Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

The Leonhardt Baroque Ensemble is a renowned classical music ensemble that specializes in performing Baroque music. The ensemble was founded in 1978 by the Dutch harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt, who was a leading figure in the early music movement. The ensemble has since become one of the most respected and influential Baroque ensembles in the world. Gustav Leonhardt was born in 1928 in 's-Graveland, Netherlands. He studied music at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, Switzerland, where he was taught by the renowned harpsichordist and musicologist, E. Power Biggs. Leonhardt was a pioneer in the early music movement, which sought to revive the performance practices of the Baroque era. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his commitment to historical accuracy in his performances. In 1978, Leonhardt founded the Leonhardt Baroque Ensemble, which was initially made up of a small group of musicians who shared his passion for Baroque music. The ensemble quickly gained a reputation for its exceptional performances, which were characterized by their clarity, precision, and authenticity. The ensemble's repertoire included works by some of the greatest composers of the Baroque era, including Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, and Antonio Vivaldi. The Leonhardt Baroque Ensemble's main members included Gustav Leonhardt himself, who played the harpsichord and organ, and his wife, Marie Leonhardt, who played the viola da gamba. Other members of the ensemble included Jaap ter Linden, who played the cello and viola da gamba, and Wilbert Hazelzet, who played the flute. The ensemble also frequently collaborated with other leading Baroque musicians, including the violinist Sigiswald Kuijken and the soprano Emma Kirkby. Over the years, the Leonhardt Baroque Ensemble performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls and music festivals. The ensemble made numerous recordings, many of which were critically acclaimed and won awards. Some of the ensemble's most notable performances include their 1985 performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, which was broadcast live on television and later released on DVD. The ensemble also performed Handel's Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1992, which was also broadcast live on television. The Leonhardt Baroque Ensemble was known for its commitment to historical accuracy in its performances. The ensemble used period instruments and followed the performance practices of the Baroque era, including the use of ornamentation and improvisation. The ensemble's performances were characterized by their clarity, precision, and authenticity, and they were widely regarded as some of the best interpretations of Baroque music. The Leonhardt Baroque Ensemble won numerous awards and accolades over the years. In 1980, the ensemble won the prestigious Edison Award for their recording of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. The ensemble also won the Gramophone Award for Best Baroque Instrumental Recording in 1990 for their recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. In addition, Gustav Leonhardt was awarded the Bach Medal by the city of Leipzig in 1999 in recognition of his contributions to the performance of Bach's music. Despite Gustav Leonhardt's death in 2012, the Leonhardt Baroque Ensemble continues to perform and record today.

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