The Moscow Ancient Music Ensemble is a renowned classical music ensemble that specializes in performing early music from the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. The ensemble was founded in 1990 by its artistic director and conductor, Victor Felitsiant, who is also a renowned musicologist and scholar of early music. Felitsiant's vision for the ensemble was to revive and promote the performance of early music in Russia, which had been largely neglected during the Soviet era. He assembled a group of talented musicians who shared his passion for early music and began rehearsing and performing together. The ensemble's main members include some of the most accomplished early music performers in Russia, including Natalia Korneeva (harpsichord), Olga Martynova (violin), and Dmitry Badiarov (violin and viola da gamba). The ensemble also frequently collaborates with guest artists from around the world, including renowned early music specialists such as Jordi Savall and Andrew Lawrence-King. Since its founding, the Moscow Ancient Music Ensemble has become one of the most respected and sought-after early music ensembles in Russia and beyond. The ensemble has performed at major music festivals and concert halls throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including the Edinburgh International Festival, the Salzburg Festival, and the Lincoln Center in New York. One of the ensemble's most notable performances was its 1991 concert at the Moscow Conservatory, which was attended by the renowned early music scholar and conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Harnoncourt was so impressed by the ensemble's performance that he invited them to perform at the Styriarte Festival in Austria the following year, which marked the ensemble's international debut. Since then, the Moscow Ancient Music Ensemble has continued to receive critical acclaim for its performances and recordings. The ensemble has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Diapason d'Or award for its recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. In addition to its performances and recordings, the Moscow Ancient Music Ensemble is also committed to promoting early music education and scholarship in Russia. The ensemble regularly conducts masterclasses and workshops for young musicians and collaborates with musicologists and scholars to research and publish new editions of early music scores. Overall, the Moscow Ancient Music Ensemble has made a significant contribution to the revival and promotion of early music in Russia and beyond. Through its performances, recordings, and educational initiatives, the ensemble has helped to bring the rich and diverse heritage of early music to new audiences and ensure its continued vitality and relevance in the 21st century.

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