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PERIOD INSTRUMENT ENSEMBLES | |
| Academy of Ancient Music | ||
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| The
original Academy of Ancient Music was established in 1726 for the
purpose of studying and performing 'old' music - defined initially as
music composed at least a century earlier, but soon to include more
contemporary composers, most notably Handel. The modern revival of The
Academy, founded by Christopher Hogwood in 1973, created one of the
first 'period-instrument' orchestras and is now renowned worldwide for
its concerts and recordings of music from the Baroque, Classical and
early Romantic eras. For choral works it is joined either by The Academy
of Ancient Music Chorus or a cathedral or collegiate choir with boys'
voices.
The Academy of Ancient Music is especially well known for its pioneering recordings under Christopher Hogwood for Decca. Having been the first orchestra to record all Mozart's symphonies on period instruments, The AAM has since recorded the complete piano concertos and symphonies of Beethoven, and is part-way through recording the complete Haydn symphonies and the complete Mozart piano concertos with fortepianist Robert Levin. The AAM under Hogwood has made a number of opera recordings for Decca, in particular working closely with Cecilia Bartoli. Their recording of Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito was awarded the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and a Grammy nomination, and has been followed by Haydn's Orfeo ed Euridice and Handel's Rinaldo, which won the Editor's Choice prize at the Gramophone Awards 2001. In 1996, the artistic directorship of The AAM was extended with the appointment of Paul Goodwin as Associate Conductor and Andrew Manze as Associate Director, both of whom record with Harmonia Mundi USA. Andrew Manze's recordings include Bach's violin concertos, Vivaldi's 'Concert for the Prince of Poland', the complete Concerti Grossi Op.6 of Handel (nominated for a Grammy), and the Concerti Grossi of Geminiani (after Corelli Op.5). The next Manze / AAM CD due for release is the Bach harpsichord concertos with soloist Richard Egarr. The commissioning of new works under Paul Goodwin represents a new development for the orchestra. The first commission and recording, John Tavener's Eternity's Sunrise, met with enthusiastic critical acclaim and led to a second Tavener recording, Total Eclipse, which was released in March 2001. A Strand of Scarlet by David Bedford received its premiere last season and in 2003 the orchestra will perform a new work by John Woolrich to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the birth of Corelli. Goodwin's other recordings with The AAM include Mozart's rare Singspiel Zaide and Christmas music by Schütz and his contemporaries. Several recording projects have also resulted in videos or television programmes. These include a South Bank Show filmed at Esterháza about Haydn's symphonies and a video of The AAM's performances in Salzburg of Mozart piano concertos played by Robert Levin on Mozart's own fortepiano. The majority of the AAM's work is outside the UK, especially in Europe but also paying regular visits to North and South America and Asia. Highlights of the 2000/2001 season included tours to the USA, Korea and Japan, and appearances at major European summer festivals including the BBC Proms, Dubrovnik, Bath and Rheingau. The 2001/02 Season features a 14-concert tour to the USA and the continued residency at St John's, Smith Square, London. February 2002 |
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| Representation:
Switzerland*, Liechtenstein *) not exclusive |
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