Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

Concerto Amsterdam is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1983 by the Dutch conductor and harpsichordist Jaap Schröder. The ensemble is known for its performances of Baroque and Classical music, and has gained a reputation for its historically informed approach to music-making. Jaap Schröder was born in Amsterdam in 1925, and began his musical career as a violinist. He studied at the Amsterdam Conservatory and later at the Juilliard School in New York. In the 1960s, he became interested in historically informed performance practice, and began to explore the use of period instruments and techniques in his performances. In 1983, Schröder founded Concerto Amsterdam with a group of like-minded musicians. The ensemble's first concert was held in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and featured works by Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi. From the beginning, Concerto Amsterdam was committed to performing on period instruments, and to using historically informed performance practices. Over the years, Concerto Amsterdam has had a number of different members, but the ensemble has always been led by Schröder. Some of the ensemble's most notable members have included the violinist Ryo Terakado, the cellist Jaap ter Linden, and the flutist Wilbert Hazelzet. Concerto Amsterdam has performed all over the world, and has collaborated with many of the leading soloists and conductors in the field of early music. The ensemble has also recorded extensively, and has released over 50 albums on a variety of labels, including Teldec, Harmonia Mundi, and Challenge Classics. One of Concerto Amsterdam's most notable performances was its 1991 concert at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, which featured a program of works by Bach and Handel. The concert was recorded and released on CD, and received widespread critical acclaim. The ensemble's performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 was particularly praised for its virtuosity and energy. In addition to its performances and recordings, Concerto Amsterdam has also been recognized with a number of awards and honors. In 1990, the ensemble was awarded the Dutch Edison Award for its recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. In 2000, Schröder was awarded the Order of the Netherlands Lion, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a Dutch citizen. Despite Schröder's death in 2020, Concerto Amsterdam continues to perform and record. The ensemble's current members include the violinist Shunske Sato, the cellist Dmitry Badiarov, and the flutist Jed Wentz. The ensemble remains committed to its founding principles of historically informed performance practice, and continues to be a leading force in the world of early music.

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