Country

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United Kingdom

Genre

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Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

Sonnerie is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1982 by the British violinist Monica Huggett. The ensemble is known for its performances of Baroque and early Classical music, and has gained a reputation for its historically informed approach to performance. Monica Huggett, who was born in London in 1953, began playing the violin at the age of six. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and later at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands. In the 1970s, she became interested in the performance of early music on period instruments, and began to work with some of the leading figures in the field, including the Dutch conductor and harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt. In 1982, Huggett founded Sonnerie, which takes its name from the French word for "ringing" or "sound". The ensemble was initially made up of a small group of musicians who shared Huggett's interest in historically informed performance. Over the years, the ensemble has grown and evolved, but it has always remained committed to the principles of authenticity and scholarship that were at the heart of its founding. One of the key features of Sonnerie's approach to performance is its use of period instruments. The ensemble's musicians play on instruments that are either original or faithful reproductions of those that would have been used in the Baroque and early Classical periods. This allows them to recreate the sound world of the music they are performing, and to bring out the nuances and subtleties of the music that might be lost on modern instruments. Another important aspect of Sonnerie's approach is its attention to historical context. The ensemble's musicians study the music they are performing in depth, and seek to understand the social, cultural, and political context in which it was created. This allows them to bring a deeper understanding and appreciation of the music to their performances. Over the years, Sonnerie has performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls and festivals. The ensemble has toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, and Asia, and has collaborated with some of the leading figures in the early music world, including the conductor and harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood, the cellist Anner Bylsma, and the soprano Emma Kirkby. One of the highlights of Sonnerie's career was its performance of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos at the BBC Proms in 1993. The concert was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, and was widely praised for its energy, precision, and musicality. The ensemble has also recorded extensively, with over 20 albums to its name, including critically acclaimed recordings of works by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and Purcell. In addition to its performances and recordings, Sonnerie has also been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 1991, the ensemble was awarded the prestigious Gramophone Award for its recording of Handel's Opus 6 Concerti Grossi. The ensemble has also been nominated for several other Gramophone Awards, as well as for the BBC Music Magazine Awards and the International Classical Music Awards. Today, Sonnerie continues to be one of the leading ensembles in the early music world. Under the leadership of Monica Huggett, the ensemble remains committed to its founding principles of authenticity, scholarship, and musical excellence.

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