Genre

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Concerto

 

 

Opera

 

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) is a British classical music ensemble that specializes in performing music from the Baroque and Classical periods on period instruments. The ensemble was founded in 1986 by a group of young musicians who were dissatisfied with the traditional approach to classical music performance. They wanted to create a more dynamic and engaging experience for audiences, and to explore the music of the past in a way that was both historically informed and artistically innovative. The founding members of the OAE included a number of prominent musicians who have since become well-known in the classical music world. These included violinist Catherine Mackintosh, cellist Anthony Pleeth, and harpsichordist and conductor Roy Goodman. The ensemble quickly gained a reputation for its high-quality performances and its commitment to exploring the music of the past in new and exciting ways. One of the key features of the OAE's approach to performance is its use of period instruments. These are instruments that are either original or faithful reproductions of instruments that were used during the time when the music was composed. This allows the ensemble to recreate the sound and style of the music as it would have been heard by audiences at the time. It also allows the musicians to explore the unique qualities of these instruments and to experiment with different playing techniques and styles. Over the years, the OAE has become one of the most respected and innovative classical music ensembles in the world. It has performed at many of the world's leading concert halls and festivals, including the Royal Albert Hall, the Barbican Centre, and the Edinburgh International Festival. The ensemble has also collaborated with many of the world's leading soloists and conductors, including Sir Simon Rattle, Mitsuko Uchida, and Vladimir Jurowski. One of the highlights of the OAE's career was its performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 2007. This was a landmark performance that was widely praised for its emotional intensity and its historical authenticity. The ensemble used period instruments and a choir of 60 singers to recreate the sound of the original performance, and the result was a deeply moving and powerful experience for audiences. Another notable performance by the OAE was its collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company on a production of Purcell's The Fairy Queen in 2009. This was a groundbreaking production that combined music, dance, and theatre in a way that had never been done before. The OAE provided the live music for the production, which was performed on period instruments and featured a cast of actors and dancers from the Royal Shakespeare Company. In addition to its many performances, the OAE has also received numerous awards and accolades over the years. These include the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Ensemble in 2002, the Gramophone Award for Baroque Vocal in 2007, and the BBC Music Magazine Award for Best Orchestral Recording in 2011. The ensemble has also been praised for its educational and outreach work, which includes a number of initiatives aimed at introducing young people to classical music and period instruments. Today, the OAE continues to be one of the most innovative and exciting classical music ensembles in the world.

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