jan 30, 2011 | Hits: 478

"Concerto Copenhagen is Scandinavia’s leading period instrument ensemble. Also known as "CoCo", the ensemble has since its establishment in 1991 become known for its lively and captivating performances and has become a favorite among audiences wherever it goes.

In 1999 the internationally acclaimed harpsichord player Lars Ulrik Mortensen became the ensemble’s artistic director. Mortensen is considered to be one of the leading harpsichordists and chamber musicians of our day.

With Lars Ulrik Mortensen as principal leader and artistic director, CoCo has embarked on an exciting artistic and musical journey, combining lesser-known repertoire of Scandinavian origin with the repertoire of the baroque and classical legacy, thus adding a fresh and Nordic flavor to the traditional concert repertoire. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 08, 2008 | Hits: 475

"Acclaimed by music critics as one of the finest period-instrument orchestras in the world, The Hanover Band has established an unrivalled reputation for the excellence of its performances and recordings of 18th and 19th century music. The orchestra has recently made two new appointments, Paul Brough becoming Principal Conductor and Andrew Arthur Associate Director, with immediate effect. Their list of principal conductors & guest directors over previous years reads like a Who’s Who of period instrument interpretation – Monica Huggett, Sir Charles Mackerras, Roy Goodman, Anthony Halstead, Nicholas McGegan, Richard Egarr, Nicholas Kraemer, Graham Lea-Cox, Jeffrey Skidmore & Adrian Butterfield. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 15, 2008 | Hits: 475

“Founded by Fabio Bonizzoni in 1995 as a vocal and instrumental group, La Risonanza has become a chamber orchestra devoted to 17th and 18th Century music. It frequently collaborates with guest choirs for programmes such as Handel's Messiah or Monteverdi's Vespers and invites regularly leading Italian singers like Roberta Invernizzi, Romina Basso, Raffaella Milanesi, Nuria Rial and Sergio Foresti.

Its intense concert activity brings the group all over Europe in the most important series: Santa Cecilia and Società del Quartetto in Italy, Festival of Utrecht, Quincena de San Sebastian, Festival de Cuenca, Festival de Santander, Teatro Real de Madrid, Bruges Festival and Concertgebouw,  Bozar Center in Brussels, Arsenal in Metz, Salle Gaveu in Paris...“

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Added on: May 17, 2009 | Hits: 461

"Founded in 1999 out of the "Courses of professional training on the interpretation of early music" (promoted by the Friends of Verona Conservatory and the Veneto Region with funding from the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Verona, Vicenza, Belluno e Ancona), the orchestra Il Tempio Armonico is made up of young musicians who play on historical instruments under the artistic and musical direction of Alberto Rasi. It is named after the Veronese concert season during which it gave its first performances.

Il Tempio Armonico was specially created to tackle the large orchestral repertory of the 17th and 18th centuries. It uses the instruments employed at the time, applies all the practical, theoretical, historical and aesthetic knowledge that permits one to tackle this repertory in accordance with the most authentic performance practice, and (what is even more important) aims to recreate all of the music's original appeal and vitality. Through its constant research Il Tempio Armonico has rediscovered (or reinterpreted under a different light) many fundamental works of the European musical scene, and has particularly explored the formidable artistic production that flourished in the territories of the Venetian Republic. This research began with the great Veronese musician Evaristo Felice Dall’Abaco (1675-1742), whose complete instrumental works have been presented on disc and in concert. It is due to be extended to other Veneto composers, including (of course) the most representative of all: Antonio Vivaldi. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 13, 2008 | Hits: 460

"The Bach Sinfonia is a Maryland-based non-profit organization that is dedicated to excellence in performance and public education regarding eighteenth-century music. Currently in its thirteenth season, Sinfonia presents a series of unique educational concerts, open dress rehearsals, and listening lectures regarding music from the eighteenth century. Sinfonia strives to create programs that differ from the standard classical music concert by providing performances that are not just listening entertainments but also learning experiences.

Each historically-informed performance is programmed on a theme chosen by artistic director and musicologist Daniel Abraham to inform the listener about the genres, sociology, and performance practices of the eighteenth century. Played by early music specialists, the programs are interspersed with musical and historical discussions aimed to help further audience appreciation and understanding of the music. The Washington Post and various area news organizations have recognized Sinfonia's continuing excellence in performance and education.

