Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Opera

 

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra is a renowned classical music ensemble based in San Francisco, California. The orchestra is known for its authentic performances of Baroque and Classical music, using period instruments and historically informed performance practices. The ensemble was founded in 1981 by harpsichordist and conductor Nicholas McGegan, and has since become one of the leading Baroque orchestras in the world. Nicholas McGegan, a British conductor and harpsichordist, founded Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in 1981 with the aim of bringing historically informed performances of Baroque and Classical music to audiences in the San Francisco Bay Area. McGegan had previously worked with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and was known for his expertise in early music. He assembled a group of like-minded musicians who shared his passion for historically informed performance, and the orchestra gave its first concert in November 1981. The early years of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra were marked by a series of successful performances and collaborations with leading soloists and conductors. In 1984, the orchestra performed Handel's Messiah with the San Francisco Symphony, and in 1986, it collaborated with the Mark Morris Dance Group on a production of Rameau's Les Boréades. The orchestra also began recording for the Harmonia Mundi label, releasing its first album, "Music for a King," in 1986. Throughout the 1990s, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra continued to expand its repertoire and its reputation as one of the leading Baroque orchestras in the world. The orchestra performed regularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as touring nationally and internationally. In 1995, the orchestra performed at the BBC Proms in London, and in 1998, it made its debut at the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York City. One of the highlights of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra's early years was its collaboration with mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Lieberson, who was known for her interpretations of Baroque and Classical music, performed regularly with the orchestra and recorded several albums with them. Her performances with the orchestra were widely acclaimed, and she was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance in 2004 for her recording of Handel's Ariodante with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. In 2006, Nicholas McGegan announced that he would be stepping down as music director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra at the end of the 2009-2010 season. He was succeeded by conductor and harpsichordist Richard Egarr, who had previously worked with the Academy of Ancient Music and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. Egarr brought a new energy and enthusiasm to the orchestra, and under his leadership, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra continued to thrive. One of the highlights of Richard Egarr's tenure as music director was the orchestra's performance of Handel's oratorio Saul in 2011. The production, which featured a cast of leading Baroque singers and actors, was widely acclaimed and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Opera Recording. The orchestra also continued to collaborate with leading soloists and conductors, including mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, conductor Jordi Savall, and violinist Rachel Podger. In 2015, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra celebrated its 35th anniversary with a series of concerts and events.

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