Country

:

Netherlands

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Classical

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir is a renowned classical music ensemble that has been captivating audiences around the world for over three decades. Founded in 1979 by the Dutch conductor and harpsichordist Ton Koopman, the ensemble has become known for its authentic and historically informed performances of Baroque music. Koopman, who was born in 1944 in Zwolle, Netherlands, began his musical career as a church organist. He later studied harpsichord and organ at the Amsterdam Conservatory and went on to become a leading figure in the early music movement. In 1979, he founded the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, which was initially made up of a small group of musicians who shared his passion for Baroque music. Over the years, the ensemble has grown in size and reputation, and today it is considered one of the finest Baroque orchestras in the world. The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir is made up of a core group of around 30 musicians, many of whom have been with the ensemble for many years. The choir, which was added to the ensemble in 1992, is made up of around 20 singers. One of the hallmarks of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir is its commitment to performing Baroque music in a historically informed way. This means that the ensemble uses period instruments and techniques to recreate the sound and style of music from the Baroque era. For example, the orchestra uses gut strings on its stringed instruments, which were commonly used in the Baroque period, rather than the steel strings that are used on modern instruments. The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir has performed at many of the world's leading concert halls and music festivals, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Salzburg Festival. The ensemble has also made numerous recordings, many of which have won critical acclaim and awards. One of the highlights of the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir's career was its performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in 1999. The performance was recorded and released on CD and DVD, and it has been widely praised as one of the finest recordings of the work. The ensemble has also performed many other works by Bach, including the Mass in B Minor and the Brandenburg Concertos. In addition to Bach, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir has also performed works by other Baroque composers, including Handel, Vivaldi, and Purcell. The ensemble has also commissioned new works from contemporary composers, including John Tavener and Wolfgang Rihm. The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir has won many awards and accolades over the years. In 1994, the ensemble was awarded the prestigious Edison Award for its recording of Bach's Mass in B Minor. The ensemble has also won several Gramophone Awards, including one in 2003 for its recording of Bach's St. John Passion. Despite its many achievements, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir has remained true to its roots as a small, tight-knit ensemble dedicated to the performance of Baroque music. The ensemble's commitment to historical authenticity and its passion for the music of the Baroque era have made it one of the most respected and beloved classical music ensembles in the world.

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