As part of our mission, Sinfonia also conducts research into music and performance techniques of the eighteenth-century. Throughout our past seasons, we have presented a number of significant modern-premieres and programs including: the first hearing in North America of Handel's Gloria (rediscovered in 2002), the modern premiere of Marie Emannuel Bayon-Louis' comic opera Fleur d'Épine, and the first complete performance in North America of Johann Sebastian Bach's Alles mit Gott und nichts mit ohn' ihn, BWV 1127 (rediscovered June 2005) in concert at the 2005 National Meeting of the American Musicological Society (AMS). The major work heard on the AMS program, Handel's Alexander's Feast, along with a recording of BWV 1127, was released internationally on Dorian Records in the fall of 2006. " See website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 12, 2008 | Hits: 458

" About Corelli Concerts Corelli Concerts began when Warwick Cole founded the Corelli Chamber Orchestra. Initially a modern-instrument string orchestra specialising in music of the 18th century, it soon developed its programming presenting 19th and 20th music in conjunction with its core repertoire. Although based in Cheltenham (England), it has performed throughout the UK for music festivals, societies and clubs.

Now, specialising in period-instrument performance we promote a varied series of concerts in and around Cheltenham as well as providing orchestras and ensembles for other concert promoters further afield.

We chose the name 'Corelli' in honour of Archangelo Corelli, the 17th-century Italian violinist and composer. Corelli's music is distinctive: it was he who first established the principles of melodic elegance twinned with harmonic control which was to become the foundation of much 18th-century music. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Mar 08, 2008 | Hits: 456

“The New Munich court orchestra was established in 1992 by specialists in the field of historical performance practice. It is unique In the Bavarian landscape. First and foremost, the orchestra is dedicated to the research, documentation and re-performance of the widely-forgotten musical treasures of the Bavarian residences, castles and monasteries, and aims at creating the music in its original environment: the historical rooms throughout Bavaria. ..“ (Google translate)

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Added on: May 17, 2009 | Hits: 454

Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: May 17, 2009 | Hits: 454

"Linden Baroque is a unique and much loved part of the British Early Music movement. Formed in 1982 by a group of early music enthusiasts in the front room of a house in Linden Gardens, Chiswick, (London) it combined the talents of a band of music students, young professionals and talented amateurs. Many of the original members now have prominent careers in the early music field and many of the dilettantes are still playing with the band.

It was one of the only 'original instrument' orchestras at that time to offer the opportunity of amateurs and professionals playing together; the newly emerging Early Music field had few boundaries and rules and everybody learned together how to tame their instruments and develop the performance styles.

Linden Baroque has kept true to its roots and to this day provides a very useful experience for many types of player; the advanced baroque instrument student from the colleges or from private teachers - we usually have at least one student from abroad (Israel, USA, Croatia, Spain, Argentina, Italy etc) playing with us -, the 'modern instrument' professional player making the transition to the baroque playing style, young professionals gaining experience 'between jobs' and talented dilettantes. We always play under an established leader and continuo player and many well-known professionals happily give up their time to play with Linden Baroque either as soloist or within the orchestra. The mixture of personnel within the band ensures that its spirited performances are always of high quality. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 15, 2008 | Hits: 453

“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: 450

"The orchestra La Stagione Frankfurt has for many years been counted among the most successful ensembles in the field of authentic music performance.

The versatility of the ensemble's director Michael Schneider on the one hand and the artistic flexibility of each of the musicians on the other, enable a convincing and authentic performance of a wide spectrum of works from the areas of baroque opera and oratorios through classical symphonic works to the performance of important pieces of the 20th century.

It is the discovery and performance of lesser known musical gems by composers such as F.I. Beck, A. Stradella, A. Scarlatti, I. Holzbauer and the sons of Bach coupled with the stimulating and authentic interpretation of the standard repertoire which characterises the artistic intention of La Stagione.

Performing regularly with well-known vocal and instrumental soloists, the invitations to important European festivals and concert venues as well as the numerous highly regarded recordings attest to the high reputation of La Stagione Frankfurt. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 17, 2008 | Hits: 448

"EARLY MUSIC NEW YORK - FREDERICK RENZ, DIRECTOR (EMNY) reaps international acclaim for vibrant and provocative performances of historically informed repertoire from the Middle Ages through the Classical eras. In New York City, EMNY can be heard/seen in an annual subscription series "In-Residence" at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, St. James Church (presented by the Early Music Foundation). In addition, EMNY is frequently invited to perform for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters, the Pierpont Morgan Library, the Hayden Planetarium, Columbia University, the Bronx Botanical Gardens, the Century Club, as well as other select New York City venues. ... "

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Added on: Aug 05, 2008 | Hits: 440

" Frans Brüggen founded the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, 50 members from 23 countries, in 1981.

Three, four or sometimes even more times a year the Orchestra gathers for an international tour. The musicians, all specialists in eighteenth and early nineteenth century music, play on period instruments or on contemporary copies. It is their intention to try to achieve the most authentic as possible performances of the masterpieces of the late baroque and classical era.

Frans Brüggen's wide ranging repertoire with his Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century includes works by Purcell, Bach, Rameau, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Mendelssohn.

