Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Renaissance

 

 

Baroque

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Orchestral

 

Cappella Palatina is a classical music ensemble that specializes in performing early music from the medieval and Renaissance periods. The ensemble was founded in 1990 by conductor and musicologist Konrad Junghänel, who sought to create a group that would explore the rich and diverse repertoire of early music. Junghänel, who was born in 1953 in Cologne, Germany, had a deep passion for early music from an early age. He studied musicology, philosophy, and German literature at the University of Cologne, where he earned his doctorate in 1982. He then went on to study lute and early music performance at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, where he was mentored by renowned early music specialists such as Jordi Savall and Hopkinson Smith. After completing his studies, Junghänel began performing as a lutenist and conductor with various early music ensembles, including the Huelgas Ensemble and the Hilliard Ensemble. In 1990, he founded Cappella Palatina, which he named after the Palatine Chapel in Aachen, Germany, a famous example of early medieval architecture. The ensemble's core members include singers and instrumentalists who specialize in early music performance. Over the years, the ensemble has featured a rotating cast of musicians, but some of its most notable members include tenor Hans Jörg Mammel, soprano Johanna Koslowsky, and countertenor Andreas Scholl. Cappella Palatina has performed extensively throughout Europe and North America, earning critical acclaim for its performances of early music. The ensemble has collaborated with a number of renowned conductors and musicians, including Jordi Savall, Paul Hillier, and Andrew Lawrence-King. One of the ensemble's most notable performances was its 1994 concert at the Festival Oude Muziek in Utrecht, Netherlands, where it performed a program of medieval and Renaissance music from Spain and Portugal. The concert was praised for its "exquisite singing" and "impeccable musicianship," and helped to establish Cappella Palatina as one of the leading ensembles in the early music world. In addition to its live performances, Cappella Palatina has also released several recordings of early music. Its debut album, "Cantigas de Santa Maria," was released in 1992 and featured music from the 13th-century Spanish manuscript of the same name. The album was praised for its "vibrant and engaging performances" and helped to establish Cappella Palatina as a leading interpreter of early music. Over the years, Cappella Palatina has received numerous awards and accolades for its performances and recordings. In 1996, the ensemble was awarded the prestigious Echo Klassik award for its recording of "Missa L'homme armé," a Renaissance mass by French composer Guillaume Dufay. The ensemble has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best Classical Vocal Performance and Best Small Ensemble Performance. Today, Cappella Palatina continues to perform and record early music from the medieval and Renaissance periods, delighting audiences with its exquisite performances and deep knowledge of the repertoire. The ensemble remains a leading force in the early music world, and its members continue to inspire and educate audiences with their passion for this rich and diverse musical tradition.

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