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CHOIRS | |
| Collegium Vocale Gent | ||
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the course of more than 30 years, the Collegium Vocale Gent has
established a truly world-wide reputation in the field of classical
music. This is clearly no mere chance occurrence but is the fruit of
years of consistent and methodical effort and artistic vision.
Founded in 1970 by Philippe Herreweghe, this group of singers was the first in the 1970s to apply the new principles of style for the performance of baroque music to vocal music. Instrumentalists had already been searching for a number of years for a performing style more in the line with the historical context. To this end, they referred back to original source material, which they subjected to detailed study, and made use of authentic period instruments. Consequently, it is not surprising that musicians such as Gustav Leonhardt,Ton Koopman and Nikolaus Harnoncourt soon expressed their interest in the parallel approach which the Flemish group had adopted in the field of vocal music. This resulted in an intense cooperation, both on stage and in recordings. Philippe Herreweghe has allways been conscious of the value of such a co-operation and for this reason the group still works regularly with different conductors (René Jacobs, Paul Van Nevel, Bernard Haitink, Daniel Reuss) and different orchestras such as the Freiburger Barock Orchester, the Concertgebouw Orchestra or the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The repertoire of Collegium Vocale Gent can not be trapped within one style period. The ensemble made an important contribution to the rediscovery of polyphonic renaissance music. Regularly the classical and romantic repertoire is programmed, as well as contemporary music. However the ensemble is and remains most known for its outstanding performances of German baroque music, in particular the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. At the end of the eighties the Orchestra of Collegium Vocale Gent was founded. Through it's close link with the choir, the orchestra has become an essential instrument performing this repertoire. Throughout the years Collegium Vocale Gent has made a wide collection of recordings. A cappella, together with the Orchestra of Collegium Vocale Gent, the Orchestre des Champs Elysées, the choir of La Chapelle Royale from Paris or with other vocal and instrumental ensembles, more than sixty recordings were made for the labels Harmonia Mundi France, Virgin Classics, Accent, Ricercar and Telefunken. The Collegium Vocale Gent is a regular guest at all major music festivals throughout Europe. The ensemble visited the United States, South America, Israel, Hong-Kong, Japan and Australia. Since 1993 the Collegium Vocale was appointed "Cultural Ambassador of Flanders" by the Flemish Government. The ensemble is also supported by the Province of East Flanders and the city of Ghent. March 2002 |
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| Representation:
Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Portugal
*) not exclusive
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