In its structure and size, the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century resembles the luxurious "Classical" orchestras of the period as we know them from London, Paris and Vienna. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Jul 12, 2008 | Hits: 435

"The Welsh Baroque Orchestra (director, Andrew Wilson-Dickson) was formed in 1992 as a development of the amateur period group 'The Eighteenth-Century Singers and Players', which met for weekend courses in baroque playing, often under the guidance of Catherine Mackintosh. Since the early 90s, the Welsh Baroque Orchestra has given professional concerts from St David's in West Wales to Llandaf Cathedral to Bristol, making its first recording in 2000. In June 2003 it was relaunched to critical acclaim and, thanks to a grant from the Welsh Assembly Government, pursues a more intensive musical life across Wales and beyond. See our current concert plans.

The Welsh Baroque Orchestra is flexible, its size varying to fit the variety of earlier repertoire which is its speciality. From a few strings and continuo (harpsichord or organ and/or theorbo), the group can grow to 30 players, with wind and brass as needed. Its musical aim is vivid and exciting music-making through historical awareness, using period instruments alongside the stylistic techniques that go with them. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 20, 2008 | Hits: 434

Italina baroque orchestra. Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 431

"Capriccio Stravagante is world-renowned for their memorable interpretations of Renaissance and Baroque music. Founded in 1986 by Skip Sempé, the ensemble of 4-40 performers now incorporates Capriccio Stravagante, the Capriccio Stravagante Orchestra, the Capriccio Stravagante Renaissance Orchestra and Capriccio Stravagante Opera. The diverse vocal and instrumental formations feature the finest European, American and Canadian musicians. Their extensive discography includes music by Byrd, Monteverdi, Purcell, Bach, Buxtehude, Handel, Telemann, Lully and Couperin, as well as “Versailles – L’Ile Enchantée”, “Venezia Stravagantissima” (Alpha) and “Paradizo” (Paradizo). These recordings have made a considerable contribution to Capriccio Stravagante’s acceptance as the foremost interpretive force in Renaissance and Baroque repertoire to have emerged in decades. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 27, 2008 | Hits: 430

“Founded in 1997, the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra is a new-generation line-up offering its audiences a chance to enjoy early music in a fresh, distinctive presentation. The use of period instruments is part of the orchestra's striving to discover new perspectives on the performance of old masterworks in a communicative way.

Aapo Häkkinen started out as Artistic Director of the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra in 2003. His authoritative knowledge and personal vision have clearly profiled the orchestra, and it has become one of the most interesting ensembles in Finnish musical life today. In 2009 Riccardo Minasi took the position of Associate Director...“

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Added on: Jul 25, 2009 | Hits: 428

"The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is a world renowned orchestra which plays on original instruments to bring out the very best of classical music as it was intended to be heard.

Its players lead the Orchestra themselves with a commitment, enjoyment and energy which translates directly into the quality, vitality and dynamism of each performance.

The Orchestra has chosen to have no permanent music director; this flexibility allows it to work with some of the world's greatest conductors and soloists across a wide range of music.

The Orchestra's uniquely versatile and pioneering spirit of music making encourages a warmth and involvement which makes every performance an edge-of-the-seat experience for performers and audiences alike. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

Added on: Apr 17, 2008 | Hits: 425

"The Boston Camerata preserves and reawakens human memory as expressed through the art of music. It accomplishes this mission through live, historically informed, professional performances of European and American music of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras; through study and research into musical sources of the past; through sound recordings and media projects; and through community outreach and musical education.

Founded in 1954, The Boston Camerata was associated until 1974 with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Since 1968, Joel Cohen has directed the ensemble's teaching, research, recording and concert activities. Camerata began touring overseas in 1974, and has maintained an international presence ever since. In recent seasons, Camerata has been heard in Canada, England, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Israel.. In the United States, Camerata has participated in recent early music festivals at Berkeley and San Antonio, as well as in most of the biennial Boston Early Music Festivals from 1981 to 1993. The ensemble has maintained an extensive touring schedule across the entire United States. Camerata's second, third and fourth invitations to the renowned Tanglewood Festival came in 1992, 1994 and 1995, respectively. Camerata undertook its first Japanese tour in 1995; it gave its first Scandinavian performances in 1996. The group's first invitation to participate in the Kalamazoo Medieval Institute came in 1997. A widely praised national tour of Cantigas in 2000 marked Camerata’s first collaboration with the Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble; the two groups most recently appeared together in Paris in April, 2007. Camerata celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2005 with festive productions in Boston (Boston Early Music Festival) and Paris (Théatre de la Ville). At the latter appearance, director Joel Cohen was decorated by the French government. " See website for more details. (ed.)

Added on: Feb 18, 2008 | Hits: 424