Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Le Concert des Nations is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1989 by the Spanish conductor Jordi Savall. The ensemble is known for its performances of Baroque and early Classical music, and has gained a reputation for its historically informed interpretations of these works. Jordi Savall, who was born in 1941 in Catalonia, Spain, is a renowned conductor, viol player, and composer. He has been a leading figure in the early music movement since the 1970s, and has worked with many of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles. In 1989, he founded Le Concert des Nations as a way to explore the rich musical heritage of Europe from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The ensemble takes its name from a book by the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who wrote about the idea of a "concert of nations" in which different cultures could come together and share their music. This idea of cultural exchange and collaboration is at the heart of Le Concert des Nations' mission, and the ensemble has performed in many countries around the world, including Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the United States, and Japan. Le Concert des Nations is made up of a core group of musicians who specialize in early music performance. These include Jordi Savall himself, who plays the viola da gamba, a stringed instrument that was popular in the Baroque era; Rolf Lislevand, a Norwegian lutenist and guitarist; and Pedro Estevan, a Spanish percussionist who plays a variety of instruments from around the world. Over the years, Le Concert des Nations has collaborated with many other musicians and ensembles, including the Hespèrion XXI ensemble, which Savall also founded, and the Capella Reial de Catalunya, a vocal ensemble that specializes in early music. The ensemble has also worked with many soloists, including the French harpsichordist Pierre Hantaï and the Spanish soprano Montserrat Figueras, who was Savall's wife and a founding member of Hespèrion XXI. One of the highlights of Le Concert des Nations' career was its performance at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where the ensemble played at the opening ceremony. This was a significant moment for the ensemble, as it brought early music to a wider audience and helped to establish Le Concert des Nations as one of the leading ensembles in the field. Another notable performance was the ensemble's 2005 concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which was part of the BBC Proms series. The concert featured music by the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. The performance was well-received by critics and helped to raise the profile of Le Concert des Nations in the UK. Le Concert des Nations has also received many awards and accolades over the years. In 1998, the ensemble won the prestigious Gramophone Award for its recording of the music of the French Baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. The ensemble has also been nominated for several other Gramophone Awards, as well as for the International Classical Music Awards and the BBC Music Magazine Awards. In addition to its performances and recordings, Le Concert des Nations is also involved in educational and outreach activities. The ensemble has worked with schools and universities around the world to promote early music and to encourage young people to explore the rich cultural heritage of Europe. Overall, Le Concert des Nations is a highly respected and influential ensemble in the world of early music.

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